Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training and Pico Technology

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Matt riffs on a surprisingly quiet moment from Rocky—the late-night scene where Rocky admits he can’t beat Apollo and Adrian simply asks, “What do we do?” From that question, Matt draws a blueprint for technicians and shop owners: set realistic, self-assigned wins and stack them. Instead of living and dying by big, binary outcomes (“fixed/not fixed,” “hit benchmark/missed benchmark”), build momentum with attainable goals that compound into competence, confidence, and better shop results.

Big Ideas

• “What do we do?” beats “You can do it!” Swapping empty hype for practical next steps creates traction.
• Redefine winning: Rocky doesn’t win the fight; he wins by “going the distance.” Translate that to your day: hit achievable targets that move you forward.
• Stack small, durable improvements: The path to 40+ billed hours or top-quartile shop productivity runs through many smaller, consistent wins.
• Perfection limits joy: Ambition is good; impossible standards starve you of pride and progress.
• Benchmarks aren’t commandments: Continuous improvement may matter more than someone else’s KPI.

Practical Takeaways for Techs

• Scope reps, not scope heroics: Use the oscilloscope on easy cars and routine checks—pair voltage with time until it’s second nature, then add a second channel and a low-amp probe where it makes sense.
• Thermal imager habits: Pull it out on brake inspections, wheel-bearing complaints, and on known-good vehicles to calibrate your eye for “normal.”
• Micro-goals to build hours: If you’re billing ~20 hrs/week, aim for 25 (≈+1 hr/day). Then 30. Ask: Where can I reclaim two hours? (economy of motion, fewer tool trips, better setup).

Practical Takeaways for Shop Owners/Leads

• Aim for +10–15% improvements first: If techs are ~60% productive, target 70%, not 100% overnight. Design the system to enable the next step.
• Design wins into the week: Encourage daily scope/thermal reps, short debriefs, and “wins boards” that recognize process improvements—not just hero fixes.
• Coach with the Adrian question: When someone says, “I can’t hit that,” respond with: “What do we do?” Identify the next two concrete actions.

Memorable Lines

• “We can define our own successes—it doesn’t have to be everyone else’s.”
• “Set wins somewhere earlier in the process, not only at the final repair.”
• “I hope you’re proud of yourself—and that you let yourself feel it.”

Chapter Guide

1. Cold open & sponsors — NAPA Auto Tech Training, Pico Technology
2. Why Rocky still hits — the “What do we do?” scene
3. Defining ‘going the distance’ at work
4. Tech micro-wins — scope reps, thermal habits, pairing voltage & current
5. Shop micro-wins — stepwise productivity goals, system design > pep talks
6. Perfection vs. pride — making room to feel accomplished

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training

NAPA Autotech’s team of ASE Master Certified Instructors are conducting over 1,200 classes covering 28 automotive topics. To see a selection, go to

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training and Pico Technology

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Matt wrestles with a lifelong pattern of shame, defensiveness, and downplaying wins—and how naming it (out loud) is helping him show up better at work and at home. This one’s part confessional, part field guide: practical, unglamorous steps for accepting compliments, advocating for your value, and being safer to confront in relationships.

Content note: brief, heartfelt discussion of infant loss (the story of Matt’s son, Benjamin).

Why listen

• If you instinctively swat away compliments or feel “pride” is off-limits, this gives language—and a few reps—to shift that.
• Shops, teams, and families run better when we replace shame/stonewalling with honesty and curiosity.

Highlights

• The “shame tank”: how early patterns trained Matt to equate mistakes with identity (“I did something dumb” → “I am dumb”) and how that fueled resentment cycles with employers and loved ones.
• Stonewall → spill → reset → repeat: the loop that forms when you won’t self-advocate until pressure boils over.
• Compliment deflection ≠ humility: jokes like “you need to get out more” felt safe, but quietly devalued real wins.
• Owning value without arrogance: learning to state what you bring to the table without feeling like your mouth is on fire.
• Two proud moments (finally named):
• Benjamin’s birth: staying present, stopping futile interventions, and making sure mom and family had time with him. https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/episode/overcoming-the-loss-of-a-child-finding-a-silver-lining-e035
• Post-divorce boundaries: noticing red flags early and exiting a relationship kindly (growth in real life, not theory).
• Professional growth he’ll actually own: the podcast, teaching, equipment dev/beta, EEPROM/board-level work, and expanding beyond “just drivability.”
• Result of doing the work: markedly better conversations with his boss; marriage moving from “fine” to genuinely “great.”

