Most machine shops think marketing is fluff — that the work should speak for itself.

But here's the truth: in 2025, if you're not telling your story, you don't exist.

At CARR Machine & Tool, we built a marketing engine inside a machine shop — and it changed everything.

From our website and brand standards to storytelling, SEO, and social, every piece of the marketing pie matters. It's not decoration — it's discipline.

In this episode, I'm breaking down why every manufacturer needs to start thinking like a media company, how much of your revenue should fuel marketing, and what happens when you make the whole system work together.

It's been five years since COVID flipped manufacturing on its head. Back then, it was all about survival — keeping the doors open and the machines running.

Today, labor's tight, rates are high, and margins are thin. But the shops that made it? They're smarter, leaner, and tougher than ever.

In this episode, I'm breaking down how far we've come — from shutdowns and supply chain chaos to a new era of discipline, data, and leadership.

In 2018, we implemented TRACTION for the first time — and like most small teams, we were figuring it out as we went. Fast forward to today, and CARR Machine has evolved into a focused, disciplined organization led by four seasoned managers driving finance, technology, operations, and quality.

This episode dives into what happens when experience meets structure — how re-committing to TRACTION brought clarity, accountability, and renewed energy to our culture.

LinkedIn was built for professionals — a place to connect, learn, and grow careers.

But somewhere along the way, it turned into a stage for personal branding and performance.

In this episode, I dig into how the world's largest job network lost its focus — and how real professionals can bring substance and authenticity back to the feed.

The first two weeks on the job set the tone for everything that follows. At CARR, we've built a structured onboarding playbook — with 5-day, 30-day, 90-day, and 6-month check-ins leading into annual performance and compensation reviews. It's not paperwork, it's leadership in action. In this episode, I dig into why onboarding is a make-or-break moment, how we keep new hires engaged from day one to year one, and what shop owners can learn to build loyalty that lasts.

The family-owned machine shop — once the backbone of American manufacturing — is disappearing. Private equity is rolling up independents, succession is drying up, and the cost of staying competitive is through the roof. In this episode, I dig into how small, family-run shops evolved over the decades, the metrics driving consolidation, and why investors are buying us up. Is this truly the end of the family-owned shop… or just the next evolution?

Degrees don't impress me. GPAs don't build careers. The real signals that matter? Showing up, asking questions, taking pride in your work. In this episode of My TRUE POSITION, I lay out exactly how I spot future talent in machining—and what separates rockstars from dead weight. This is the hiring playbook nobody else will give you.

College debt is crushing a generation—but there's another way. In this episode of My TRUE POSITION, I break down the real pathways into precision manufacturing—apprenticeships, certifications, and careers that pay while you learn. No tuition trap, no student loans—just a straight shot to six-figure potential.

Forget the grimy stereotype—this is aerospace-grade, software-driven manufacturing. In Part 1 of The New Shop Class, I pull back the curtain on clean, automated shops, real career mobility, and a culture built on precision and pride. If you're a parent, student, or counselor, this is your reality check—and your invite to see modern machining up close. Where precision meets leadership.

Ever get that email saying, 'We want to offer you a book deal'? Yeah…bullshit. These aren't publishers—they're predators. They target business owners, shop leaders, and podcasters like you and me, flashing fake promises of instant authority while draining your wallet.

In this episode, I rip the lid off the vanity press scam: how they work, how to spot the red flags, and what separates a real publisher from a snake-oil salesman in a suit. If you've ever been tempted to sign one of these "deals," you'll want to hear this first.