Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston coming up in 2026 HERE

Turnkey 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.

Register for Elite Worldwide's Ignite 2026 Conference January 30-31 - Remember to use this code: CONFESSIONS

Jared Haleck is the new Chief Product Officer at Tekmetric, and today he talks with Mike about the rapid innovation happening in automotive shop management technology. Jared shares his perspective on how AI tools can streamline service advisor-customer interactions, making it easier to gather, document, and translate repair information for technicians. The conversation also explores the future potential of AI in automating repair estimates and improving digital vehicle inspections—emphasizing that the biggest barrier to integrating these tools is just shop owners’ creativity.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Will Tekmetric take over the world??
00:21 – Confessions of a Shop Owner Presented by Tekmetric
01:13 – Speed Vegas recap: Racing exotics, leaderboard drama, and surprises
05:15 – Jared Haleck’s background & first impressions of Tekmetric
08:43 – What does a Chief Product Officer actually do? (And, yes, nerds are involved)
10:39 – The AI revolution: Early adopters, ChatGPT, and what every shop should know
13:04 – Practical AI: Intake conversations, tech translation, and smarter service writing
16:25 – Summarization, speech-to-text, and eliminating “translation loss”
20:03 – Why voice (and phone) is key to the next auto shop breakthrough
25:33 – Wish list: AI-powered digital vehicle inspections & visual documentation
32:30 – Word choices, loss aversion, and writing the story customers need
34:44 – The real trick: Getting creative with AI prompts and trying new ideas
36:12 – Gemini, Claude, or GPT: Which AI platform works best?
39:54 – Where can shop owners get the most bang-for-their-buck with AI today?
41:25 – Fast hacks: Using iPhone Notes for instant transcriptions
42:29 – What’s next? The roadmap to automated estimate building
44:32 – Why Tekmetric is leading the innovation race (and how to join)

If you're like me and aren't good at marketing, don't do it on your own. Let the experts handle it. Touch HERE for more on Turnkey Marketing.

Tekmetric transformed my shop. Plain and simple. Want that for yours? Touch HERE

There are a lot of moving parts in a repair shop, opening the door to missing things. Don't let that happen to you. Learn more about Detect Auto

Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston coming up in 2026 HERE

Jimmy Purdy is the host of The Gearbox Podcast and owns Shift'n Gears Auto Repair in Paso Robles, California. Today, he and Mike Allen talk about how Jimmy nearly doubled his business in 2025 using the sometimes unpopular AutoShop Answers method. The conversation also covers the challenges of balancing profitability with company culture and how shop owners often struggle to find the one “silver bullet,” when success is really about picking up the right gold nuggets along the way.

Timestamps:
00:00 The golden rule: fully inform the customer before doing any repairs
01:08 Trade show tricks: why veteran vendors bring two pairs of shoes
02:08 Shoe disasters, hiking stories, and quick-thinking hacks
03:28 Shop growth: Doubling sales, why net profit isn’t the whole picture
04:41 Breaking revenue ceilings: Big changes and new sales processes
05:37 Shiny object syndrome and tracking the right KPIs
06:21 Learning to filter industry advice and run the shop your way
07:36 Sales process overhaul: From tech mindset to customer experience
08:53 What great client experience actually means—beyond the inspection
10:10 Shop coaching, sales training, and implementing what works for YOU
12:25 Adapting big shop advice for smaller or rural markets
13:55 Customizing processes, balancing growth and team happiness
15:11 Efficiency breakthroughs: Improving inspections and workflow
17:37 Overcoming DVI inconsistency and getting buy-in from your team
21:50 Estimating strategies: Why quoting everything isn’t always best
25:22 Lessons in sales: The “kitchen sink” rule and sales fatigue
29:13 Team training, scripting, and crushing phone intake times
34:43 Bringing team to trade shows for real buy-in (and to avoid “Black Monday”)
39:11 Evolving customer expectations and modernizing shop experiences
44:39 The myth of the universal “right way” to run a shop
51:06 Seven-day work weeks, shop culture, and the truth about tech retention
54:13 Letting your team find their own wins—even new gloves count
56:06 Shop life, family life, and defining your own success as an owner
57:17 Where to find more: Jimmy’s Gearbox podcast & how you can get involved

Tekmetrics' business model of listening to customers' needs and implementing new systems makes them super shop-friendly. Start using them at your shop today HERE

Turnkey Marketing has made my life SOOO much simpler, AND they've helped keep the phone ringing. Do you need these two things too? Learn more HERE

Register for Elite Worldwide's Ignite 2026 Conference January 30-31 - Remember to use this code: CONFESSIONS

Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston coming up in 2026 HERE

Rick White is the founder of 180Biz, and he hates people who do free diag. So.....this is awkward now...Today, Mike learns more about Rick and his coaching philosophies only then to stir the pot and bring up everything he opposes Rick on. What do you think? Is free diag a smart marketing move, or a decision only idiots make?

Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome Rick White to the Show - Now Let's Fight!
06:10 – Why Men Struggle with Feelings (and How That Shapes Shop Leadership)
10:00 – Building a Coaching Empire: Rick White’s Approach to Scaling and Staying Grounded
17:45 – How to Interview a Coach (and Why Some Clients Get Fired)
24:12 – One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Franchise Model vs. Tailored Shop Coaching
29:40 – Private Equity in the Auto Industry: Boon or Bust?
35:18 – Passing the Shop to the Next Generation: Equity Equivalence & Creative Solutions
41:55 – “You Do You”: Why There Are Many Ways to Run a Successful Shop
45:03 – The Real Cost of Free Diag: Metrics, Marketing, and Moneyball Tactics
57:10 – Coaching Confessions: Ego, Impact, and the Danger of Explosive Growth
1:07:50 – Final Thoughts: What Matters Most for Shop Owners Right Now

My marketing before and after signing up with Turnkey Marketing is pretty scary. In a good way. Get your marketing right today HERE

Tekmetric opened my eyes to just how much a good SMS will do for a shop. Their software is top of the line, and with them, so is my shop. Try them for yourself HERE

I was SHOCKED when I saw the things I was missing the first time I used Detect Auto. Simple things, but easy to miss. Detect Auto helped clean that up for me, and they can for you, too. Use them HERE

Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston coming up in 2026 HERE

In this episode, Mike Allen, Bryan Pollock, and Braxton Critcher look back on a year of "Confessions of a Shop Owner". They play back the top moments on the podcast in 2025, and each give their most embarrassing confession thus far. Oh, what a year it has been, and oh, what a year 2026 is setting up to be. Remember, this is the last episode that Mike is current ASTA President...this is about to get good...Finally.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: The Year of "Edit That Out" (But Did We?)
01:12 – Amateur Podcast Setups & Tech Fails
03:12 – 65+ Episodes Later: What Did We Even Do?!
04:30 – Are We the Best Automotive Podcast in the Galaxy?
05:10 – Going Viral: Social Media Buzz & Darren’s Big Weekend
08:07 – Most Memorable Guest: Darren Barney Shares a Vulnerable Story
12:16 – The "16-Foot Trailer" Incident with Zeb Beard
17:00 – When Guest Rage Turns the Podcast Upside Down – David Roman Goes OFF!
22:00 – Saturday Shop: Do Employees Actually Want to Work Weekends?
24:36 – The Great Staffing Challenge & "Short Term Gain, Long Term Pain"
27:47 – Our Most Embarrassing Tech Confessions & Social Media Mishaps
32:43 – Confession Time: When Braxton Lost All the Podcast Files
33:43 – Misspelling Sponsor Names… and the Tattoo Bet is On!
35:01 – Who’s REALLY The Fastest Driver in the Crew?
39:09 – The All-Time Most Embarrassing Shop Owner Confession
43:20 – The Viral Aftermath & Listener Group Chat Chaos
48:30 – Hospitality Suite Stories: Couch Shopping & More Debauchery
50:00 – The Greatest Hot Mic Moment That Will Never Air
52:37 – Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Confessions in 2026?
54:24 – Favorite Moments & Listener Shout-Outs
56:06 – Parting Thoughts & Why We Love This Podcast

Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston coming up in 2026 HERE

Turnkey 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.

Register for Elite Worldwide's Ignite 2026 Conference January 30-31 - Remember to use this code: CONFESSIONS

In 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 Seasons
00:20 Why Bad October & August Can Sink Your Year
01:00 Navigating Health Insurance Options for Your Team
03:05 Payroll Mistakes = Free Health Insurance?!
04:20 Christmas Episode Intro & Why Shop Goal Setting Matters
05:19 Goal Setting Philosophy: The “Elite Pro Service” Approach
06:53 Grounding Goals in Math, Not Hope
07:54 Calculating Real Shop Capacity with Tech Hours
09:01 Factoring Satellite Locations into Your Planning
10:02 Breaking Down Staff Roles & Realistic Productivity
13:01 Training & Growing Technician Skillsets
15:00 Risks & Rewards of Upskilling Your GS
18:24 Effective Labor Rate & Parts-to-Labor Ratio Explained
20:15 The Monthly Capacity Game & Avoiding Average Traps
26:36 Why August & October Are Your Make-or-Break Months
28:02 Adapting Your Monthly Goals to Holidays & Vacation
29:02 Getting Your Team Singing from the Same Goal Sheet
30:00 Coaching Your Team: The Basketball Analogy
32:09 Communicating Daily Goals for Technicians & Advisors
36:59 Tracking Approvals, Car Count, and Setting Realistic Targets
40:29 Translating Manager Math into Daily Team Wins
42:38 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 Problems
54:21 Community Events, Brand Building, and Consistency
55:36 Wrapping Up: Getting Linked Up With Elite & Your Shop’s Growth
55:37 Christmas Family Fun Gone Wrong! Elf on the Shelf Stories

If you're like me and aren't good at marketing, don't do it on your own. Let the experts handle it. Touch HERE for more on Turnkey Marketing.

