Get registered for the ASTA Expo 2025 at the Raleigh Convention Center: https://geni.us/ASTA2025

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/InstituteEvents2025

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

Make sure you mention: CTISUMMER to get FREE data migration!

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 one sleek, digital platform.

Simplify payments. Streamline operations. Check out 360payments.com today!

In this episode, Lucas and David are joined by Uwe Kleinschmidt, formerly of Autovitals and now with Autotech IQ. Uwe shares lessons from his upbringing in East Germany and his journey to becoming a technology leader in the automotive industry. The conversation explores the challenges and importance of a strong shop culture and process, the need to empower customers through transparent digital vehicle inspections (DVI), and the evolving role of AI in improving shop communication and operational consistency.

00:00 Visit to David's Tense Shop

10:01 California Gas Price Concerns

14:06 Community College Enrollment Surge

19:37 "Value of First-Gen Immigrant Workers"

23:43 Chancellor Cole's Election Strategy

30:57 Engineer Relocates to Boost US Sales

36:48 "Choosing Shopware for Consistency"

40:29 "Adopting Carolyn's Shop Success Model"

45:25 Customer-Driven Sales Approach

48:49 Guided Customer Research Prompts

58:59 "Handle Unknown Text Links"

01:00:21 "Client Portal Development Needed"

01:05:53 The Curse of Knowledge in Retail

Get registered for the ASTA Expo 2025 at the Raleigh Convention Center: https://geni.us/ASTA2025

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/InstituteEvents2025

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

Make sure you mention: CTISUMMER to get FREE data migration!

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 one sleek, digital platform.

Simplify payments. Streamline operations. Check out 360payments.com today!

In this episode, Lucas and David are joined by Samantha Higdon, Kevin Rozema, and Frank Scandura for a lively discussion about shop culture. The group highlights the crucial role of structure and systems in establishing and sustaining a positive workplace environment. They also emphasize the impact of one disruptive individual on team morale and performance, sharing real-world experiences of how quickly culture can improve once a toxic influence is removed. Finally, the conversation explores the connection between strong internal culture and public perception, stressing that shops with clear values and expectations not only attract better employees but also build greater trust with their customers.

00:00 "Schindler's Ongoing Legacy"

05:50 "Defunct Culture Exposed"

09:18 Implementing Shopware Systematically

09:46 Refining Workflow and Company Culture

14:09 Establishing Team Structure and Culture

17:50 Misaligned Hiring Risks Culture

20:04 Workplace Challenges for Technicians

24:45 Unmet Expectations Ruin Cultures

27:08 Shifting Focus for Profitability

31:34 Guiding Aspiring Automotive Careers

35:48 Mandatory Quarterly Education Benefits

39:58 Stop Temporary Fixes, Solve Core Issues

41:41 "Unhealthy Dynamics and Letting Go"

44:56 Toxic Leadership Dynamics

47:24 Shop Manager's Crucial Role

51:53 Promoting Continuous Automotive Education

55:17 "Adaptability: Embrace Change"

Get registered for the ASTA Expo 2025 at the Raleigh Convention Center: https://geni.us/ASTA2025

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/InstituteEvents2025

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

Make sure you mention: CTISUMMER to get FREE data migration!

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 one sleek, digital platform.

Simplify payments. Streamline operations. Check out 360payments.com today!

In this episode, Lucas and David are joined by Nate Winston, who shares the story of leaving a long-term business partnership to open his own shop. Nate discusses the challenges and emotional toll of a toxic partnership, the importance of having clear roles and written agreements in business relationships, and the remarkable improvements in his well-being and shop success after going solo.

00:00 Affordable Custom Clothing Solutions

09:14 "Business Partnership Gone Wrong"

13:59 Missing Documentation Dilemma

16:46 Unexpected Lawsuit Loss: $15K Withdrawn

26:01 Banter Over Responsibilities with Juan

32:00 "Rarity of Genuine Selflessness"

35:11 Father's Resilience in Adversity

40:24 Increased Work Hours Achieved

46:19 Argument Led to Tragic Outcome

53:49 Goal-Setting Through Strategic Planning

54:52 Effective Goal Management

01:04:23 "Processing Loss and Grief"

01:08:19 Documenting Family Memories Intentionally

01:13:08 Trusting Independence at Age 10