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Posted

This story hasn't gone out yet... You're the first to see it... let me know what ya think of it.

 

It will probably be edited for length, and may get cut down ... but I kinda like this version. Gonzo

 

 

High in the sky Jeep, the stooge trio

This trio of comic geniuses showed up at the shop one afternoon, the “Talker”, the “Looker”, and the “Nodder”. These three buddies have been working on a CJ for many, many years. Not one of them have any background in mechanics or electrical. But, as usual the “Talker” knew everything. The “Looker” never looked at a thing but performed his task with the greatest level of expertise. He had that 40 foot stare in a 20 foot room, always glancing at something that was not part of the conversation. The ceiling was a common theme, then there is the book rack, the disclaimers on the wall, the usual advertisements on the counter, pretty much anything but not a thing important. I think you could have asked this guy any question about the room, the people in the room, or for that matter probably his own name… I doubt if he could have answered a single question without saying “Huh” before coming up with some sort of ridiculous half wit response. Now the “Nodder”, he was in rare form. There was the quick nod, the slow responsive nod, and ever so popular nod your head so hard that your hair flips up and down, while at the same time maintaining his proper distance from the service counter. His only other function is to observe the “Looker” and “Talker” and confirm that they are doing their part in this trio of humorous delinquents. That only leaves the “Talker”; it’s the classic confrontation at the counter.

“Yes, I’m interesting in finding out if you or anyone here knows how to wire up a CJ from scratch?” he asked.

“Sure, I’ve done lots of them over the years,” I said, quite confidently.

“Well, it only needs a few things done, I just don’t have the time to finish it,” the “Talker” said with his nodding buddy in the back doing his best to stay up with the conversation. The “Looker” on the other hand was busy… you know… “Looking”… at what, I haven’t a clue. At this point I’m starting to wonder about the three of them. Two classic mistakes have already been made.

Number one, “I don’t have time to finish it”, Let me translate that for you… it really means; “I couldn’t figure it out even if the directions were tattooed to the inside of my eyelids”.

Number two, “It only needs a few things” … what that really means is… “You ain’t going to believe how screwed we got this”.

Thus, the quandary of problems that are about to unfold in front of me. The conversation went on with its usual head nods from the “Nodder” and stares into space by the “Looker”. With the never ending … Deeping… hole of unpronounceable automotive terms that the “Talker” was sinking into.

Trying to put an end to all this confusion, without falling into the hole myself, “Where’s the Jeep at?” I asked.

“Oh it’s at our garage,” the “Talker” added, “We’ll have to get it over to you. It doesn’t run right now.”

“Don’t you think you should get it running first,” I asked.

“It’s got a brand new crate motor in it,” the “Looker” jumped into the conversation with his two cents worth of information.

Confused now, I said, “A crate engine, you haven’t hooked up the wires to the engine yet? I guess that’s what you want me to do.”

“No, that’s done,” said the “Talker”, “We finished that up about a year ago. It just needs cleaned up a bit.” The “Nodder” did a hair flip about then… good job, that confirmed it… they’re all nuts.

The “Talker”, the “Nodder”, and the “Looker” all took their turns at the front counter. I use to think I’ve heard it all, and then these three stooges showed up and proved me wrong. Oh yes, this was a several year project, all of which was…. completely done backwards. From what I could piece together, the paint was finished first to a show room luster, while the body was being painted the frame was completely stripped down and powder coated. It took them over a year just to decide on which type of wheels and rims to put on it. Wiring seemed to have come in dead last … or that’s what I thought.

The next day the Jeep showed up on a trailer. Wow, what a superior paint job, all shiny and new. It was a mile high in the air with this huge lift kit installed. There were beautifully chromed engine parts everywhere, all gleaming in the sun. That was about it though. No exhaust system, no coolant, gobs and gobs of wiring strewn all through the engine compartment and undercarriage. Wires were run right through the headers and into the inside of the Jeep. There were no seats, doors, or even a windshield. All the extra wire was wrapped around the steering column or dangled into different cavities. There was no hole for the floor shifter and there was no place to mount the four wheel drive controls. Oh they had everything… in boxes, with assorted nuts and bolts, cables, and wiring. Even the headers will need reworked. The passenger side header was up against that beautifully powder coated frame and, you know, it was more than likely going to burn that pretty paint off. There were no spark plugs, no plug wires, and no throttle cable. It was without a doubt the largest expenditure into a total disaster I have ever seen in my years of business.

The “Talker” was busy explaining his master piece to me while I was busy eyeballing this checkbook gone wild, wanna-be beast of the 4wd world. The more I looked the worst it kept getting. I finally had to put an end to the talkers’ non-stop trip to purgatory.

