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 April 9-11 and use Code CONFESSIONS500 for $500.00 off. HERE

Today, Jamie Caldwell from Jamie's Garage joins Bryan Pollock and Mike Allen as Jamie shares the story of scaling from one stressed-out location to five thriving shops. How? He hired character over skill. They also talk about different pay structures when Jamie shares why his team isn’t paid commissions—and how that’s improved culture and teamwork.

Timestamps:
00:00 "Stolen Truck Insurance Windfall"

04:35 "Extended Warranty Dispute Strategy"

07:59 "Mastering Scripts Before Freestyling"

12:17 "Shifting Focus to Good People"

15:15 European Auto Shop Journey

18:13 Private Equity Impact on Auto Industry

20:07 Future Possibilities and Industry Impact

24:45 Relational vs. Transactional Business

27:22 Hiring Challenges and Compensation Talks

33:57 "Flat Rate vs Teamwork Culture"

38:15 Embracing Transparency in Leadership

41:55 "Discovering TikTok During COVID"

44:33 Race Car Engine Connection

48:59 "Business Over Social Media Earnings"

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

Elite Worldwide coaching has changed the game for me and my shop. Need a boost? Use Elite like I do. HERE

Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston April 9-11 and use Code CONFESSIONS500 for $500.00 off. HERE

Todd Speciale is the founder of Make Sales Great Again and best selling author of The Ultimate Sales Bible. Today, he and Mike discuss the reputation of salespeople and the keys to selling with integrity. Todd also shares the story behind his company and book, emphasizing the importance of honesty and culture in building successful sales teams.

Find out more about Todd here

Timestamps:
00:00 Who do people distrust most in sales?
01:00 Todd’s keynote that broke all Mike’s rules
02:30 Why Todd Speciale speaks—his personal story and passion for helping others
05:06 The real meaning behind “Make Sales Great Again”
07:00 Why Todd left timeshare & how the right sales tactics can change an industry
09:00 Dirty sales: How to SELL and still sleep at night
10:30 Sales from the negative—flipping the pitch with integrity
12:00 Firing the top 1%: Why the best sales aren’t always the best people
14:00 Blocking objections & how to own the conversation
16:05 Who does Todd’s consulting actually help—and how?
18:00 How can auto shops attract high-level sales talent with lower ceiling pay?
19:45 The power of culture: 71% hate their jobs—how to fix that!
21:00 Best industries for ethical sales training—and the truth about training
23:10 Door-to-door horror stories: What it REALLY teaches you
25:30 Who invests the most in their teams? The inside scoop on insurance, real estate, roofing & more
29:35 Inside Todd’s books: The Ultimate Sales Bible & more
33:00 Why the sales process hasn’t changed—but the buyer sure has
36:00 Old school vs. new school: Changing prospects and tactics
38:53 The compensation trap—can performance pay ever reward ethics?
41:00 How to weed out the wrong hires before they cost you
44:20 Where to find great trainable sales talent: Youth, servers, and bartenders
47:00 Mythbusting the “kids don’t want to work” narrative—how to develop the next generation
50:52 How to reach Todd Speciale and learn more

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 April 9-11 and use Code CONFESSIONS500 for $500.00 off. HERE

Nate Winston owns Winston's Complete Auto Care in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Today, Nate shares with Mike how he and a friend one day decided to start a shop...with ZERO experience in the industry...They talk candidly about the challenges of business partnerships—including the fallout from a partnership built on a handshake deal—and offer hard-won advice for anyone considering opening a shop with a friend.

Like the episode? Call 704-CONFESS or email mike@confessionsofashopowner.com to share your stories or feedback!

Timestamps:
00:00 Business Partnerships: Like Marriage...Without the Sex
02:02 Meet Nate Winston: From Blinds Factory to Auto Shop Owner
03:29 Starting a Shop with Zero Experience
06:08 Living in the Shop: Early Struggles as Entrepreneurs
08:25 Growing the Business & Chamber of Commerce Involvement
11:47 Partnership Breakup: What Went Wrong?
14:16 Why Every Partnership Needs an Agreement
17:17 Building a Business “Prenup” vs. Friendship
18:23 Opening a New Shop: The Leap to Solo Ownership
20:17 Coaching, Training & The Value of Events for Shop Owners
22:50 One-Man Operation: The Challenges and Plans for Hiring
24:58 Biggest Challenges in 2026 and Beyond
26:13 Cutting Out Heavy Work: Focusing on the Right Jobs
28:34 Tektonic 2026 Preview & Vendor Networking