From College Basketball to Automotive Leader | Gabby Oglesby - Ep 34
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You shouldn't have to play detective just to figure out what's happening in your own shop. đ If you're ready for all your shop's informationâŠ
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Who Takes Care of the Shop Owner? | JeanAnn SaintGrace - Ep 33
Consistency is key - heard that! But, consistency is HARD. That's why I gave up on trying and let the experts handle it. Detect Auto. Let them clean up your estimating process and raise your ARO - like they did for me! CLICK HERE TO BOOK A DEMOAnybody can run a shop. Building one that lasts? That's a whole different story. If you're ready to build smarter systems and a better experience for your team and customers, check out Tekmetric HEREIn this episode, Tonnika Haynes and JeanAnn SaintGrace get real about the shop ownership journeyâno sugarcoating here. JeanAnn opens up about navigating grief, burnout, and leadership after the loss of her husband, sharing how those tough lessons turned into a passion for coaching other shop owners. If youâve ever felt like youâre celebrating your wins alone, juggling all the hats, or just need someone to unwind with who truly gets it, this episode is for you.Listen to JeanAnn's podcast "Shop Talk Her Way" hereTimestamps:00:00 Why shop owners need a place to unloadâthe birth of Downshift01:16 JeanAnnâs background: Shop ownership, grief, and a âunicornâ sale03:39 Returning to the automotive worldâcoaching through loss05:47 Why longer coaching calls matter & celebrating client wins07:04 Loneliness of leadershipâwhy owners need people to celebrate with08:13 The value of going deep: No âIâm fineâ answers allowed!09:51 Balancing business and friendshipânavigating tough employee situations12:34 Vision for your team: Helping employees look beyond the next paycheck14:34 Embracing differencesâwhy everyone brings something to the table16:11 The next great idea can come from anywhere (even the âkidâ tech!)18:18 Smarter people in the room: Building teams that challenge and grow18:56 The three things employees want most: Communication, recognition, input20:15 One-on-ones, âdate nights,â and loving your team âtil itâs weird21:36 Technicians and mental health: Addressing the industryâs suicide rate24:16 Shop ownership is lonelyâcreating spaces for real talk and support26:23 Lacking life insurance and key man insurance? Why itâs a must29:01 Burnout, overwork, and the power of letting your team support you32:39 General vs. soldier: Why owners shouldnât always be âin the trenchesâ34:55 Giving yourself graceâespecially when hard work doesnât look glamorous37:52 Surviving lifeâs curveballs: The benefits of planning and protection43:31 Being vulnerable as a leader & building real trust/culture47:03 Celebrating the little winsâbecause no one claps for payroll!56:22 The heart of service: Why connections with customers matter most59:04 Becoming the âfirst callââyour shop as the hub of community trust1:01:25 From fixing cars to fixing lives: Jean Annâs legacy through coaching1:04:00 Youâre not aloneâreaching out for community, resources, and real talk1:05:10 How to connect with JeanAnn and find your safe space to land
Benjie Burris's "Secret Weapon" for His Shop | Benjie and Kristy Burris - Ep 32
Running a shop is hard enoughâyou don't need your software making it harder. đ If you're ready for more clarity, better organization, and a smoother experience for both your team and your customers, check out Tekmetric HEREConsistency is key - heard that! But, consistency is HARD. That's why I gave up on trying and let the experts handle it. Detect Auto. Let them clean up your estimating process and raise your ARO - like they did for me! CLICK HERE TO BOOK A DEMOIn this episode, Tonnika Haynes welcomes back Benjie Burris, but this time he brought who we all wanted to hear the first time. The boss! Kristy Burris. Today, they get into what it means to build legacy in the automotive repair industry. They also cover the importance of apprenticeship programs and investing in young technicians to secure the industry's future. Tonnika also unpacks the real story behind shop cultureâemphasizing that true wealth isnât just KPIs, but the impact you have on your community and the next generation.Timestamps:00:00 The pressure to go to collegeâand the reality for grads01:31 Why Benjieâs âsecret weaponâ changed the business02:46 Doing the work vs. coasting through shop coaching05:00 Kristyâs journey: from classroom to the family shop09:11 The apprenticeship program and hiring local youth13:00 Rethinking âspecial educationââeveryone deserves a chance16:05 The unseen brilliance in non-traditional students18:28 Why degrees and diplomas arenât the only path to success20:07 Building up people, not just technicians22:22 Real wealth: lessons you canât measure in KPIs24:45 Are todayâs kids âlazyâ? Busting myths about the next generation27:44 The trap of chasing other peopleâs goalsâset your own32:34 How mentorship changes lives (and helped Benji calm down!)36:03 Culture eats strategy for breakfastâhereâs what REALLY matters42:15 Mentorship in action: the new generation leading the shop45:45 Lessons learned: why serving your community beats the bottom line48:14 Donât bring work homeâmaking the family business attractive51:10 Next-gen ownership: preparing your kids for leadership55:05 Giving your staff tools that donât come from a tool truck57:00 Why feedback (and a good chicken wing) matter59:10 Itâs not smoke and mirrorsâshop culture you can FEEL
