Some businesses like sports professionals have all that’s required to win but still they’re held back. Why? Here, Dean Evans discuss the critical mindset required for success in business, drawing parallels between elite sports performance mindset and offers tips to get you there. He explores how understanding failure as feedback, focusing on self-competition, and treating every action as practice can lead to stellar results. Dean shares strategies for overcoming setbacks and discusses the import...
Jun 23, 2025•15 min•Season 30Ep. 4
This climate is nothing if not stressful. From interest rate rises to the cost of living stress life is hard enough. We have a solution to streamline your workshop and dilute your stress enter Russell Ayers from Mechanic Desk! Russell discusses the challenges faced by independent automotive repair shops and how Mechanic Desk's software can streamline operations. They explore the importance of efficient software migration, the benefits of using templates for job management, and strategies for imp...
Jun 16, 2025•11 min•Season 30Ep. 3
In this episode of Whispering Loudly, Rachel Evans and Dean discuss the complexities of conflict resolution in the workplace, particularly in auto repair shops. Dean shares five principles derived from martial arts that can help workshop owners navigate conflict effectively. These principles focus on understanding emotional dynamics, validating feelings, and establishing clear communication to resolve issues. The conversation also touches on the importance of reflection and learning from conflic...
Jun 09, 2025•15 min•Season 30Ep. 2
In this episode of the Workshop Whisperer podcast, Rachel Evans discusses the importance of seeking help early in business, effective team motivation strategies, and ways to drive customer engagement, especially in challenging times. She emphasizes the need for workshop owners to understand their team's unique motivations and the significance of financial resilience in sustaining business operations. The conversation also touches on leveraging social media for customer outreach and the impact of...
Jun 02, 2025•12 min•Season 30Ep. 1
We all know them, people who exude confidence, excel and do incredibly at business and in regards to their personal life but what truly makes a high performer? It can be learnt. High performers have certain traits that you can take on and practice on the road to becoming one. Dean Evans takes us through the key traits that define high performance, including self-belief, desire, focus, and coping mechanisms. Listen in to level up. Whispering Loudly, The Workshop Whisperer's Podcast. Thanks to Tit...
May 26, 2025•18 min•Season 29Ep. 10
Here we dive into small steps you can make daily towards a better tomorrow. Rachael offers solutions to what can often feel like mayhem at times, where work is hectic and there is no relenting. Take simple steps towards to making life easier that are reasonably easy to follow. These steps work mourned systemisation, mindset, setting goals and taking time to look after yourself. Tune in and wrap the rewards. Whispering Loudly, The Workshop Whisperer's Podcast. Thanks to Titanium Sponsor, Mechanic...
May 19, 2025•18 min•Season 29Ep. 9
Are you passionate about a make of car or a certain niche in the Auto Repair industry? We look into whether this could be your golden ticket to success and what considerations you need to make before turning into a specialised centre. We also discuss benchmarks you should be hitting to make you a success no matter what kind of business you run. Whispering Loudly, The Workshop Whisperer's Podcast. Thanks to Titanium Sponsor, Mechanic Desk and Diamond Sponsor Ventavid . Find out more about the Wor...
May 12, 2025•12 min•Season 29Ep. 8
What would you do if you had a partner or friend that treated you very poorly? No matter what you did to appease them they demanded more, more of your time, more of your mental estate, more resources from you. Argh. Well guess what? Clients are the same and sometimes according to Rachel they need to be fired! Listen in and learn how to let these people go to make room for the clients you deserve. Whispering Loudly, The Workshop Whisperer's Podcast. Thanks to Titanium Sponsor, Mechanic Desk and D...
May 05, 2025•9 min•Season 29Ep. 7
Craig Bales, and Gabrielle Clift discuss the journey of Highfields Mechanical, the challenges of finding good talent and the importance of breaking gender barriers. Gabrielle shares her passion for automotive work and the need for more women in the industry, emphasising that success is driven by personality and determination rather than gender. Rach chats about apprenticeship programs with Gabby, how we can all create opportunities for aspiring technicians and welcome them to a rewarding career ...
Apr 28, 2025•11 min•Season 29Ep. 6
Ok, so we’re into 2025 and this is your year to make a difference. Rachael takes you through the steps required to make a difference in your business this year and actually make changes that will move you forward and up level. Rach dives into business planning for auto repair shop owners. She explores the common pitfalls, the necessity of setting effective goals, and the significance of maintaining a work-life balance. Rach also chats about her signature the four-day work week! We talk about the...
