There’s a lot of division in the world right now. Politics, beliefs, backgrounds, opinions — it feels like everyone is being pushed to pick sides and fight each other. But real leadership isn’t about yelling louder than the other side. It’s about setting the example. Treat people with respect. Lead with integrity. Choose compassion over anger. Show the kind of behavior you wish more people practiced. If more of us focused on being the example instead of winning the argument, the world would start to look a little different. That’s what this video is about.

A Quick Update on New Courses Champion Service Advisor College is growing quickly, and we’re currently building several new courses including: • Champions of Communication• AI in the Workplace• Champion Tire Onboarding Training• Additional advisor and shop communication modules Much of this material is being actively built and refined right now. The goal is not to rush content out. The goal is to create the highest quality training available for automotive professionals. Champion Service Advisor College was founded by Kevin Tarpley, owner of Champion Tire & Automotive. At the same time he is building Champion Tire, raising a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old, and developing both Champion University and Community Care Champions. This community is in its early build phase, and your feedback is part of shaping it. Thank you for being here early and helping raise the standard of this industry. More training is coming soon. Let’s raise the standard.

A Simple Idea That Can Turn Discounts Into Community Impact If you’re already offering discounts for customer acquisition, consider tying them to a non-perishable food donation. Example: $25 off a full synthetic oil change with a food donation. If the customer forgets the donation, still honor the discount. Just tell them: “No problem. Next time you’re around, bring it by.” You’ll be surprised by the results. This approach tends to attract higher quality customers, builds goodwill in your community, and often generates free publicity simply because people respect businesses that give back. Sometimes the best marketing isn’t louder marketing — it’s doing something meaningful for your community.

I am proud to say I do not hire a sales staff at my shop. My duty is to provide the customer with the information they need so they can make an informed decision regarding their vehicle and their investment. At Champion Tire, we provide: • Pictures of common wear points • Measurements of components like brakes and tires • CARFAX service history • Manufacturer recommendations (not just the vehicle manufacturer, but fluid manufacturers as well) • Technician descriptions and notes • A clear, easy-to-understand grading system This allows the customer to see the full picture before making any decisions. If a job has a higher potential for additional charges — such as rusted components or brittle plastic — I inform the customer before any work is authorized. I do not make two presentations. The last thing I want is for a customer to approve $1,000 in maintenance only to later receive a call saying: “We found $1,000 in safety issues that should have been prioritized first.” That creates financial hardship and damages trust. Instead, before anything starts at Champion Tire, we perform a Digital Vehicle Inspection (DVI). The inspection itself takes about 20 minutes, or about 30 minutes when you include the CARFAX review and building the estimate. This allows us to prioritize our findings first, so the customer can spend their budget on the items that matter most. During the initial write-up, I do not talk about money — not even diagnostic fees. If the concern is obvious and can be found during our free visual inspection, there’s no reason to create friction at the beginning of the interaction. After the visual inspection or DVI is completed, if diagnostics are required, we explain the specific testing that needs to be performed and the cost associated with that test. We make sure the customer understands: “This price includes X, Y, and Z tests. If we do not uncover the issue with these tests, we will call you with the cost for additional testing before moving forward.”

Thanks to the first members of Champion University. I expect to change the automotive industry for the good and you are part of it. Remember, we lead everything in the shop and part of being a good leader is taking ownership when things go wrong. I have made many mistakes in my career. When you make a mistake you have choices on how you move forward after the mistake. True leaders look at mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow. When was the last time you had the opportunity to grow?