Practical takeaways

• Language swap: “I did something dumb” ≠ “I am dumb.” Keep identity out of error statements.
• Three-beat compliment drill: Hear it → pause → say “thank you” → full stop. (Joke later if you must.)
• Mini inventory: keep a running note of 3 specific things you did well this week; read it before hard conversations.
• Advocacy prep: write a one-page “value brief” before comp talks: outcomes, examples, and how they helped the shop/client.
• Repair the feedback channel: agree with your partner/teammate on a critique ritual (time, signal word, and goal).
• Get a spotter: a counselor/therapist helps reveal blind spots faster than white-knuckling it alone.

People & mentions

• Bob (AAPEX episode—“shame tank” origin point in prior convo) https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/episode/exploring-relationships-health-and-personal-growth-with-bob-heipp-e109
• Equilibrium Therapy Services — Margaret Light (Minnesota)

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training and Pico Technology

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Live from “pre-ASTE,” Matt sits down with two “industry nobodies” (his words) who… are anything but. The trio gets honest about what makes training worth the time and money—and what ruins it. They dig into presenter prep (yes, 40 hours for a 4-hour class), class vetting, sponsor pressure, why a sexy scope trick isn’t always the right first move, and how to bring new voices onto the stage without burning attendees. They also share practical advice for first-timers at training expos so you learn more and regret less.

What we cover

• Why one weak class can poison a whole event—and how to prevent it
• The difference between a presenter and an educator
• Brandon’s CTI “boot camp” lessons: pacing, body language, audience interaction
• Teaching your experience vs. reading someone else’s slides
• The “pico math channel” vs. relative compression—start simple, earn the complexity
• Real-world prep: building a class, flow, case study sourcing, time costs no one sees

Sponsor dynamics: class quality vs. class quantity

• Vetting ideas: short audition decks, Zoom mini-presentations, real Q&A
• Pathways for new trainers: Techs Informing Techs, vision-style tech talks, co-teaching/mentorship
• Feedback that helps: beyond Scantron; what to write so organizers can act
• Attendee playbook: note-taking, pacing yourself, lobby networking, post-event review

Quick takeaways

For trainers

• If you didn’t write the class, make it your own—prep until you could answer questions without the deck.
• Lead with the right test, not the flashiest one. Wow factor is not a learning objective.
• Ask a veteran to review your flow. Co-teach if you can.

For event organizers

• Don’t let sponsorship replace standards. Vet instructors with a 10–15 slide audition + live Q&A.
• Reward quality: fewer tracks > more mediocre tracks.
• Follow up for feedback after the event; invite longer-form comments.

For attendees

• Bring a notebook/app, a highlighter, and capture 3 “do-this-Monday” items per session.
• Don’t try to copy every slide—listen for the why and the decision tree.
• Network on purpose. Introduce yourself. Follow up a week later as you review notes.

Notable moments/quotes

• “Teaching is the fun part—I’d do that for free. You’re really paying for the prep.” — Brandon
• “You can’t preach ‘training matters’ and then short-change the delivery.” — Matt
• “We need an on-ramp for new presenters—safe reps before three-hour sets.” — Matt
• “Start with the test that answers the question fastest.” — Bob

Shout-outs & mentions

• MobilityWorks — Bob’s focus on vehicles modified for physically disabled drivers/passengers
• CTI/Worldpac instructor boot camp (presenter craft)
• Techs Informing Techs / vision-style tech talks — great first stage reps
• Pico Technology concepts referenced (math channels, relative compression)

Who this episode helps

• Techs deciding whether to spend the time/money to travel for training
• New and aspiring trainers looking for the right entry path
• Organizers who want higher attendee retention and better word-of-mouth

Call to action

• Been to a class that changed your workflow—or wasted your time? Send Matt what made the difference and why.
• If you’re an aspiring presenter with a killer case study, draft a 10-slide mini and reach out—let’s get you reps at a tech-talk format.

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech...