Maximum Octane

Joining us today are Cassandra Bergum, GM and Owner of Hi-Line Service & Hydraulics, and her daughter Autumn to talk about the importance of culture and nurturing personal relationships in the workspace. 

After managing an oilfield trucking company for almost a decade, Cassandra relied on his mechanic's background from her time at the Army's National Guard to accept managing Hi-Line Service & Hydraulics. Cassandra's unique leadership style created a culture where internal customers feel happy to work, which translates into optimal customer service. 

In this episode, Cassandra and Autumn share their experiences at the store, the relationship they built with internal and external customers, and how they increased the store's efficiency and customer service by adding an Auto Value store to their business. Cassandra also shared her thinking process behind deciding to add an Auto Value store and her surprise at July's grand opening. 

We also talk about their Friday noon tradition at the shop, the unproductive habits they left behind, and much more. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• Your internal customers are happy and engaged. And so they provide excellent service, and it comes full circle. Can you talk to us a little bit about your culture? (5:47)
• How did you come upon being the owner of this business? (12:01)
• Autumn, you have survived nicely hearing the word "no" occasionally. Can you talk about that just for a moment? Because there are so many people out there that are scared to death to tell their children "no." (23:02)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About Autumn's experiences working at the family business (2:13)
• The chain effect of creating an engaging culture (5:59)
• What led Cassandra to start managing Hi-Line Service & Hydraulics (12:10)
• How adding an Auto Value store to Cassandra's business upgraded her business (17:08)
• How unproductive habits get in our way and what can we do about them (27:56)

Resources:

• Hi-Line Service & Hydraulics website
• Hi-Line Service & Hydraulics Facebook
• Hi-Line Service & Hydraulics Email: [email protected]

Connect with Cassandra:

• LinkedIn

Let's connect:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode, Eric Twiggs unravels the best techniques to stop procrastinating and maximize every second of our day.

Eric, aka The Accountability Coach, is a Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach, Certified Life Coach, and a Certified Executive Coach. He is a top 10 finalist in Amazon's Elite Author award for his book "The discipline of now," he is a husband, father, an internationally renowned blogger, and podcaster. 

Throughout our conversation, Eric shared the impactful memory from his time in college that made him focus on productivity and time management and how he became an accountability coach. We discuss why it is so easy to lose track of our tasks and obligations, why we procrastinate over what's essential for us, and how to overcome this. 

Eric also gives valuable advice on the best ways to maximize our time, the secrets of being super productive, and much more. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• How did you become the accountability coach? (5:33)
• What are some of the tips that you have that you hold yourself accountable? How do you do that in your own life? (7:22)
• What advice do you have for people that feel guilty and say: "gosh, I have to take care of this, and I can't think about myself right now." (18:49)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Why is it so easy to forget about the lessons that motivate us to be productive (5:19)
• How helpful a consistent morning routine can be (8:18)
• How does proper balance look in the eyes of Eric (11:48)
• Why is it so critical to "put things in the calendar" (15:23)
• Actionable items to stop procrastinating (25:57)

Resources:

• Eric Twiggs website
• The 30 Minute Hour™  podcast
• Book: Eric Twiggs - The Discipline Of Now: 12 Practical Principles To Overcome Procrastination

Connect with Eric:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook

Let's connect:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining us today is George Zeeks to crack the code of fruitful, productive, and satisfactory relationships in the workspace and at home. 

George's coaching style blends his experience in the Army, where he saw himself in charge of groups of people, convincing or forcing them to do things they didn't want to, and several years of experience in the automotive industry. George is a Management Consultant Coach, AMI Certified Trainer, and Director at the Automotive Training Institute. He is a Certified Life and Executive Coach, a Certified Genos Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, and a soon-to-be Profit First Certified Professional. 

In this episode, George shares bits of his work and how he helps people reach success. We learn a different perspective of looking at ourselves, our problems, and the people we have issues with to discover new ways of solving those issues. We also explore the importance of minding who we surround ourselves with and keeping a curious and assertive mind. 

In addition, George shares the three questions we should keep in mind and ask every time we need to solve a problem and the secret to creating predictable, productive, and fulfilling work environments. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About George's past and how his life experiences prepared him to lead and coach (2:23)
• Kim and George talk about the importance of keeping ourselves with a student mindset throughout our lives (6:18)
• Why it's crucial to spot negative influences in our lives and get away from them (9:04)
• How to build motivation through emotions (16:22)
• Why is it essential to set crystal clear expectations (18:34)
• How to turn expectations into measurable standards (24:06)
• George explains why there can't be progress without accountability (29:21)

Resources:

• Automotive Training Institute website

Connect with George:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Twitter

Let's connect:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unpredictable things happen all the time, and there is nothing we can do about them; it's in their name, right? They cannot be predicted. However, a business that relies on serving people MUST have a plan B or a blueprint of what to do in case the unexpected happens.

Clients, whether longtime customers or new ones, will understand if there is some issue that'll delay their appointment. The difference is when we let them know we are late, we can casually mention it after three hours they've been seated in the waiting room or before their appointment, so they can decide what to do with their time. Which one do you think they'd appreciate more? 

In today's special edition of the show, I run a solo round to talk about what it means to be at service, what we communicate through our behavior, and how we show appreciation for their time and loyalty. I share a few recent experiences I had as a customer where I felt things could've been done differently and from which I extracted valuable insights on what it means to be at service.     

In addition, we explore the importance of having our clients and potential customers' time in mind when making decisions that affect them. I also give away three simple steps to improve customer service when understaffed or overbooked. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• The loop of hiring a "warm body" and "leaving their training for later" (3:30)
• About my frustrating experience at the dentist (7:01)
• We state how much we care about our customers through our messaging (10:14)
• Being understaffed or overbooked is not an excuse for poor service (16:18)
• A business that provides a service is obliged to deliver quality service, period (21:43)
• Three simple steps to show appreciation for your customers' time (22:54)

Let's connect:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Between the hundreds of corporations constantly competing for our attention and the monumental efforts political parties make to distract us from what is happening, it's easy to get lost chasing our own tails, worried by things that have absolutely nothing to do with us.

Today, Brian Hunnicutt joins us to share his epiphany about how we decide to spend our time and focus on the power we have to change things to cut through the noise and get busy on what can make a difference in our lives. 

Brian is a Management Consultant Coach at Automotive Training Institute; he is an innovative thinker with over 40 years of experience in the automotive industry and is passionate about using history to interpret reality. 

Throughout our conversation, Brian shares interesting facts about American history and what's behind the agenda put in front of our faces by corporate and social media. We talk about the positive change we can produce in our lives, the power we often forget we have, and why most auto shop owners can't see the way out of problems like being short-staffed. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Brian talks about the chance we all have of reaching into the universe and getting what we want from it (3:08)
• Brian talks about the origin of the oil vs. electricity dispute (6:13)
• Kim and Brian discuss people's need to be right instead of trying to build something positive (12:44)
• Brian shares some tips to put our focus where it needs to be (13:58)
• Brian explains how to address the lack of internal customers in the automotive industry (24:19)

Resources:

• Automotive Training Institute website

Connect with Brian:

• LinkedIn

Let's connect:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even if it sounds crazy, the same marketing principle applies to multi-billion dollar companies and small businesses: advertising and marketing must be done consistently, regardless of the economic context and the business needs. 

In today's episode, Chris Messer joins us to crack open some of the most valuable marketing and advertising secrets. He is the Vice President and Group Publisher of Endeavor Business Media, North America's most prominent business publishing company. 

Throughout our conversation, Chris shares bits of his journey in the advertising world, some of the lessons he learned along the way, and advice for business and shop owners on advertising and marketing their businesses. We discuss the mindset change needed to transition from shop owner to CEO of our business, the right approach to customers when they enter our business, and the positive effects of proper marketing. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• Chris, would you explain to our listeners what you do as a VP and Group Publisher? (1:46)
• How does somebody know when to reach out and start working with a media company? (4:30)
• Can you talk about the importance of understanding your return on investment? (9:32)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Chris talks about his journey in the advertising industry (2:19)
• Chris shares some tips for business owners on how to approach their advertising efforts (6:21)
• Chris explains when is the perfect time to start advertising our business (8:27)
• Chris talks about why "where did you hear about us" is not the best opening when welcoming a client (12:18)
• Chris shares advice on how to make every customer feel special (20:04)

Resources:

• Endeavor Business Media website

Connect with Chris:

• LinkedIn

Let's connect:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We can learn a lot about leadership, empowering internal customers, and becoming the CEO of our business from our guest, Jason Meyer, who transformed a 7200-square-foot shop into a successful business with 30 locations. 

Jason is the Director of Corporate and Partnership Stores Tirecraft Ontario Inc. Although his father wanted him to become a CPA, Jason decided to follow his passion and went back home to work in the automotive repair and tires business. 

In this episode, we dive into Jason's entrepreneurial business, his decision of "disobeying" the family mandate of going to school to ensure a future for himself, and the process of growing his business from 1 to 30 locations. He shares valuable insight on selecting the right people, empowering internal customers, and moving away from the "having all the answers" position to give freedom and demand accountability from his staff. 

Jason also talks about the importance of building a solid culture and honoring commitment, the harmful habits he got rid of, and how he manages to oversee 30 different locations while having a happy and fulfilling life. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Jason shares a bit about his background and how he decided to start a business in the automotive industry (2:54)
• Jason talks about how important it was for him to be able to follow his passion (5:59)
• Jason explains why we should always "staff our business for the busiest days" (9:25)
• Jason talks about his mindset when hiring people and what kind of internal customer is the one we should hire (16:38)
• Jason shares a story that perfectly depicts how to build trust and loyalty among internal customers (19:11)
• Jason explains why he believes that it's easier to manage 30 locations than 4 (21:48)

Resources:

• M&J TireCraft Tillsonburgh website

Connect with Jason:

• LinkedIn

Let's connect:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mary Kelly joins us today to give a mini masterclass on how to be more effective throughout our days, increase productivity, and retain our internal customers.