“Why don’t you take this over and have the exhaust taken care of,” I interrupted him with a sudden jolt back to the planet, “Once you have that done, you could fill up the coolant system, look for leaks and maybe even put some plugs in it and see if it starts.”

I was surprised at his response… he said, “That would be great, and then I’ll get it back to you to finish the wiring.” I was actually hoping he wouldn’t remember that part. But, I’ve done crazier rewires in the past… it’s just another day at the office for me.

Weeks later the Jeep showed up again. This time it had a complete exhaust system installed, however they never moved the header away from the frame. Not only was it poorly put in, but the mufflers were right on top of the fuel pump lines and the electric fuel pump. All of which now will need moved to a better location. I didn’t think this job was going to ever be finished.

My years of experience in this business made me think to keep asking questions to these guys and see how far their wallet was going to stretch. Something told me there was more to this story than… “I don’t have the time”, and “It only needs a few things done”.

I had the phone number to the “Nodder”, I’ll call him.

“How, far do you want me to go?” I asked.

“I think he just wants a rough idea as to how much it will cost, but I think they want you to get it started too.” The “Nodder” told me.

“Ok then, I’ll rough it in, get it started and then write up an estimate,” I said.

“Sounds, good to me,” our friend the “Nodder” answered. I’m sure he was up to his usual head bobbing by now and was working his way to a full hair flip.

As I rigged up some jumper wires to the fuel pump, temporally of course, it was just enough to get voltage to the right spots. Then hot wire the coil and starter. I guess, it’s time to turn it over and see if it will start. A couple of cranks on the starter and huge plumes of fire belched out of the glistening chrome carburetor. Would it start? Not a chance, they had the distributor in 180 degrees off. Pull it out, turn it around and start over again. Oops, just noticed… they forgot the coolant. I filled the chromed out radiator with coolant… it leaked all over the engine. There were gaskets that weren’t sealing and hose clamps that weren’t tight. Another delay, another mess and, more expense just to see if this thing would start. Finally, the leaks were holding… sort of, at least enough to proceed.

Back to trying to solve the actual problem for the day… will the engine run. After priming the carburetor and a couple of turns of the starter motor the gleaming 4wd beast sprang to life… spewing oil everywhere! ! What now?!?!? There was no oil pressure switch in the engine block. Holy engines of chrome! ! Shut it off and put something in the hole. One more try … vroom! It starts and it runs, hey, and it even sounds pretty good. But the water leaks started showing up again. Seems they didn’t use any sealant on any of the water gaskets. This job is never going to end. It’s starting to sound like that old saying; “Stop counting the alligators when all you’re supposed to do is drain the swamp.” Enough alligator counting, I’m stopping! Here and now, I’ll try to make some sense out of the rest of this wiring disaster.

Now this next part of this story shouldn’t come as a big surprise. Not one of the three stooges ever talked to the other one as to what I was supposed to do. The only thing they agreed on was that the “Nodder” would take the phone calls and relay the info. I think poor old “Nodder” just nodded his way into being the escape goat. He doesn’t have a clue, he never did. Well, for that matter, neither do the other two dim wits.

A week or so later with the car resting in the shop, the three dunder heads showed up with a trailer. Now it was my turn to be wrong.

 

Number one, It was mutually understood between the trio, that they knew it all, and I knew nothing.

Number two, I was too expensive and was going to take too long to finish the job. Geez, how much time did they think I needed? I’m sure I could have done the job within a couple of years… maybe sooner. I’m so confused.

The last word on this one was that they were going to finish it themselves. My question was… when? I’ll be old and gray before these knuckleheads ever figure it out. But I’m a sucker for an old three stooges classic; I’ll sit back and watch this episode unfold. It might be a pretty good story whenever this Jeep comes out of the upper atmosphere and back to planet earth. Ynuk, Ynuk, Ynuk.

Posted

This story hasn't gone out yet... You're the first to see it... let me know what ya think of it.

 

It will probably be edited for length, and may get cut down ... but I kinda like this version. Gonzo

 

 

High in the sky Jeep, the stooge trio

This trio of comic geniuses showed up at the shop one afternoon, the “Talker”, the “Looker”, and the “Nodder”. These three buddies have been working on a CJ for many, many years. Not one of them have any background in mechanics or electrical. But, as usual the “Talker” knew everything. The “Looker” never looked at a thing but performed his task with the greatest level of expertise. He had that 40 foot stare in a 20 foot room, always glancing at something that was not part of the conversation. The ceiling was a common theme, then there is the book rack, the disclaimers on the wall, the usual advertisements on the counter, pretty much anything but not a thing important. I think you could have asked this guy any question about the room, the people in the room, or for that matter probably his own name… I doubt if he could have answered a single question without saying “Huh” before coming up with some sort of ridiculous half wit response. Now the “Nodder”, he was in rare form. There was the quick nod, the slow responsive nod, and ever so popular nod your head so hard that your hair flips up and down, while at the same time maintaining his proper distance from the service counter. His only other function is to observe the “Looker” and “Talker” and confirm that they are doing their part in this trio of humorous delinquents. That only leaves the “Talker”; it’s the classic confrontation at the counter.

