Thank you Chris for the lovely care package. We will be putting these books to good use shortly. How many of us shop owners remember that one way to increase our peopleās pay is to help them keep more of it in their pocket? āAct your wageā was a phrase that I heard years ago and have never forgot it. Letās be that example to our team members whom may not have had that kind of financial literacy upbringing as you or I.
I just got this email from a tech looking for a good independent shop in the Baltimore area: "I'm a master tech from Portland Oregon, currently relocating to Baltimore, Maryland area, I heard you on a podcast today and was curious if you know a good shop in the Columbia/Frederick/Sykesville area of Maryland? I was with Mazda for 8 years as a shop foreman/master tech and another 7 before that as a heavy line fleet tech. I'm thinking mobile ADAS tech, DOT tech or a working in a good independent shop. I'll be there in about 5 days with my tools ready to work soon." This sounds like a great opportunity. If you are in the area and looking for a tech, let me know and I'll make the connection.
I have two shop owner friends to refer you to: Dwayne Meyers of Dynamic Automotive and Doug Grills of AutoStream. Both of these gentlemen run top-notch multiple locations in Maryland. Best of luck- please let them know that I sent you.
A masterclass in recruiting inside 6 minute teaser. I'm not sure if I ever heard anyone put it together this well, Chris. Thank you for being such a great voice in this space. Much appreciated. https://youtu.be/QeHmGo8tWVk
I'm delighted to share that Interstate Auto Care in Madison Heights, MI has hired a seasoned automotive technician and a CSR for their service desk. Keep up the good work @Bill Nalu
Thank you Chris and company for helping us with this search. Even more importantly than the fact that we found a technician within 3 weeks, we also picked up a second service advisor who started with our new tech on the same day this week. The atmosphere in the shop is electric, as the guys have a weekās worth of sold work (and parts waiting for them). Grateful for this dream team and your help in getting us there. To my fellow shop owners, let me assure you that if you build it, they will come. There are more unfulfilled people in our industry than any of us can fathom. Dare to package an āemployment experienceā that they canāt turn down, with money being just a fair byproduct of the package, rather than the main reason. That is why signing bonuses donāt typically work for the long-term. Best of luck in your search and never hesitate to reach out with a question or rebuttal.
We say that we have a technician shortage, but we lie: We shop owners built this industry- whether we are first generation owners or inherited all of our bad habits from those who like us, didnāt know what they didnāt know at the time. The funny thing is, we canāt pull that bs with ourselves any longer. Not since Remarkable Results Radio, not since ASOG, not since Changing The Industry Podcast, not since Wrench Nation Radio, and the literally thousands of other industry professionals and organizations whom exist for the sole purpose of making you and I just a bit more professional than we were yesterday and yesteryear. Case in point- this month, we set out to add a B tech and while we ended up hiring on a seasoned veteran in his prime, we also fielded a dozen under-qualified applicants and met with the several who took the time to come in and see what we had to offer. They came to see whether our advertised reputation had anything in common with our āshop ground zeroā. They came, prepared for the typical āwhat can you do for my businessā interview and they left being armed with a new vision of what a modern day independent automotive service facility operates like when itās firing on all cylinders. (Pun intended) And just as importantly, they now know what kind of workplaces to avoid. And so I pass along this Sunday morning friendly reminder that you never know how impactful your time and knowledge is, until you remember the investment that your peers have made in your personal and professional development and how itās never forgotten.