As creatures of habit, we need to be careful about the habits that we create.

Early in my career, I used the valuable skills and habits that I learned as a technician and tried to apply them to my home and my family. I was so focused on finding out what wasn’t working or being done correctly and pointing out everything that wasn’t perfect that it almost cost me my family. I have since learned that there is no such thing as perfect, only good enough, and sometimes great. Although my life hasn’t been perfect, it has been amazing.

Habits and skills that have made me a good technician, service advisor, owner, and coach don’t always translate well to being a great husband, father, or leader. Always pointing out what is wrong instead of what is right is a bad habit. It’s those bad, unnoticed habits that can domino into an industry-impacting narrative.

Influencers use catchy buzz words and divisive arguments to increase viewership and influence. It’s a great strategy if the only thing that matters to you is how many hits you get and being rewarded for how much garbage you can stir up. But it isn’t good for the industry and those who rely on it to take care of our families or build a future that serves our communities.

Cleaning up the Narrative

We’ve all been aware of—or even participated in—the negative narrative corroding our trade. Lots of complaining with few solutions: 

• I don’t get paid enough.
• My shop owner is a real jerk.
• I am mistreated and underpaid.
• This job sucks.

If we’re to steward the bright future we crave as an industry, we need to start talking about the legitimate potential this industry has and how we are going to reach it instead of complaining constantly. It’s no wonder that parents don’t want their children to follow in the footsteps of an industry that’s self-destructive.

Imagine taking 90% of that energy wasted—spent on regurgitating this negative narrative—and focusing it on changing the industry for the better. How can we do a better job of creating opportunities for ourselves and our staff? How can we create an environment that will move our people and our industry forward?

One of the greatest joys in my life is working with my son, Kent, and watching him grow and develop. I cannot imagine my life without this. In my opinion, there are too many families where the children don’t have any desire to continue the legacy that their fathers and mothers have fought to create.

In an industry where it is almost impossible to find quality staff, it is imperative that we tell a better story. Who else but those who lead the industry today can tell that story? 

I dropped out of college at 20, knew nothing about what my father did or how to do it, and started as a mechanic in his shop. I have been a successful technician, service advisor, manager, multi-shop owner, and now a coach and owner of one of the largest and most successful coaching companies in our industry. Many of you have gone through a similar experience of overcoming non-conformity and against all odds, built something beautiful and bold. It hasn’t necessarily been easy and there have been some tough times and some bad bosses but overall, where else could I have done what I did with little more than a high school education and some hard work? This industry rewards work ethic, passion, and care for the people we serve. What an incredible story we can all tell.

Rechanneling Your Efforts

There is more potential and opportunity in this industry today than there has ever been. How do we change the narrative and start talking about the opportunities? Because if we don’t, we will have almost no one to hire to carry on our legacy or our industry before we know it.

We have a marketing challenge, but we also have a huge opportunity to start talking about what is good, what is real, and what is building lasting legacies.

In the first quarter of 2026, more than 25% of our clients had the best month that that they have ever had. We have shops that are extremely successful, employees and owners earning more than they ever thought they could, and more shop owners that are building an amazing business and legacy for their employees and families that we have ever seen.

For anyone in this industry who believes as much as I do in our potential, I challenge you to start talking about the opportunities and the successes and not just play for the click bait and the easy hits. I challenge you to turn the narrative around and help build the world we all want. A world where the automotive industry is well respected, trusted, and valued.