Apr 21, 2025•13 min•Season 29Ep. 5
How do you stand out in a world full of noise? By personal connection. Storytelling through social media, blogs or otherwise is the key in today’s world to help your brand fans feel more connected to you and make your brand stand out. Here our guest emphasizes the importance of storytelling, personal branding, and finding one's unique voice in the industry to have a lasting impact. Tell your customers where you started, who you are, what you stand for and be relatable to unlock the key to better...
Apr 14, 2025•18 min•Season 29Ep. 4
In this episode of Whispering Loudly Rachael chats with AFL star Nick Del Santo, player turned media personality and corporate speaker. Nick reflects on his career as a professional AFL football and what it taught him that he’s taken into his life after footy, the importance of teamwork and leadership skills. He relays that the transition into the media industry has been an interesting one. Nick shares valuable insights on finding purpose, supporting team members, and offers advice for auto repa...
Apr 07, 2025•16 min•Season 29Ep. 3
You feel like you’re constantly booked out and your staff are working around the clock but profitability isn’t where it should be, what’s up? Here we discuss the importance of continuous time clocking and explain how it can dramatically shift your business. Rach emphasises the need for shop owners to overcome fears and implement industry best practices to enhance productivity and profitability. Accurate time tracking will lead to better accountability and visibility amongst your staff and ultima...
Mar 31, 2025•14 min•Season 29Ep. 2
Here Jamie from Tatiara Truck and Trailers, discuss the journey of their family business, the challenges of ownership, and the importance of workplace culture and personal development. Jamie shares insights on managing staff, the significance of communication, and the necessity of maintaining good cash flow for business growth. Whispering Loudly, The Workshop Whisperer's Podcast. Thanks to Titanium Sponsor, Mechanic Desk and Diamond Sponsor Ventavid . Find out more about the Workshop Whisperer -...
Mar 24, 2025•15 min•Season 29Ep. 1
Here Rachael gets some insights from Chad and Sarah, workshop owners who recently returned from a six-week vacation around Australia. They haven't always been capable of taking such breaks. Their business used to be stressful unorganised and rely heavily on them for every process. However they discuss how they've been able to turn thinga around, the importance of systemisation and how it has allowed them to enjoy more family time. The conversation highlights the benefits of mentorship and the re...
Mar 17, 2025•10 min•Season 28Ep. 10
Here Rach addresses financial challenges faced by auto repair businesses, advising against overdrafts and suggesting practical steps for financial restructuring. She delves into freezing your finances and discusses how this can help you. The conversation highlights the importance of community engagement and ongoing support for workshop owners. Rachel also discuss the critical role of service advisors in auto repair shops, emphasizing the need for professional training and customer relationship m...
Mar 10, 2025•11 min•Season 28Ep. 9
Here Rachael interviews the founders of Design Bug, Kristy Coady and Rebecca Geragty who share their journey of starting a graphic design studio and the importance of effective branding. They discuss common mistakes businesses make when it comes to logo and design work, emphasizing the need for a thorough design brief, understanding the target market, and maintaining consistency in branding. The conversation also highlights how to choose the right designer for your business, focusing on building...
Mar 03, 2025•14 min•Season 28Ep. 8
What’s one of the key hidden factors affecting your overall business performance? Overspending, retention issues, pricing? Wrong, it’s procrastination. Here Rachel delves into the pervasive issue of procrastination in business. She explores how procrastination affects decision-making processes, workflow efficiency, and overall business performance. The conversation emphasises the importance of recognising procrastination, seeking help, and taking ownership to overcome this challenge. Rach shows ...
Feb 24, 2025•9 min•Season 28Ep. 7
Creating a strong workplace culture is essential for business success. When your staff aren’t performing you have to take responsibility for their behaviour. Guess what? part of it has to do with you. If you created a strong culture that supported the team and managed the team in the way it needed to be managed talking holidays would be a breeze. It starts by creating steps towards creating effective systems and processes, and strategies for customer retention. Rachael also discusses the signifi...
Feb 18, 2025•9 min•Season 28Ep. 6
Are you down in the dumps because your shop isn’t where it needs to be or maybe you purchased a business that isn’t what it seemed, don’t fear Rachel is here to help you transform your Auto Repair Shop in 2025. Rachel sets the building blocks will will help you on the journey to change while stressing the importance of commitment and action. Whispering Loudly, The Workshop Whisperer's Podcast. Thanks to Titanium Sponsor, Mechanic Desk and Diamond Sponsor Ventavid . Find out more about the Worksh...
