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

In this crossover episode, Mike Allen teams up with Tonnika Haynes from Downshift with Tonnika to give you a preview of the upcoming ASTA Expo in Raleigh, NC this September. ASTA Board Member and shop owner Benjie Burris joins alongside his daughter, Callie Johnson, ASTA’s new Membership & Events Manager, to talk about what makes the Expo special and how building a strong shop culture can create lasting success both inside and outside the business.

The conversation dives into the power of showing up for your local community, building authentic relationships, and why giving back has played a major role in long-term growth. They also share first-hand ASTA Expo experiences, what makes the event different, and why the connections made there can impact both your business and your life.

Oh, and you'll also hear the story of how Benjie met his wife. Let’s just say it’s one of those stories you definitely won’t see coming.

Learn more about the ASTA Expo and how you can be there HERE

Timestamps:
00:00 The funniest icebreaker ever (yes, fake boobs are involved)
00:53 Live from Fueling Connections 2026 – ASTA at UTI Mooresville
02:22 Audio chaos: Why your own tools matter (and how NOT to record a podcast)
04:10 The rise of Downshift and the weirdness of being told “I listen to your podcast!”
05:03 Social media hacks: Engagement, trolls, and managing the comment chaos
09:19 A blueprint for a family-run business culture that actually works
10:29 Turning community support into real shop growth (and why service matters)
13:42 Small steps, big progress: Building a shop “patch by patch”1
4:42 The real reason community work succeeds (hint: It can’t be faked)
18:25 Real talk on supporting schools, teachers, and being boots-on-the-ground
22:22 Dealing with “big city” demands and setting shop boundaries
23:46 ASTA’s new Membership & Events Manager shares social media tips
26:53 The ASTA Expo: Networking, parties, and the least clicky vibe in the industry
28:29 Conversations that change careers—and lives
30:46 Competitors or community? Why ASTA shops help each other
32:07 Going from local to international—how ASTA keeps its family feel
36:04 Must-attend classes, what’s next for ASTA, and seriously, don’t miss the hospitality suite
39:29 Why Downshift is different: Focusing on legacy, mindset, and leveling up

Tekmetrics' business model of listening to customers' needs and implementing new systems makes them super shop-friendly. Start using them at your shop today HERE

Turnkey Marketing has made my life SOOO much simpler, AND they've helped keep the phone ringing. Do you need these two things too? Learn more HERE

Elite Worldwide coaching has changed the game for me and my shop. Need a boost? Use Elite like I do. HERE

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

In this episode, Mike and Matt talk about daily shop performance and the importance of defining what a "perfect day" looks like for the team. One concept Matt brought up was the need to move away from subjective evaluations and instead implement objective, binary metrics—like technician hours worked, appointments attended, and gross profit targets—for more effective management. One trick for shop owners is to use actionable mid-day check-ins to quickly identify and respond to potential issues, raising the floor on performance rather than merely chasing bigger highs.

Timestamps:
00:00 Setting the Standard: Defining a "Perfect Day" in Shop Management
01:46 Upcoming AI Training Class: Why Early Adoption Means Opportunity
04:13 Building the Event Calendar: Fall Shows, Course Selection & Hospitality Suite
05:47 April Recap: Revenue, Profit, and Running a Leaner Team
07:27 Unlocking the Numbers: ARO, Close Ratio & Tech Metric Deep Dive
08:10 The DVI Dilemma: Why Process Slippage Hurts Your Bottom Line
10:06 Only One-Third of Customers See Your DVI?! Here's Why That Matters
12:06 Triggers for Action: When to Audit and How to Respond
13:01 The "Perfect Day Plan" and Real-World Contingencies
15:47 Scorecarding the Day: Checks at 10AM, 2PM, and Raising the Floor
18:00 Subjective vs. Objective Reporting: What REALLY Tells the Story
21:25 The Problem with Overreporting & What Data Actually Matters
23:21 Real-World Action Plans: Handling Cancellations, No-Shows & Dead Days
25:21 VIP Customers, Deferred Work, and Making Today Count
27:01 Maximizing Opportunity: Not All Cars (or Customers) Are Equal
28:35 Do You Exclude State Inspections From Your Numbers? The Truth Behind the Data
30:03 Stepping Beyond Express Lube: Changing What Business You’re In
32:01 Retention Rates & Why That Second Visit is GOLD
35:10 Turning State Inspections into Repeat Business: The REAL Strategy
40:14 Role Playing, AI in Training, and How Owners Stay Sharp
42:22 Overcoming Price Objections: Getting Down to What Matters Most
44:10 Fly With the Eagles & Masters Training: What’s Coming Next
47:47 Hosting at ASTA Expo: Deep Dive, Hot Topics & Real Owner Conversation

My marketing before and after signing up with Turnkey Marketing is pretty scary. In a good way. Get your marketing right today HERE

Tekmetric opened my eyes to just how much a good SMS will do for a shop. Their software is top of the line, and with them, so is my shop. Try them for yourself HERE

Make your techs happier with Detect Auto. They'll stop getting "check noise" or "check vibration" from advisors with the customer concern tool. It will CHANGE YOUR LIFE. Book a demo HERE

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

Brad McAllister & Jay Power from OktoRocket join Mike to dig into the power of analytics for shop owners. They break down how tracking call conversions can translate into serious revenue, revealing that just a 6% bump in close ratio could mean an extra $24,475 per month. The guys also share their take on leaderboard motivation—why it can drive some team members and demotivate others—and discuss the relentless advance of AI-powered features like agent assist and Rocket Shield to keep shops ahead of the curve.

Get the OktoRocket 2025 Industry Report HERE

Timestamps:

00:00 Game-changing stats to motivate your business growth

01:17 Tektonic 2026: Rooftop parties, Texas-shaped pools, and industry networking

03:00 Turtle races and finding your pace in a crowded event

05:05 Meet the OktoRocket team and their journey from shop floor to SaaS leaders

05:37 How OktoRocket connects, analyzes, and grows shops of every size

08:25 Tools for shops, marketing companies, and analyzing your campaigns

10:17 Decoding call conversion, inbound sales, and the analytics that matter most

12:11 Should you use leaderboards? Shop culture, competition, and motivation dilemmas

16:41 What makes great management & using data to coach your people

17:14 Drill down into conversions: marketing calls, repair orders, and tracking ROI

22:44 Tagging high-value customers—Are your ads bringing the right cars to your bay?

24:29 The real numbers: Industry report highlight reel and surprises

28:28 Close rates are dropping—what does it mean for your shop in 2025?

31:38 Just a 6-point close rate boost could net $24k/month—here’s how

32:49 Real talk on gross profit, compensation, and fixing margins

34:46 OktoRocket’s founders share their shop careers and why they built it

40:45 Staying ahead with rapid dev, AI, and never getting outcompeted

44:27 New tech rolling out: AI phone agents, Rocket Shield, and beyond

47:37 Your wish list: Real-time scripts and objection handling coming soon?