“Yes, I’m interesting in finding out if you or anyone here knows how to wire up a CJ from scratch?” he asked.

“Sure, I’ve done lots of them over the years,” I said, quite confidently.

“Well, it only needs a few things done, I just don’t have the time to finish it,” the “Talker” said with his nodding buddy in the back doing his best to stay up with the conversation. The “Looker” on the other hand was busy… you know… “Looking”… at what, I haven’t a clue. At this point I’m starting to wonder about the three of them. Two classic mistakes have already been made.

Number one, “I don’t have time to finish it”, Let me translate that for you… it really means; “I couldn’t figure it out even if the directions were tattooed to the inside of my eyelids”.

Number two, “It only needs a few things” … what that really means is… “You ain’t going to believe how screwed we got this”.

Thus, the quandary of problems that are about to unfold in front of me. The conversation went on with its usual head nods from the “Nodder” and stares into space by the “Looker”. With the never ending … Deeping… hole of unpronounceable automotive terms that the “Talker” was sinking into.

Trying to put an end to all this confusion, without falling into the hole myself, “Where’s the Jeep at?” I asked.

“Oh it’s at our garage,” the “Talker” added, “We’ll have to get it over to you. It doesn’t run right now.”

“Don’t you think you should get it running first,” I asked.

“It’s got a brand new crate motor in it,” the “Looker” jumped into the conversation with his two cents worth of information.

Confused now, I said, “A crate engine, you haven’t hooked up the wires to the engine yet? I guess that’s what you want me to do.”

“No, that’s done,” said the “Talker”, “We finished that up about a year ago. It just needs cleaned up a bit.” The “Nodder” did a hair flip about then… good job, that confirmed it… they’re all nuts.

The “Talker”, the “Nodder”, and the “Looker” all took their turns at the front counter. I use to think I’ve heard it all, and then these three stooges showed up and proved me wrong. Oh yes, this was a several year project, all of which was…. completely done backwards. From what I could piece together, the paint was finished first to a show room luster, while the body was being painted the frame was completely stripped down and powder coated. It took them over a year just to decide on which type of wheels and rims to put on it. Wiring seemed to have come in dead last … or that’s what I thought.

The next day the Jeep showed up on a trailer. Wow, what a superior paint job, all shiny and new. It was a mile high in the air with this huge lift kit installed. There were beautifully chromed engine parts everywhere, all gleaming in the sun. That was about it though. No exhaust system, no coolant, gobs and gobs of wiring strewn all through the engine compartment and undercarriage. Wires were run right through the headers and into the inside of the Jeep. There were no seats, doors, or even a windshield. All the extra wire was wrapped around the steering column or dangled into different cavities. There was no hole for the floor shifter and there was no place to mount the four wheel drive controls. Oh they had everything… in boxes, with assorted nuts and bolts, cables, and wiring. Even the headers will need reworked. The passenger side header was up against that beautifully powder coated frame and, you know, it was more than likely going to burn that pretty paint off. There were no spark plugs, no plug wires, and no throttle cable. It was without a doubt the largest expenditure into a total disaster I have ever seen in my years of business.

The “Talker” was busy explaining his master piece to me while I was busy eyeballing this checkbook gone wild, wanna-be beast of the 4wd world. The more I looked the worst it kept getting. I finally had to put an end to the talkers’ non-stop trip to purgatory.

“Why don’t you take this over and have the exhaust taken care of,” I interrupted him with a sudden jolt back to the planet, “Once you have that done, you could fill up the coolant system, look for leaks and maybe even put some plugs in it and see if it starts.”

I was surprised at his response… he said, “That would be great, and then I’ll get it back to you to finish the wiring.” I was actually hoping he wouldn’t remember that part. But, I’ve done crazier rewires in the past… it’s just another day at the office for me.

Weeks later the Jeep showed up again. This time it had a complete exhaust system installed, however they never moved the header away from the frame. Not only was it poorly put in, but the mufflers were right on top of the fuel pump lines and the electric fuel pump. All of which now will need moved to a better location. I didn’t think this job was going to ever be finished.