Tekmetric transformed my shop. Plain and simple. Want that for yours? Touch HERE

There are a lot of moving parts in a repair shop, opening the door to missing things. Don't let that happen to you. Learn more about Detect Auto

Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston coming up in 2026 HERE

Aniz Lavji owns a shop in Canada, and met Mike Allen at ASTA 2025. It was in Raleigh where Aniz thought his life was in danger because of Mike and his ESO Miata. They relive that story on today's episode. Turns out, Aniz might be turning into an ESO himself. The guys also talk tires, and why many shops miss opportunities by not doing tires right.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Tire Hustles & Leveraging Trades: How Aniz Lavji turned tires into rare Lego sets
05:34 – Earning the "evil shop owner badge" – disposing tires, creative deals, and industry banter
07:16 – Embarrassing moments: Shop meetings gone awry and podcast stories spilled to the family
11:35 – Why tire storage is big business in Canada (and how Aniz Lavji manages hundreds of sets)
16:31 – Shop equipment talk: Hunter vs. Coats vs. Corgi, and keeping employees happy with cool machines
25:31 – Family business backstory: Dial Attire, Waterloo, and how Aniz Lavji gets mom & dad on vacation
31:09 – Big conferences, industry networking, and why ASTA Expo matters
41:12 – ADHD, podcast behind-the-scenes, and dealing with "wasted time"
53:03 – Used tires vs. new tires: How the tire business evolved
56:01 – Offshore tire brands, hilarious mascots, and challenges selling "Triangle" tires
1:02:38 – Why Teslas flood Aniz Lavji's shop — EV referrals, repairs, and donut diplomacy
1:07:15 – Saturday madness: Shop emergencies, wild tire stories, and customer demands
1:13:32 – Building relationships with vendors and parts suppliers
1:22:01 – Wrapping up with the worst American cars ever made and naming mishaps

Tekmetrics' business model of listening to customers' needs and implementing new systems makes them super shop-friendly. Start using them at your shop today HERE

Turnkey Marketing has made my life SOOO much simpler, AND they've helped keep the phone ringing. Do you need these two things too? Learn more HERE

Register for Elite Worldwide's Ignite 2026 Conference January 30-31 - Remember to use this code: CONFESSIONS

Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston coming up in 2026 HERE

Uwe Kleinschmidt is the Founder of AutoTech IQ, and today shares stories of growing up in East Germany. He also brings up how service advisors need to utilize AI to improve their technical expertise and lean into their people skills. He and Mike also talk about the importance of customer education, and Uwe explains how empowering customers with clear information leads to higher approval rates and better shop retention.

Timestamps:
00:00 Uwe Helped Bring Down the Berlin Wall?

04:14 Mike Doesn't Listen to Podcasts Anymore

08:01 Reality Behind the Facade

11:55 Dual Citizenship Made Easier

16:35 "AI Dependency Dumbs Down Skills"

20:06 DVI's Potential in Customer Education

24:39 "Educating on Filter Cleanliness"

25:42 "Empowering Autonomous Decision-Making"

31:06 "Improved Workflow for Service Shop"

35:20 "We Are the Problem"

36:01 Building Trust with New Customers

42:01 Empowering Motorists Boosts Approvals

43:35 "Text-Only Customer Communication"

49:24 "Inspection Process Explanation"

My marketing before and after signing up with Turnkey Marketing is pretty scary. In a good way. Get your marketing right today HERE

Tekmetric opened my eyes to just how much a good SMS will do for a shop. Their software is top of the line, and with them, so is my shop. Try them for yourself HERE

I was SHOCKED when I saw the things I was missing the first time I used Detect Auto. Simple things, but easy to miss. Detect Auto helped clean that up for me, and they can for you, too. Use them HERE

Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston coming up in 2026 HERE

In this episode, Mike learns that fish hung on a wall are just plastic. He, John Firm, Michael Guenther, and Jeff Compton also get into some ESO talk, free Diag, and if free oil changes are ruining this industry. They also share firsthand experiences managing small-town customer relationships, including the challenges of offering credit and dealing with overdue invoices.

Timestamps:
00:00 Mounted Fish Aren't Real??

09:51 Rising Star in Auto Industry

14:46 "Efficiency Concerns with Machine"

17:28 "Free Car Diagnostics Explained"

22:42 "The Cost of Your Dream Car"

28:44 "Oil Change Pricing Dilemma"

32:02 "Fish of a Thousand Casts"

42:31 "Local Store Credit System"

47:44 Customer Loss After Payment Struggle

50:06 "Bronx Tale $10 Lesson"

55:37 Fishing Etiquette at Docks