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

When I used the maintenance tool for the fist time with Detect Auto, my mind was blown. My advisors had the same reaction - and then SO MUCH MORE TIME. Learn more about Detect Auto and book a free demo now!

For years I thought I could handle the hiring process on my own. But, after far too many bad hires, it was clear I needed help. Promotive came through for me with a rock star hire in just a few days and I couldn't be happier. Swallow your pride and bring in Promotive for that open position you have at your shop today. You can thank me later. Learn more HERE

AI for Shop Owners: Open the Hood of the Future is happening June 12-13 at Carfix in Raleigh, NC. Use AI to your advantage! Register HERE

This episode is Mikeless - just how we like it. HA! Today Bryan rides solo at TOOLS 2026 and talks dynamics between technicians and service advisors Andrew Fischer. They bring up the importance of fundamentals and communication—technicians often overlook basic testing but expect to dive into advanced diagnostics, leading to costly mistakes and frustration. They also talk about ego and misunderstanding: both between team members in the shop and toward customers, highlighting how crucial it is to clearly explain repairs and processes, not just rely on expertise.

Timestamps:
00:00 The real hardest job in the shop: service advisor confessions
03:08 Training struggles, being away from family, and the reality of evening classes
05:02 Why owners MUST vet what you’re paying for in auto training
07:11 Technicians skipping fundamentals—and how it comes back to bite your shop
10:20 Ego, ignorance, and the "alphabet soup" of tech skill levels
13:13 Fast techs vs fixed cars: the hidden cost of comebacks and efficiency
16:19 Communicating diagnostics: where most techs screw up (and how AI helps)
19:06 Why the front counter is pure chaos—and techs can’t handle customers
21:13 Explaining diagnoses in a way anyone can understand (with help from AI)
25:26 The service advisor’s secret: what customers REALLY want to know
28:12 The "zip code" analogy for why testing matters
30:28 Shops that charge for time vs selling fixed vehicles—who really wins?
32:40 Real-life story: four shops, still not fixed (and how a dead battery fooled them all)
34:35 What to do when you just can’t fix the car (real talk and lessons learned)
41:33 The problem with technician forums & why the smartest avoid them
44:28 Why most technicians will never be ready for business ownership
47:46 Full circle: gratitude, getting humbled, and growing as a leader
50:02 What every technician NEEDS to understand before running a shop

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

For years I thought I could handle the hiring process on my own. But, after far too many bad hires, it was clear I needed help. Promotive came through for me with a rock star hire in just a few days and I couldn't be happier. Swallow your pride and bring in Promotive for that open position you have at your shop today. You can thank me later. Learn more HERE

AI for Shop Owners: Open the Hood of the Future is happening June 12-13 at Carfix in Raleigh, NC. Use AI to your advantage! Register HERE

In this episode, Mike Allen sits down with Adam Rath, owner of a repair shop in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Adam tackles the challenge of adapting business models to different communities, emphasizing that what works in one area may not work in another. They also explore the importance of process efficiency, particularly in estimate building and digital vehicle inspections. Adam also talks about his role with the ASOG mastermind group, highlighting how peer support and structured programs can help struggling shop owners build a solid foundation.

Timestamps:
00:00 Efficient Estimates vs. Wasting Time
01:31 Podcast Tech Upgrades and Recording on the Road
03:03 Behind-the-Scenes: Touring Craftsman Auto Care
04:01 Coaching Models: Origins and Overlaps
06:00 Meet Adam Rath & the Reality of Shop Locations
08:08 Coaching Myths: "That Won’t Work in My Town"
09:00 Different Markets, Different Rules
11:16 The 300% Rule: Double-Edged Sword
12:33 Are You Sticker-Shocking Your Clients?
13:33 Presenting Estimates the Smart Way
14:09 DVI Tools and Estimating Efficiency
15:24 What Do You Show the Customer?
17:10 Single-Issue Selling: Helpful or "Slimy"?
20:01 Show & Sell: The Theater of Auto Sales
22:52 Roleplaying, Sales Practice, and the J Curve
24:55 Tech Tools: Detect Auto, DVI Speed, and Pain Points
28:40 Remote Estimators: Overseas Teams & Lessons Learned
30:41 The Rise and Fall of Remote Estimate Companies
33:05 EOS Explained: Visionaries vs. Integrators
36:36 Taking the Crystallizer Assessment
38:19 Monthly State of the Company at Adam's Shop
41:20 When the Team Wins—Even Without the Manager
43:13 Building Leadership Skills with the Right Tools
44:57 Adam’s Role in the ASOG Mastermind
46:33 The Mastermind Format & Growth
48:36 Curriculum Overhaul: Tightening the Learning Path
50:36 Live Invoice & Call Audits: Growing through Discomfort
53:43 Why We Break Process (and How to Fix It)
55:15 The Future of the Mastermind: Structure & Guest Coaches
57:10 Shop Fix vs. ASOG: The Coaching Disconnect
59:48 Buffet Approach to Coaching: Take What Works
1:01:47 Guest Coaches, Good Info, and Avoiding Sound Bites
1:04:00 Confession Time: When Employees Just Aren’t a Fit
1:06:23 Shop Culture: The Right People Stay, Others Go
1:07:13 EOS Implementers & Next Steps

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

Elite Worldwide has CHANGED my business and life through their one-on-one coaching. Use them like I do HERE

For years I thought I could handle the hiring process on my own. But, after far too many bad hires, it was clear I needed help. Promotive came through for me with a rock star hire in just a few days and I couldn't be happier. Swallow your pride and bring in Promotive for that open position you have at your shop today. You can thank me later. Learn more HERE

AI for Shop Owners: Open the Hood of the Future is happening June 12-13 at Carfix in Raleigh, NC. Use AI to your advantage! Register HERE

In this episode, the podcasts collide for a behind the scenes conversation about what goes on on social media. Are the viral reels a good thing or a bad thing? Tonnika Haynes from Downshift with Tonnika, Jeff Compton from the Jaded Mechanic and Bryan Pollock from Confessions of a Shop Owner circle up to have this conversation with Braxton Critcher, the producer of each show. They also get real about the importance of doing the actual work behind the scenes, emphasizing that growth in your business (and in life) comes from putting in consistent effort, not just watching highlight reels.

Timestamps:
00:00 - The uncomfortable truth about podcast discovery and audience habits
01:16 - What happens when podcasts collide—introductions and chaos
02:23 - Behind the scenes: Group chat antics, tools, and industry jokes
03:57 - Social media, reels, and who’s to blame for viral content
05:01 - The power (and pain) of online comments and negative feedback
06:46 - Why social media works for some shops but isn’t for everyone
07:14 - Going viral: 2.4 million views, angry commenters, and riding the algorithm
09:03 - Building a brand: Negativity, growth strategies, and five-year plans
12:33 - Are most people really “spoon fed”? Podcast challenges explained
14:26 - Shop rates, community service, and fixing Chevy trucks for peanuts
17:04 - The “must be nice” attitude and its effect on success and envy
19:01 - Growing beyond your bubble: Why spicy reels are necessary
22:27 - Can podcasts actually change the industry? Or just a few minds?
35:01 - Choosing your hard: Highlight reels, business reality, and keeping perspective
44:21 - Real talk: Same struggles, different zip codes, focus on YOUR growth
49:34 - Excuses vs. results—moving, changing, and finding a way to win
54:37 - Visualization, success stories, and putting in the extra work
59:38 - “Choosing average”: 9-to-5 mentality and salary realities
1:01:09 - Relationships, distractions, and shop staff drama
1:03:21 - The only goal: One shop at a time, one listener at a time.