My years of experience in this business made me think to keep asking questions to these guys and see how far their wallet was going to stretch. Something told me there was more to this story than… “I don’t have the time”, and “It only needs a few things done”.

I had the phone number to the “Nodder”, I’ll call him.

“How, far do you want me to go?” I asked.

“I think he just wants a rough idea as to how much it will cost, but I think they want you to get it started too.” The “Nodder” told me.

“Ok then, I’ll rough it in, get it started and then write up an estimate,” I said.

“Sounds, good to me,” our friend the “Nodder” answered. I’m sure he was up to his usual head bobbing by now and was working his way to a full hair flip.

As I rigged up some jumper wires to the fuel pump, temporally of course, it was just enough to get voltage to the right spots. Then hot wire the coil and starter. I guess, it’s time to turn it over and see if it will start. A couple of cranks on the starter and huge plumes of fire belched out of the glistening chrome carburetor. Would it start? Not a chance, they had the distributor in 180 degrees off. Pull it out, turn it around and start over again. Oops, just noticed… they forgot the coolant. I filled the chromed out radiator with coolant… it leaked all over the engine. There were gaskets that weren’t sealing and hose clamps that weren’t tight. Another delay, another mess and, more expense just to see if this thing would start. Finally, the leaks were holding… sort of, at least enough to proceed.

Back to trying to solve the actual problem for the day… will the engine run. After priming the carburetor and a couple of turns of the starter motor the gleaming 4wd beast sprang to life… spewing oil everywhere! ! What now?!?!? There was no oil pressure switch in the engine block. Holy engines of chrome! ! Shut it off and put something in the hole. One more try … vroom! It starts and it runs, hey, and it even sounds pretty good. But the water leaks started showing up again. Seems they didn’t use any sealant on any of the water gaskets. This job is never going to end. It’s starting to sound like that old saying; “Stop counting the alligators when all you’re supposed to do is drain the swamp.” Enough alligator counting, I’m stopping! Here and now, I’ll try to make some sense out of the rest of this wiring disaster.

Now this next part of this story shouldn’t come as a big surprise. Not one of the three stooges ever talked to the other one as to what I was supposed to do. The only thing they agreed on was that the “Nodder” would take the phone calls and relay the info. I think poor old “Nodder” just nodded his way into being the escape goat. He doesn’t have a clue, he never did. Well, for that matter, neither do the other two dim wits.

A week or so later with the car resting in the shop, the three dunder heads showed up with a trailer. Now it was my turn to be wrong.

 

Number one, It was mutually understood between the trio, that they knew it all, and I knew nothing.

Number two, I was too expensive and was going to take too long to finish the job. Geez, how much time did they think I needed? I’m sure I could have done the job within a couple of years… maybe sooner. I’m so confused.

The last word on this one was that they were going to finish it themselves. My question was… when? I’ll be old and gray before these knuckleheads ever figure it out. But I’m a sucker for an old three stooges classic; I’ll sit back and watch this episode unfold. It might be a pretty good story whenever this Jeep comes out of the upper atmosphere and back to planet earth. Ynuk, Ynuk, Ynuk.

Posted

You could make a 30 minute sit com out of this one. Glad to see that I'm not the only one who gets these knuckle heads. This is a true story, right? I mean, you can't make this stuff up.

Posted (edited)

You could make a 30 minute sit com out of this one. Glad to see that I'm not the only one who gets these knuckle heads. This is a true story, right? I mean, you can't make this stuff up.

 

Joe, all I have to do is go to work each day and I have new material to write about.... and YES... it really is a true story...

 

I take it you liked the story then.... This story really makes me laugh... it's so typical of the "know-it-all" types out there. Everytime I read it... I can't help but laugh.

 

To bad I didn't charge this trio of automotive excellence for all the oil dry I went thru... LOL

Edited by Gonzo
Posted

Joe, all I have to do is go to work each day and I have new material to write about.... and YES... it really is a true story...

 

I take it you liked the story then.... This story really makes me laugh... it's so typical of the "know-it-all" types out there. Everytime I read it... I can't help but laugh.

 

To bad I didn't charge this trio of automotive excellence for all the oil dry I went thru... LOL

 

I do like the story, mainly because I can relate to the story. It's like these are my customers, it's the same no matter where you go.

Posted

I do like the story, mainly because I can relate to the story. It's like these are my customers, it's the same no matter where you go.

 

I think it would make a hysterically funny sitcom myself...

 

It doesn't matter what part of the country your in.... it's all the same... there are stooges everywhere... LOL

Posted

My favorite parts are where you say,

"Number one, I dont have time to finish it, Let me translate that for you… it really means; I couldnt figure it out even if the directions were tattooed to the inside of my eyelids.

