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