Ep 64 - (Christmas) Coaching Call #12 | How To Set Realistic Goals For 2026

About this episode

Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston April 9-11 and use Code CONFESSIONS500 for $500.00 off. HERETurnkey Marketing takes the stress of doing something I'm not good at off my plate. And gives it to someone who is. Click HERE for more.Elite Worldwide has CHANGED my business and life through their one-on-one coaching. Use them like I do HEREFor years I thought I could handle the hiring process on my own. But, after far too many bad hires, it was clear I needed help. Promotive came through for me with a rock star hire in just a few days and I couldn't be happier. Swallow your pride and bring in Promotive for that open position you have at your shop today. You can thank me later. Learn more HEREAI for Shop Owners: Open the Hood of the Future is happening June 12-13 at Carfix in Raleigh, NC. Use AI to your advantage! Register HEREIn this special Christmas Coaching Call, Mike Allen and Matt Lofton talk about goal setting for the New Year. They did into the details of how to properly project technician hour capacity and slow and busy seasons. They also discuss the importance of a strategic marketing budget, saying that marketing should generate opportunity—not just sales—and how matching tactics to team strengths is crucial for success.Timestamps: 00:00 Farmer Analogy for Shop Owners: Understanding Harvest Seasons00:20 Why Bad October & August Can Sink Your Year01:00 Navigating Health Insurance Options for Your Team03:05 Payroll Mistakes = Free Health Insurance?!04:20 Christmas Episode Intro & Why Shop Goal Setting Matters05:19 Goal Setting Philosophy: The “Elite Pro Service” Approach06:53 Grounding Goals in Math, Not Hope07:54 Calculating Real Shop Capacity with Tech Hours09:01 Factoring Satellite Locations into Your Planning10:02 Breaking Down Staff Roles & Realistic Productivity13:01 Training & Growing Technician Skillsets15:00 Risks & Rewards of Upskilling Your GS18:24 Effective Labor Rate & Parts-to-Labor Ratio Explained20:15 The Monthly Capacity Game & Avoiding Average Traps26:36 Why August & October Are Your Make-or-Break Months28:02 Adapting Your Monthly Goals to Holidays & Vacation29:02 Getting Your Team Singing from the Same Goal Sheet30:00 Coaching Your Team: The Basketball Analogy32:09 Communicating Daily Goals for Technicians & Advisors36:59 Tracking Approvals, Car Count, and Setting Realistic Targets40:29 Translating Manager Math into Daily Team Wins42:38 Setting Your Marketing Budget (3-5% or Up to 10%?)44:08 Google Ads vs. Direct Mail: What Works for New Shops?47:30 The Myth of Bad Customers—Fixing the Real Problems54:21 Community Events, Brand Building, and Consistency55:36 Wrapping Up: Getting Linked Up With Elite & Your Shop’s Growth55:37 Christmas Family Fun Gone Wrong! Elf on the Shelf Stories