Don't you just love these people who say that when you know they don't have a snow balls chance where it is hot of knowing what to do.

 

Then you write

"Number two, It only needs a few things … what that really means is… You aint going to believe how screwed we got this.
This also means either they don't have enough money for you to fix it or aren't willing to spend enough money for you to fix it.

 

Good job Gonzo!

Posted

My favorite parts are where you say,

 

Don't you just love these people who say that when you know they don't have a snow balls chance where it is hot of knowing what to do.

 

Then you write This also means either they don't have enough money for you to fix it or aren't willing to spend enough money for you to fix it.

 

Good job Gonzo!

 

Pretty funny stuff... thanx...for the comments.

 

and ya wonder why ... when you get a chance to get back to your office you just roll your eyeballs back in your head... wondering... how in the world did the gene pool miss throwing this one out when they had the chance...

 

Thanx again... you should get a copy of my book... ask Joe... he's got a copy... LOL

Posted

Pretty funny stuff... thanx...for the comments.

 

and ya wonder why ... when you get a chance to get back to your office you just roll your eyeballs back in your head... wondering... how in the world did the gene pool miss throwing this one out when they had the chance...

 

Thanx again... you should get a copy of my book... ask Joe... he's got a copy... LOL

 

I just ordered one. Be sure to autograph it for me. :)

Posted

I just ordered one. Be sure to autograph it for me. :)

autographed and on it's way.... enjoy...

Posted

autographed and on it's way.... enjoy...

 

Got it today in good shape. I will probably read some of it this weekend. Thanks!

Posted

Got it today in good shape. I will probably read some of it this weekend. Thanks!

that's great... hope ya like it...

 

Don't forget, like I always tell the customer as they are leaving the front office... "Keep it between the ditches.... and off the back of the tow trucks." Leaves em' speechless everytime.. LOL

 

Later.. Gonzo

Posted

I read the book over the weekend. My favorite story was the one with the two Lincolns who wanted you to make the great swap. After reading your book I think I could write one very similar but maybe with not as much flair. Do you think any of those people migrated to Indiana? I swear that I have dealt with some of them. You may find it of interest that I am passing the book on to my Army Ranger service manager to read. His wife is also an avid quilter. She had taken their master bedroom and made it into a sewing room. She has a $14,000 quilting machine and a bunch of other fancy machines and it is only a hobby.

Posted

I read the book over the weekend. My favorite story was the one with the two Lincolns who wanted you to make the great swap. After reading your book I think I could write one very similar but maybe with not as much flair. Do you think any of those people migrated to Indiana? I swear that I have dealt with some of them. You may find it of interest that I am passing the book on to my Army Ranger service manager to read. His wife is also an avid quilter. She had taken their master bedroom and made it into a sewing room. She has a $14,000 quilting machine and a bunch of other fancy machines and it is only a hobby.

Thanx for reading it... thanx for passing it on... then tell them to buy another copy... LOL

The stories are all true... the flair is of course to make it more readable and funny. (Mr. Ditto wasn't a happy camper let me tell you)

I tried to keep the stories real and to some sort of basic scenario that I have had other shops talk to me about over the years. That's why they are so easily related to any shop across the country. That was my intention... sounds like I did that from what your telling me. And, I'll bet some did migrate from or to Indiana... LOL

 

As far as the wife.... www.persimmonquilts.com My wife has written 2 quilt books so far. the first one has become a best seller, the second one will be out late this year. She is very VERY well known in the quilting world. That Army Rangers wife who is a quilter probably knows my wife... but I'll bet she doesn't know... she knows. (she probably has her book) One of the things my wife does is what is called "Quilts of Valor" you can read about that on her website. It's a organization that hands out a hand made quilt to any injured service person. leaving any military hospital.. it's something that she does that I am very proud of.

Oh, and my wife has one of those big quilting machines.... and our entire upstairs is all quilting... she didn't just take over a bedroom she took over an entire house... LOL... I think there is over 150 quilts for service people up there waiting to get done. Have your friends wife go to my wife's site...

 

Thanx for reading my book... it's a little something that I thought all of us in the business needed to read... because... we ain't alone behind that counter...