How to Build a Business While Raising a Family | Kassiady Markham - Ep 31
You shouldn't have to play detective just to figure out what's happening in your own shop. đ If you're ready for all your shop's information in one place, check out Tekmetric HEREConsistency is key - heard that! But, consistency is HARD. That's why I gave up on trying and let the experts handle it. Detect Auto. Let them clean up your estimating process and raise your ARO - like they did for me! CLICK HERE TO BOOK A DEMOIn this episode, Kassiady Markham joins Tonnika Haynes to share her journey of building Phase Two Automotive alongside her husband from the ground up. Kassiady opens up about the challenges of balancing motherhood, business ownership, and overcoming setbacksâincluding business failures and family health crises. She emphasizes the importance of coaching for growth, setting boundaries at work, and building generational wealth for their family.Timestamps:00:00 Kassiady introduction: therapy, humor, and owning half the company01:02 Shop origins: EMT careers and turning a car hobby into a side hustle04:08 From âside gigâ to baby in the officeâjuggling kids and business05:16 Struggles: marriage stress, foreclosure, and raising autistic children07:00 When the first business collapsed and the comeback began10:09 Taking a leap (again): Starting over with Phase Two Automotive13:32 IRS threats and the decision to take full control14:29 Stepping into leadership: Doing the books, HR, and payroll16:36 Coaching with Elite: Solving problems, boundaries, and marriage tips18:45 Why running a family business was the only way20:01 Whoâs in Kassiady corner when it gets hard? Support systems23:30 How the team runs the shop (including her brother!)25:38 The crucial role of coaching in unlocking new growth27:20 The vision: generational wealth, success goals, and involving the kids30:35 Lessons learned: âItâs not a bad lifeâjust a bad day.â32:01 Setting work boundaries and prioritizing family34:19 Therapy as self-care; keeping the marriage strong39:05 Parenting philosophies and supporting kids to adulthood41:14 Leading as the only woman in the shop: standing firm43:19 Customer confrontations and not backing down44:50 Real advice for women running shops or helping husbands50:39 Discounting, boundaries, and protecting the shopâs future54:49 Giving back to the communityâdoing good when it matters56:29 Expansion goals: property headaches and future shop dreams60:08 Rapid fire: first car, dream car, entrepreneurship in one word61:49 Biggest lesson: Wishing theyâd started coaching sooner62:13 Why sheâll never be without a business coach
The Mistake That's Costing Your Shop Money | Nick Yannessa & Chi Wong - Ep 30
Consistency is key - heard that! But, consistency is HARD. That's why I gave up on trying and let the experts handle it. Detect Auto. Let them clean up your estimating process and raise your ARO - like they did for me! CLICK HERE TO BOOK A DEMOAnybody can run a shop. Building one that lasts? That's a whole different story. If you're ready to build smarter systems and a better experience for your team and customers, check out Tekmetric HEREIn this episode, Tonnika welcomes Nick Yannessa & Chi Wong to talk about how they started a auto repair shop. Nick brought up how he thinks it's dangerous to judge customers based on their car or backgroundâpresenting recommendations equally is key for success. They all discuss the importance of efficiency and processes, especially for one-person operations, with strategies ranging from shop layout to streamlined part sourcing. The discussion explored how relationshipsâwhether through peer support, coaching, or personal connection with customersâcan make or break both morale and business success.Timestamps:00:00 Growing up in the business, judging customers & learning not to assume03:00 The wild origin story of a Philly-area repair friendship07:00 Shop ownership journeys: from dealer frustration to Craigslist finds13:15 Shop expansions, partnerships, and the big pains of growing fast16:30 Management mistakes: Getting hurt by the wrong coaching advice22:30 Why shop friendships (and roasting each other) drive real growth26:00 Breaking out of the tech mindset â why process & sales skills matter35:00 Single bay or big staff? How to thrive as a one-man show41:30 Efficiency hacks: leg surgery for your shop layout47:00 The power of batching tasks, double-dipping on equipment, and finding your warehouse51:00 Bootstrapping a new shop, from free desks to Techmetric (or not)59:00 Real-life sales training: How to pitch brakes and win trust1:12:00 Dealership vs. Indie: Why premium service isnât just about the brand1:20:00 Body shop margins, insurance games, and why service rocks1:33:00 The secret sauce: Making your shop unforgettable1:39:00 Building trust over time (without a single DVI)1:44:00 Health, happiness, and generational wealthâsuccess beyond KPIs1:46:00 Why driving a free CR-V might beat flexing a Cadillac1:52:00 Building benefits for your people, and leveling up your future1:58:00 Final rants and why you need to be the âdive barâ your customers love