Feb 11, 2025•13 min•Season 28Ep. 5
Here Dean Evans joins the pod to discuss the critical importance of keeping score. Sure you can make your shop tick over but if you’re not tracking key performance metrics, you cannot effectively manage your business or even know actually how great you could be! Dean helps you get a start on this and chats also about the significance of benchmarking against industry standards to drive continuous improvement and profitability for your Auto Repair Shop. Whispering Loudly, The Workshop Whisperer's ...
Feb 04, 2025•10 min•Season 28Ep. 4
It sometimes feels like a race to the bottom doesn't it? Everyone undercutting each other to get the customers rolling through the door. It's an age old technique but it's not necessarily an intelligent one. Rachel guides you through a tried method of attracting customers that doesn't include you working overtime for free and stretching your staff and your resources to the limit. Whispering Loudly, The Workshop Whisperer's Podcast. Thanks to Titanium Sponsor, Mechanic Desk and Diamond Sponsor Ve...
Jan 27, 2025•14 min•Season 28Ep. 3
You're doing well, you've been progressing in baby steps ever since your shop opened and you're still open which is a testament to itself that you're doing a great job. You do watch competitors on socials however that just seem miles ahead, thriving and doing numbers that you feel at this stage you could only dream about. So what sets those people apart from the rest? Find out. Whispering Loudly, The Workshop Whisperer's Podcast. Thanks to Titanium Sponsor, Mechanic Desk and Diamond Sponsor Vent...
Jan 20, 2025•16 min•Season 28Ep. 2
You've built an incredible business, congratulations! Over years you've finally got your business to the point where it basically runs itself, rather smoothy. You may however have a creeping anxiety that stops you from booking those overseas trips because in the past whenever you've ventured too far or even slightly form the business things have blown up either in a small fashion or in a highly vexing way. Follow Rachel's steps so you can book your plane ticket and jet off without a care in the ...
Jan 13, 2025•14 min•Season 28Ep. 1
Workflow efficiency is so important but for so many we start out with good intentions and we think we have our ducks in a row then bang, something throws a spanner in the works pardon the pun, or many things throw a spanner in the works and we end up completely stressed out, behind schedule having to deal with cranky customers and cranky workplace staff. This can be so frustrating especially when you know you’re trying your best to lead well. Here Rachael discusses the importance of having docum...
Jan 06, 2025•10 min•Season 27Ep. 10
When is the right time to expand my auto repair shop to a second location? This is the question asked by so many Auto Repair Shop Owners, here Rachel dives into what you need to weigh up to divide whether now is the right time to expand nor not. It’s not a decision to be taken lightly! Rachel discusses the need to create a solid foundation in the first business before considering expansion and the significance of understanding the purpose behind financial decisions. Takeaways The right time to e...
Dec 30, 2024•13 min•Season 27Ep. 9
Running your workshop can be hectic for the owner and staff. Customers are demanding, staff politics can cause dramas, scheduling changes last minute can put extra stress on staff too. Here Rachel dives into strategy behind keeping your team happy and keeping them motivated whilst encouraging them to work at their optimum efficiency. Takeaways Health and wellness are crucial for long-term success. Busy shops can maintain high morale with proper scheduling. Leadership plays a key role in managing...
Dec 23, 2024•11 min•Season 27Ep. 8
Here, Rachel discusses essential strategies for Auto Repair Shop Owners, focusing on pricing, managing costs, and effective communication with customers. She emphasises the importance of setting fair prices that ensure profitability, the need for regular price adjustments, and how to communicate these changes to long-term customers without causing concern. We also dive into the significance of understanding profit margins and the value of the essential services you’re providing to your customers...
Dec 16, 2024•12 min•Season 27Ep. 7
In this episode of Whispering Loudly, Melanie Sargeant and Rachel Evans discuss the importance of embracing chaos in the automotive repair business, especially during challenging economic times. They emphasize the need for auto repair shop owners to make logical decisions based on data rather than fear, and to maintain their systems and processes to ensure business success. The conversation highlights the significance of car servicing as a necessity rather than a luxury, and encourages listeners...
Dec 13, 2024•10 min•Season 27Ep. 6
In this conversation, the hosts discuss the psychology of leadership, particularly in high-stress situations. They emphasize the importance of remaining calm and effective as a leader, the role of awareness and adaptability, and the significance of empowering team members to handle stressful moments. Techniques such as breathing exercises are suggested to manage stress effectively. Takeaways Support in relationships is crucial for personal growth. Leadership involves guiding others to safety and...
Dec 02, 2024•15 min•Season 27Ep. 5