Keep it between the ditches and off the tow trucks.. Gonzo

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      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.
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      And then after that, you're going to get 30 days of check-ins where you can ask me questions. 
      I'll ask you to share your sales statistics and analytics so that we can improve them. 
      I'll send you new ideas for the other 3 Perfect Power Offer Strategies that are proven to work, and even do so much more, and by the end of that, you’ll have the complete “Perfect Offer Program” that will let you stop chasing car count once and for all!
      And since I'm going to be coaching you throughout this program for your specific account, know that it doesn't matter what market you’re in; it doesn’t matter if you don’t have one of those fancy main street locations; and it doesn't matter how much marketing experience you have because I'm literally going to be meeting you exactly where you are. 
      No matter what you need, I'm going to help you do that. 
      If you need better wrappers (to actually get people to see your offer), I'm going to help you do that. If you need help putting your perfect offer together, I'm going to tell you exactly how you should be doing that differently so that you can skyrocket your car count.
      In just the past few months, the typical repair shop that's gone through this program has grown their car count within 15 days of starting, and nobody has ever gained less than 10 new jobs the first month if they implement everything that I show them to do continually. (Your results may vary, depending on how well you follow our directions)
      Now, there is one catch.
      Actually, there’s three catches.
      #1- This is a nationally advertised program across United States and Canada, and it’s limited to only 3 qualified repair shops. 
      #2- This private case study group is limited to only one repair shop per market. In other words, I won’t compete against myself.
      #3- This may be the last time I offer this Exclusive One-on-One Case Study Opportunity to grow your car count immediately - because I'm still only one person, so I can only work with so many shop owners.
       
      The longer you wait to grow your car count, the harder it's going to get started.

      Please do not make the mistake that I made, which I literally regret every single day. That is that I didn't start growing car count earlier when I was a shop owner. Car count is the solution to just about every auto shop problem.
      So if you don't sign up right now, it could decrease the odds that we can actually work together, because once we get the three shops we’re looking for, I'm going to have to shut this opportunity down.
      That just means it's going to be even harder to grow your car count.
      Remember, nobody else can provide and guarantee you results before Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11, 2025, so please stop procrastinating.
      Go below, register right now. I cannot wait to help you hit your goals because at the end of the day, you actually have nothing to lose. 
      I'm literally going to tell you everything that you need to do. You are going to implement it, and you're going to get the results that you want, period.
      And oh, in case you’re wondering, there’s no money back guarantee… because this is a totally FREE Case Study Group. 
      That means there's zero risk to you if you sign up right now while you still can. 
      https://thecarcountfixer.com/go

      Hope this helps! See you in the case study group!
      Matthew
      "The Car Count Fixer"
    • By carmcapriotto
      The Weekly Blitz is brought to you by our friends over at Shop Marketing Pros. If you want to take your shop to the next level, you need great marketing. Shop Marketing Pros does top-tier marketing for top-tier shops.
      Click here to learn more about Top Tier Marketing by Shop Marketing Pros and schedule a demo: https://shopmarketingpros.com/chris/
      Check out their podcast here: https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/
      If you would like to join their private facebook group go here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autorepairmarketingmastermind
      Visit ShopMarketingPros.com/chris to partner with a team that understands your business. Because every great shop deserves marketing that’s just as great. 


      Check out their podcast here: https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/ If you would like to join their private Facebook group go here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autorepairmarketingmastermindIn 


      In this episode of "The Weekly Blitz," host Chris Cotton is joined by special guests Caroline Legrone and Kim Walker from Shop Marketing Pros to delve into the critical necessity of having a robust marketing plan for auto repair shops. The discussion centers around the pivotal role that a well-structured marketing strategy plays in the success and sustainability of these businesses.
      Chris, Caroline, and Kim explore the multifaceted aspects of marketing planning, emphasizing the importance of leveraging historical data to gain insights into the business's performance over time. By analyzing this data, shop owners can pinpoint slow periods and develop proactive marketing strategies that align with local events and seasonal trends, thereby optimizing their outreach efforts.
      Caroline Legrone underscores the significance of understanding past performance metrics, which can provide invaluable information for future planning. She explains how historical data can reveal patterns and trends that are crucial for making informed marketing decisions. This approach not only helps in identifying potential challenges but also in capitalizing on opportunities that may arise.
      Kim Walker, on the other hand, offers practical insights into the creation of a comprehensive marketing calendar. She shares her expertise on how to systematically plan marketing activities throughout the year, ensuring that the shop remains visible and engaged with the community. Kim's advice includes tips on scheduling promotions, aligning campaigns with local happenings, and maintaining a consistent presence across various marketing channels.
      Throughout the episode, the conversation is geared towards empowering shop owners to take control of their marketing efforts. By doing so, they can ensure sustained growth and foster stronger community engagement, even during traditionally slow periods. The episode serves as a call to action for auto repair shop owners to prioritize their marketing strategies, highlighting the long-term benefits of a well-executed plan.


