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/IFORABE

Don't miss an upcoming event with The Institute: https://geni.us/InstituteEvents2026

Shop-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/profitability

Transform 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/ShopMarketingPros

Shop 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 are joined by Jonathan Seitzer, a former Wall Street product manager who is stepping into the world of auto shop ownership. Jonathan shares his journey from discovering the podcast and automotive industry to the challenges of buying an established shop with no technical background. The conversation covers the realities of inheriting an existing staff, balancing necessary changes with preserving shop culture, and the daunting task of building a supportive work environment while facing industry-wide staffing and training hurdles.

00:00 "From Marines to Wall Street"

03:45 "Electric Vehicle Charging Stations"

07:15 "Journey Back to Mars"

12:44 Customer Reactions to Pricing Changes

14:16 "Challenges with Dutch Customers"

16:25 "Effective Marketing Strategy Essentials"

21:44 "Golden Handcuffs Dilemma"

25:29 "Building a Hiring Pipeline"

28:24 "Fostering Growth and Balance"

31:03 Scaling Revenue Through Skilled Leadership

34:49 Preparing the Next Generation

37:20 "Challenges in Automotive Careers"

40:58 "Beware Leadership Temptations"

44:05 "Finding Balance in Leadership"

45:51 "The Struggle to Take Seriously"

52:01 "Building Trust Through Consistency"

55:12 "Cluttered Midwestern Dealership Tale"

56:18 "Impactful Change Through Appearance"

59:50 "Supportive Learning Community"

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/IFORABE

Don't miss an upcoming event with The Institute: https://geni.us/InstituteEvents2026

Shop-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/profitability

Transform 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/ShopMarketingPros

Shop 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 are joined by Eric Cook, better known as “Eric the Car Guy.” Eric shares the story of his unconventional journey from art school to becoming a master technician and influential automotive content creator. The conversation explores changes in the automotive industry, the importance of shop culture and technician respect, and the challenges both technicians and shop owners face as they adapt to evolving technology and business demands.

00:00 "From Acura to Video Editing"

08:42 "Humbled by Fans' Support"

13:18 "Rediscovering Connection Through Creation"

16:03 "Grace in Growth and Leadership"

23:30 "Valuing Skilled Labor and Adaptability"

28:21 "Value of Skilled Tire Workers"

32:21 "Tech Advances Will Raise Job Value"

40:37 "Human Error vs. Robotics"

44:26 "Modern Paths to Auto Careers"

53:27 "Elvis: From Devil to King"

57:57 "Access to Knowledge, Stupidity Grows"

01:03:42 "Restoring and Revamping Vehicles"

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/IFORABE

Don't miss an upcoming event with The Institute: https://geni.us/InstituteEvents2026

Shop-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/profitability

Transform 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/ShopMarketingPros

Shop 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 are joined by Wayne Marshall, CEO at the Institute for Automotive Business Excellence. Wayne shares his journey from industry vendor and business owner to leading the Institute, emphasizing the importance of succession planning and building a strong foundation for long-term success. The conversation highlights the value of investing in people, fostering industry-wide collaboration, and creating an exceptional customer experience through attention and hospitality.

00:00 Letting Go to Empower Growth

05:51 "Building a Strong Foundation"

14:54 "Embracing Change in Business Ownership"

18:48 "Business Growth and Advice"

24:29 Pitching to Decision-Makers Only

27:43 Switching to a Smaller Bank

36:25 Investing in People for Growth

39:19 "Supporting Growth and Opportunity"

47:11 "Collaboration, Communication, and Growth"

51:27 Sports, Passion, Pressure, and Mistakes

58:38 Stressful Car Troubles

01:00:04 "Turning Issues Into Opportunities"