Changing The Industry Podcast

Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABEDon't miss an upcoming event with The Institute: https://geni.us/InstituteEvents2026Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityTransform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros!Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingProsShop owners, are you ready to simplify your business operations? Meet 360 Payments, your one-stop solution for effortless payment processing.Imagine this—no more juggling receipts, staplers, or endless paperwork. With 360 Payments, you get everything integrated into a single, sleek digital platform.Simplify payments. Streamline operations. Check out 360payments.com today!In this episode, the conversation focused on Kobi Meyer's experience taking over his family's shop, Dana Meyer Auto Care, a San Francisco Bay Area staple for over 50 years. The discussion explored challenges unique to family-owned businesses, including the struggle to maintain a legacy while adapting to modern systems and higher costs of living. Several points came up, including the difficulty of paying competitive wages in an expensive market, the importance of a clear long-term vision for the business, and how coaching and software upgrades have helped strengthen shop operations.00:00 Struggling with finding passionate hires06:42 Streamlining operations and systems adjustments15:13 Buying in a gentrifying area18:38 Perception of others' earnings27:31 Living in a paradoxical paradise33:19 Midwest versus Coasts in Real Estate38:15 Stopping for Fried Chicken Lunch41:30 Reckless driving in the Midwest49:10 Discussing future expansion plans53:47 Planning for the Future58:30 Planning for the future01:01:32 Finding guidance is tricky

Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABEDon't miss an upcoming event with The Institute: https://geni.us/InstituteEvents2026Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityTransform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros!Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingProsShop owners, are you ready to simplify your business operations? Meet 360 Payments, your one-stop solution for effortless payment processing.Imagine this—no more juggling receipts, staplers, or endless paperwork. With 360 Payments, you get everything integrated into a single, sleek digital platform.Simplify payments. Streamline operations. Check out 360payments.com today!In this episode, Lucas and David welcome Josh Parnell, founder and CEO of Limitless Leadership, and leadership coach Bret Beitler. The conversation focuses on leadership development in the automotive industry, with Josh highlighting the importance of empowering team members and building a culture of coachability and accountability. The group explores the value and return on investment of team engagement at industry events, discussing both the benefits and the practical challenges of shutting down a shop for staff training.00:00 Concerns about closing the shop06:17 Employee engagement and productivity15:31 Previewing industry trends and vendors21:25 Encouraging team feedback and ideas26:20 Coaching through questions and discovery31:59 Embracing a coachable mindset35:02 Critiquing Social Media Consumption38:50 Conceptualizing Hypotheticals on Instagram46:46 Empowering leadership and team development48:58 Discussion on Milwaukee Pipeline Event59:06 Building a Future in the U.S.01:02:25 Awkward store encounter01:05:16 Wrapping up the discussion

Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABEDon't miss an upcoming event with The Institute: https://geni.us/InstituteEvents2026Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityTransform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros!Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingProsShop owners, are you ready to simplify your business operations? Meet 360 Payments, your one-stop solution for effortless payment processing.Imagine this—no more juggling receipts, staplers, or endless paperwork. With 360 Payments, you get everything integrated into a single, sleek digital platform.Simplify payments. Streamline operations. Check out 360payments.com today!In this episode, Lucas Underwood and David Roman join Brian Zemba, founder of CHG Leadership Consulting. Brian Zemba highlights the lack of leadership training among shop owners and the resulting impact on workplace culture and employee satisfaction. David Roman offers a counterpoint, questioning whether employees truly know what they want and emphasizing the challenges of motivating and retaining talent. Together, the trio explores the concept of "positive turnover"—helping employees find roles that fit their strengths, even if it means moving on—which can ultimately strengthen a shop's culture and success.00:00 Auto repair pricing and convenience09:40 Importance of Leadership Training13:25 Mechanics as consumer advocates17:56 Employee dependency and retention27:51 Using emotional intelligence32:25 Discussing effective communication and culture34:22 Understanding Positive Turnover42:48 Teaching kids entrepreneurship skills45:06 Coaching and wisdom in leadership50:34 Generational differences and workforce quality59:51 Being curious in business relationships01:01:18 Seeking understanding and ending conflict

Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABEDon't miss an upcoming event with The Institute: https://geni.us/InstituteEvents2026Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityTransform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros!Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingProsShop owners, are you ready to simplify your business operations? Meet 360 Payments, your one-stop solution for effortless payment processing.Imagine this—no more juggling receipts, staplers, or endless paperwork. With 360 Payments, you get everything integrated into a single, sleek digital platform.Simplify payments. Streamline operations. Check out 360payments.com today!In this episode, David and Lucas welcome Pixi Pickthall and Josh from Mesa, Arizona. Pixi and Josh share their unique approach to shop ownership, blending Josh’s decades of industry experience with Pixi’s social work background to create a highly personalized customer experience. The conversation dives deep into the challenges of setting proper labor rates, the importance of understanding financial metrics, and the need to balance quality service with fair profitability.00:00 Managing warehouse logistics09:25 Name change and market saturation12:50 Observations from working at dealership17:16 Challenges in hiring skilled technicians22:29 Implementing DVX for consistency29:16 Improving client experience36:25 Handling customer complaints39:22 Court warranty responsibility discussion45:55 Talking auto shop math basics49:50 Struggling with car ownership choices59:17 Financial stability and customer selection01:02:01 Seeking expert financial advice01:09:12 Auto Repair Shop Basics series01:10:48 Facing challenges and setbacks

Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABEDon't miss an upcoming event with The Institute: https://geni.us/InstituteEvents2026Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityTransform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros!Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingProsShop owners, are you ready to simplify your business operations? Meet 360 Payments, your one-stop solution for effortless payment processing.Imagine this—no more juggling receipts, staplers, or endless paperwork. With 360 Payments, you get everything integrated into a single, sleek digital platform.Simplify payments. Streamline operations. Check out 360payments.com today!In this episode, Lucas and David sit down with Joe Ocello and Tom Elder from AASP New Jersey to discuss the state of the mechanical and collision repair industries. Tom shares his perspective on the growing need for specialized education and proper documentation as vehicles become more technologically advanced. Joe emphasizes the importance of ongoing technical training and communication to keep independent shops competitive and safe.00:00 Teaching and building a skilled team08:22 Ignoring safety instructions14:35 Discussing mechanical challenges19:55 Dealership service concerns26:33 Replacing a deformed metal line28:52 Carrying on the industry's legacy34:24 Importance of business education42:42 Dealing with repair mishaps46:03 Discussing lawsuit strategy and repairs49:57 Used car ADAS diagnostic work58:46 Maryland ADAS certification debate01:00:51 Discussing automotive repair regulations01:08:25 Engaging shops beyond North Carolina01:10:31 Staying focused on future goals