      Introduction and Importance of Marketing (00:00:09)
      Chris Cotton introduces the episode and emphasizes the need for a marketing plan in auto repair businesses.
      Guest Introductions (00:01:11)
      Chris welcomes Caroline Legrone and Kim Walker from Shop Marketing Pros to the podcast.
      Discussion on Car Count Issues (00:01:48)
      Chris expresses concern over shop owners complaining about low car counts and the lack of planning.
      Identifying Seasonal Trends (00:02:32)
      Kim discusses common excuses for slow periods and the importance of recognizing seasonal trends.
      Understanding the Marketing Calendar (00:04:23)
      Caroline explains the significance of analyzing past performance to create an effective marketing calendar.
      Proactive Marketing Strategies (00:06:11)
      Kim shares insights on developing marketing plans based on historical data and identifying slow periods.
      Creative Marketing Solutions (00:07:25)
      Kim describes a unique marketing strategy developed around the local state fair to attract customers.
      Importance of Planning Ahead (00:09:27)
      Kim emphasizes the necessity of proactive planning rather than reacting to slow days.
      Timing for Event Promotions (00:12:30)
      Discussion on how far in advance to plan marketing strategies for events like the state fair.
      Community Calendar Considerations (00:14:09)
      Caroline advises checking community calendars to align marketing efforts with local events.
      Adjusting Marketing Budgets (00:16:19)
      Kim discusses the importance of reallocating marketing budgets based on seasonal trends.
      Applicability to Different Locations (00:16:27)
      Chris challenges the notion that marketing strategies are only relevant to local events, encouraging broader application.
      Yearly Planning for Marketing (00:17:09)
      Caroline stresses the importance of yearly planning for marketing strategies, even if starting late.
      Setting Holiday Schedules (00:18:49)
      Chris shares his approach to planning marketing around holiday closures as a starting point for the year.
      Here are the extracted timestamps and their corresponding titles from the podcast episode transcription segment:
      Importance of Planning (00:19:14)
      Chris emphasizes the need for shop owners to have a structured marketing plan.
      Blocking Time for Planning (00:19:40)
      Kim advises shop owners to set aside undistracted time in October for planning.
      Using a Big Calendar (00:20:17)
      Kim suggests using a large calendar to visualize important dates and events affecting marketing.
      Analyzing Performance Data (00:22:25)
      Kim discusses breaking down historical data to identify busy and slow times for better planning.
      Setting Realistic Goals (00:24:20)
      Caroline stresses the importance of setting achievable marketing goals based on past performance.
      Understanding Marketing Budgets (00:26:17)
      Kim explains how to determine an appropriate marketing budget based on desired growth.
      Plan with the Pros Conference (00:28:49)
      Caroline introduces the "Plan with the Pros" event aimed at helping shop owners create marketing plans.
      Event Success and Expansion (00:31:01)
      Kim shares the success of last year's event and plans for expanding this year's attendance.
      Facebook Group for Marketing Support (00:33:15)
      Caroline details the Auto Repair Marketing Mastermind group for shop owners to connect and share insights.
      Final Thoughts on Marketing (00:37:02)
      Caroline encourages shop owners to create marketing calendars and utilize available resources for success.
      Do It Scared (00:37:51)
      Encouragement to start marketing despite fears of making mistakes or not knowing how to begin.
      Getting Started (00:38:11)
      Emphasis on taking action; "done is better than perfect" and scheduling time away from the shop.
      Perspective on Fear (00:38:22)
      Discussion on the urgency of creating a marketing calendar to avoid business decline.
      Final Thoughts and Thanks (00:38:41)
      Closing remarks and encouragement to utilize marketing pros for effective growth strategies.
      Sponsorship Shout-Out (00:39:11)
      Promotion of Shop Marketing Pros as the recommended marketing partner for auto repair businesses.
      Closing Remarks (00:39:11)
      Encouragement to maintain a positive mindset and a farewell from Coach Chris Cotton.


      To listen to more episodes, make sure and go over to iTunes and or Spotify.
      Don't forget to rate and review us!


      Connect with Chris:
      AutoFix-Auto Shop Coaching
      www.autoshopcoaching.com
      www.aftermarketradionetwork.com
      940-400-1008
      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AutoFixAutoShopCoaching
      YouTube: https://bit.ly/3ClX0ae
      Email Chris: [email protected]


      The Aftermarket Radio Network
      Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion
      Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life.
      The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.
      The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching.
      Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest.
      Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size.
      #autofixautoshopcoaching #autofixbeautofixing #autoshopprofits #autoshopprofit #autoshopprofitsfirst #autoshopleadership #autoshopmanagement #autorepairshopcoaching #autorepairshopconsulting #autorepairshoptraining #autorepairshop #autorepair #serviceadvisor #serviceadvisorefficiency #autorepairshopmarketing #theweeklyblitz #autofix #shopmarketingpros #autofixautoshopcoachingbook
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • By Joe Marconi
      Take if someone who has lived through many uncertain times, this is the best time to bump up your customer experience. Show confidence and and show that you appreciate your customers. This also means showing appreciation for your employees - Happy employees create happy customers.
      While there is a lot of uncertainty these days, there is one thing you can take to the bank: With the right positive mindset, staying strong and driving forward, you will be better off in the good times. 
       