Mary is a High-performer and a Super-achiever. Wrote, co-authored, and edited over 15 business, leadership, productivity, and personal finance books. She is a Motivational Leadership Speaker and Growth Business Consultant. Mary served over 21 years in the Navy and retired as a Commander with specialties in HR, Logistics, Intelligence, and Security.

Mary holds a P.h.D in Economics, a master's degree in History, and another in Economics. She is considered the 16th most influential economist and a top 50 Keynote Speaker. She has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, and Mensa, to name a few. 

In this episode, Mary shares some valuable tips for turning ourselves into high-achievers and going through our daily tasks more effectively. She highlights the importance of creating tiny habits, occupying our dead time, and using it for other things. We also talk about internal customer retention and what we can effectively do to guarantee they feel valued, appreciated, and content working with us. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Mary shares a bit about her background and her family of high-achievers (3:39)
• Mary explains the advantages of multitasking (7:27)
• Mary talks about why we shouldn't use our "big brain" for small tasks (11:26)
• Mary talks about the best ways of using the dead time (15:16)
• Mary goes through the importance of making our internal customers feel appreciated and valued (23:20)
• Mary and Kim talk about the flexible hours concept and why it is so resisted (27:12)

Resources: 

• Productive Leaders website
• Books of Mary Kelly
• Productive Leaders Free-resources

Connect with Mary:

• LinkedIn

Let's connect:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have an inspiring, educational, and as successful in business and entrepreneurship as humble to educate us about cryptocurrency, blockchain, and how to revolutionize our company, Dr. Mark Hale. 

Mark is the Founder of Facepay, a company that most likely will change the payments landscape forever. He has a P.h.D in Aerospace, created four startups, and advised dozens more. Mark is also passionate about new technologies, has an eye for discovering new tendencies, and loves flying. 

In this episode, Mark removes cryptocurrency and blockchain's ghost mask, Scooby-Doo style, breaking it down into simple concepts and debunking the myths around them. He also explains why digital currency can prevent the expensive scams business owners deal with and why it can also eliminate the inconveniences of having the old banking system as an intermediary between businesses and customers. 

In addition, he shares some of the old, unproductive habits he removed from his routine and how breaking from traditional ways of doing things can change our business' direction. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• What do crypto and cars have in common? (6:21)
• Can you tell us what cryptocurrency is and what blockchain is? (7:59)
• Where do I begin if I want to be involved in crypto and take it into my business? (19:56)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• A bit about Mark and his background (3:01)
• Mark explains what cryptocurrency and blockchain are (8:04)
• Mark talks about why he sees digital currency as the evolution of the traditional banking system and how can businesses benefit from it (14:02)
• Mark debunks the myths about cryptocurrency (18:13)
• Mark explains how digital currencies can help shop owners stop suffering from scams (23:08)
• Mark talks about the unproductive habits get got rid of (31:42)

Resources:

• Facepay website
• Facepay LinkedIn
• Facepay Facebook

Connect with Dr. Mark:

• LinkedIn

Let's connect:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even if we don't realize it, and perhaps just like any other industry, the automotive space is traversed by biases that determine how we treat and expect our internal customers to be and, above all things, how we attract and retain them. 

In this episode, Charlene Parlett visits us to raise awareness over the importance of thinking more about diversity and inclusion when writing our hiring ads, during our daily conversations, and how we can make our businesses more appealing to the needs of the modern working class. 

Charlene is an Executive Coach and Speaker at the Automotive Training Institute, Managing Shareholder of IRS Assistance, and a Master Certified Business Coach and Owner of Seamless Coaching Service. She is also part of the Center for Automotive Diversity, Inclusion & Advancement (CADIA), an organization created to promote inclusion and diversity in the automotive industry, help minorities advance in their careers, and reach C-Suite level positions. 

Throughout our conversation, Charlene explained the multiple benefits of thinking more inclusively and using this skill to attract the perfect fit for our business and create a space where internal customers can offer their best version and decide to build a career. We also discuss parental leaves, religious holidays, how to attract younger people to the industry, and much more. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Why it is crucial to understand the role of inclusion and diversity in our business growth and evolution (2:04)
•  Charlene talks about why she joined CADIA and the work they perform (4:13)
• Charlene talks about some of the automotive industry's most common biases (8:45)
• Charlene talks about how society shifted how they see parenting and the industry's need to adapt to it (10:11)
• Charlene shares an exciting idea on internal customers and transportation (16:19)
• Charlene talks about flexible schedules and how companies should think about it (24:10)
• Charlene explains how to write appealing ads to attract the right people to work with us (31:51)

Resources:

• CADIA website
• Charlene Parlett's blog

Connect with Charlene:

• LinkedIn

Let's connect:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.