How to Get Unstuck When Your Auto Repair Business Stops Growing [THA 480]

·43 min·4 clips

Saju Thomas replaced four out of five leaders in a year because tenure shouldn't trump performance.

The episode begins with Carm Capriato introducing the topic of getting unstuck in business growth. He welcomes Matt Wegg, founder of Accelerated Diagnostics and Automotive, and Saju Thomas, CEO of Hotchkiss Auto Repair. Saju opens by discussing the challenge of valuing tenure over performance, sharing that four out of five leaders on his team changed in a year. Matt follows with his story of plateauing after three years and having to let go of employees who couldn't advance, using a staircase metaphor. The dialogue shifts to core values, with Saju emphasizing development and results, and Matt talking about commitment and excellence. Carm highlights communication as a critical skill, noting its popularity at conferences. Saju defines culture as tangible initiatives like personality assessments, not just social events. Matt explains hiring for values alignment after early struggles with resume-based hiring. Carm suggests using a whiteboard exercise to derive team values from employees. Saju argues culture should bubble up from the team, not be top-down. Matt describes building culture by valuing each role equally. Carm recommends hiring coaches for accountability, and Matt shares his experience with coaching from early on. Saju stresses the need for owner humility and development to set an example. The discussion touches on profitability, ego, and continuous education. Matt warns about owners focused on retirement rather than development. Saju links recruiting success to being a development organization. Carm concludes by encouraging persistence in overcoming roadblocks. Saju advises embracing being stuck as a sign of ambition, and Matt emphasizes setting personal goals for growth.

As heard by us

A getting-unstuck conversation that ties goals and culture to real shop work.

Carm Capriato uses this Town Hall Academy to center a familiar shop problem: getting unstuck. The conversation keeps circling back to the habits that can leave an owner stuck, while also pointing to the goals and culture that shape day-to-day work.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

When your shop feels stuck and the toolbox shuffle starts looking like strategy, press play.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Remarkable Results Radio Podcast