From Hating It to Loving It: Mike Allen's Journey in the Auto Repair Industry

Mike Allen, a whiskey lover and multi-shop owner, appears on the podcast to share his stories and perspective. He grew up in his father's shop, which was also his grandfather's, and eventually started his own business with his father's help. Despite attempting to go down other paths, Mike returned to the auto industry and currently has three shop locations with hopes for a fourth. The episode stresses the importance of technicians investing in themselves and their training, rather than just tools and storage. As physical labor becomes more challenging with age, technicians can still earn a living by using their brain and mental skills. They should focus on acquiring knowledge and skills related to emerging technology and using their brain instead of their back. The episode also highlights the shortage of competent technicians, and the definition of "qualified" depends on the expectations of the industry. Therefore, technicians should strive to develop their skills to take on more complex jobs and remain competitive in the industry as they age. The overall message is that technicians should prioritize developing their skills and knowledge for a sustainable career in the long run. The episode also advises technicians who want to own their own business to invest in training and learn about the basics of business operations and human communication. The hosts recommend reading books such as "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie and "Profit First" by Mike Michalowicz. They also suggest finding a trainer that aligns with their values and not waiting until they can afford it. The hosts emphasize the importance of using one's brain instead of relying solely on physical labor, as the body will eventually fail. They also suggest finding peers to communicate with and learn from, such as through private communication channels like Slack. Overall, the hosts believe that owning a successful business requires putting the right people in place, providing them with the right equipment and training, and constantly generating leads. The guest speaker in the episode emphasizes the importance of owners seeking out training to improve their business operations. However, he notes that not all trainers are the same, and owners should find one that aligns with their business goals and values. The speaker suggests that owners should understand how they want to do business and seek out a trainer that aligns with those values. He also emphasizes the importance of learning from the mistakes of others to avoid making those mistakes themselves. The speaker suggests that owners should invest in themselves and their training, rather than just tools and storage. By investing in their knowledge and skills, owners can make better decisions for their business and ensure its success.