    • By Joe Marconi
      As I make this post, the stock market is down again, and the off again, on again tariffs are enough to drive me nuts.
      If imposed, will tariffs have an impact on our business and/or industry? 
       
    • By carmcapriotto
      The Weekly Blitz is brought to you by our friends over at Shop Marketing Pros. If you want to take your shop to the next level, you need great marketing. Shop Marketing Pros does top-tier marketing for top-tier shops.
      Click here to learn more about Top Tier Marketing by Shop Marketing Pros and schedule a demo: https://shopmarketingpros.com/chris/
      Check out their podcast here: https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/
      If you would like to join their private facebook group go here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autorepairmarketingmastermind
      SHOW NOTES
      Throughout the episode, Coach Chris covers a range of pivotal topics that are crucial for business growth and sustainability. He discusses the potential benefits of real estate investments, drawing parallels to the Monopoly board where acquiring properties can lead to increased revenue and long-term financial gains. Additionally, he explores the concept of financial diversification, encouraging shop owners to explore various avenues for generating income beyond their core services.
      A significant portion of the discussion is dedicated to the value of forming strategic partnerships and investing in employee development. Coach Chris emphasizes that nurturing relationships with other businesses and fostering a skilled workforce can lead to enhanced service offerings and a competitive edge in the market. He also highlights the critical role of cash flow management, advising shop owners on how to maintain a healthy financial status that supports both day-to-day operations and future growth initiatives.
      Strategic expansion is another key theme, with Coach Chris providing insights on how to scale operations thoughtfully and sustainably. By aligning expansion efforts with clearly defined business objectives, shop owners can achieve financial stability and set the stage for long-term success.
      Introduction and Overview (00:00:09)
      Coach Chris Cotton introduces the podcast and its focus on auto repair business strategies.
      Monopoly Metaphor (00:01:05)
      Chris uses Monopoly to illustrate strategic business management and growth opportunities for shop owners.
      Defining Your Business Size (00:02:03)
      Discussion on ambitions regarding the size of the business—local, regional, or national expansion goals.
      Opportunities for Growth (00:03:12)
      Encouragement to view business opportunities as "squares" on a Monopoly board, representing growth potential.
      Real Estate Investments (00:04:25)
      The benefits of owning property, including passive income and stability for the auto repair business.
      Diversification of Income Streams (00:05:28)
      Exploration of additional income sources like storage facilities and rental properties to enhance financial security.
      Financial Investments (00:06:41)
      Importance of stocks and retirement accounts for long-term financial growth and stability beyond the auto industry.
      Flexibility in Business Strategy (00:07:58)
      The need for adaptability in response to unexpected challenges and opportunities in the business landscape.
      Strategic Partnerships (00:08:41)
      Value of collaborations with suppliers and other businesses to create growth opportunities and enhance profitability.
      Employee Development (00:09:04)
      Investing in team training and development as a critical factor for business success and employee retention.
      Connect with Chris: chris autofixsos.com
       Phone: 940.400.1008
       www.autoshopcoaching.com
       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ 
      AutoFixAutoShopCo
       Connect with Chris: chris autofixsos.com Phone: 940.400.1008 www.autoshopcoaching.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ AutoFixAutoShopCoachingYoutube: https://bit.ly/3ClX0ae 
      www.autoshopcoaching.com 
      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ AutoFixAutoShopCoaching
      Youtube: https://bit.ly/3ClX0ae
      The Aftermarket Radio Network
      Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion
      Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life.
      The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.
      The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching.
      Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest.
      Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size.
      To listen to more episodes, make sure and go over to iTunes and or Spotify.
      Don't forget to rate and review us!
      Connect with Chris:
      AutoFix-Auto Shop Coaching
      www.autoshopcoaching.com
      www.aftermarketradionetwork.com
      #autofixautoshopcoaching #autofixbeautofixing #autoshopprofits #autoshopprofit #autoshopprofitsfirst #autoshopleadership #autoshopmanagement #autorepairshopcoaching #autorepairshopconsulting #autorepairshoptraining #autorepairshop #autorepair #serviceadvisor #serviceadvisorefficiency #autorepairshopmarketing #theweeklyblitz #autofix #shopmarketingpros #autofixautoshopcoachingbook
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio


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