Issue 6

Your Job is a Tough One

Most people are self centered – EGO CENTRIC. What they want counts – what you want is of no interest to them. How do you get people off of being self protective and get them to trust and look for the good?

This is not just to get people to like and trust you – it is to get the student to become more mature and trust others.

Your employee subjects must believe in you.

They may feel they have been lied to before and so trying to get them to try again may be a hard sell. It may be that the one that tried to ‘motivate’ them did it poorly, or really did try to use them.

The goal is to teach your employee how to create success by empowering them to be genuine, operating in such a way that will ATTRACT people to them. PHONY-NESS will show here.

A lie will only hold up for a little while. Don’t ever trifle with peoples trust. You are going to show your people how to meet people’s needs – not to con them.

One of the first things to do is to find candidates that will follow instruction.

Many have already developed their trends and habits by working for other neighboring shops. Trying to incorporate them into your team without changing their attitudes is difficult. Don’t let them bring somebody else’s program into your shop. You have your own.

Screen them for all the usual attributes you want but pay particular attention to co-operative friendliness and willingness to grow and learn.

Some at this point will send their people to a Dale Carnegie course (How to win friends and influence people) and that’s satisfactory, however the faith and respect they develop in the course needs to be in you, the owner. So, you train them. Having been a Carnegie instructor, I will assist you.

Always stay in control.

This is not a place where new employees bring in their own ideas try them out on the customer. This is a place where a concept is explained to the crew and then put into practice. The concept will be covered in a moment. But first let’s discuss pay structures.

Every employee feels he is worth more and that will be true once the program structure is in place and it produces fruit and meets goals.

Once the handling of a customer is adequate and the work is sold and accomplished perfectly and major effort is made to take responsibility for quality and details then efficiency is maximized, problems are minimized and profit is realized. Now much is written about pay programs.

Let us understand pay options the way the Dept of Labor outlines it. Hourly wage is a standard way of compensation and is based on a 40 hour week. Any additional time is to be compensated at hourly rate X 1.5. Salaries are acceptable providing they are also confined to 40 hours per week.

The same Overtime rule applies to salaries. Dividing the salary amount by 40 hours yields the wage per hour. Then hours over 40 are multiplied at 1.5 that rate for every hour over. But I thought salaried people were exempt from overtime. ONLY, IF the salaried employee manages 3 or more people and doesn’t do what they do.

Please remember what a salary is: it says to the employee ‘even if you do not work all 40 hours I will still pay you this amount’, but it doesn’t work the other way. Many times the employee is stuck working many overtime hours, without extra compensation, but because he/she does not know – they never collect.

If however, they find out about the law, even after leaving your employ, they can go to state or Federal Labor Board and file for back pay. I have had clients get nailed on this and it isn’t pretty.
Just pay the overtime or stagger hours so everybody works 40.

Piece work is another favorite. At the end of the pay period the hours worked in that period must be divided into earnings and minimum wage must be covered.

With piece work the employee is free to come and go as he desires even through the work day as the hourly and salaried cannot. Commissioned people are entitled to the same protection as the piece work people with minimum wage guarantees. (To be continued)

Article: Ray Hauenstein, All rights reserved

www.mastershopcoaching.com

Marshall Kelly (editor)
———————————————————————————
ShopController Management Software
“Update”

Shop Controller Subscriptions Offer an Affordable Model for Shop Management Software

The Shop Controller crew are pleased with the results they’ve been getting with the new subscription program they recently initiated. During the recent economic recession, it became obvious that many shop owners who were just starting out or working to recover their business just couldn’t commit a large sum of money to new software, no matter how urgently they needed it.

While appreciating the many loyal customers who have purchased the Shop Controller license and continue to welcome new customers who prefer this method, they realized that another option was needed.

So Marshall Kelly decided to bite the bullet and take a big chance in offering a subscription option. This held a lot of risk for the company in the near term, but offered tremendous value to his customers, with the promise of long term stability for the company.

While still offering the full suite of Shop Controller software at the one-time license plus annual service agreement, monthly subscription pricing has also been put into place. The results have been phenomenal. According to Marshall, the new plan is an unqualified success.

Response to the subscription program has been overwhelming. Subscriptions are set up with just a one-time installation fee and then a monthly subscription charge based on the level of software the shop owner decides on. Subscriptions offer the advantages of immediate cost reduction, predictable payments, and long term savings.

The service agreement that normally requires an annual charge is included at no additional cost (except for the “Lite” version. )To make a great deal even better, subscribers don’t have to worry about system updates, both minor AND major updates.

Most software, including Shop Controller, includes minor updates in the license purchase price. Major updates on the other hand, require a full or discounted purchase. These updates are included at no additional charge with the subscription plan.

Subscription fees vary from $39 for Shop Controller Lite to $139 for the Platinum version, but the Platinum version is currently being offered at a promotional price of $99.
Call 800.898.2038 and sign up today! Download the
evaluation at www.shopcontroller.com

———————————————

ShopController has just added a new “Third Party Integration for Email Marketing” This is an awesome enhancement to our flagship product. With email marketing you can pick groups such as Lubrication, Tuneups, Brakes etc and selectively email reminders to your customers in an interval configured setting.

You will also have the ability to email Newsletters to the complete/selected list of customers with a built in email editor.

Note: The email marketing module is available by subscription) Call us for details. 800.898.2038

To join our affiliate program Go To
www.shopcontroller.com and paste link into your browser.

———————————————————————————

Carfax Upgrade: Add license Plate and State for vehicle info, Real Time

Free upgrades to ShopController (version 8.0) – Save time and money while increasing car count.ShopController has been upgraded and now includes CARFAX® QuickVIN™ & Service Link™ applications.

These powerful tools help increase productivity in the shop and get your name in front of more customers. To activate at no cost, simply call 888-655-5362.
CARFAX® QuickVIN™

The tedious, unreliable process of recording Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) of cars you service is no longer an issue. Typing a vehicle’s license plate and state into the CARFAX QuickVIN application instantly produces the VIN.

You’ll be able to move more cars through with the ability to generate over 100 VINs per hour using this simple feature already built into ShopController.

With CARFAX QuickVIN, you won’t have to worry about technicians mistyping the VIN or handling expensive, often malfunctioning electronic scanners. Correct VINs mean more accurate part ordering and better quality of service.
CARFAX® Service Link™

Start using CARFAX Service Link – the free enhancement to your ShopController software designed to connect you with customers and keep you ahead of the competition.

Activating CARFAX Service Link means your shop’s name, location, phone number and website appear on all CARFAX® Vehicle History Reports™ that include your repair record.

This drives traffic to your website and generates more phone calls. Plus, partnering with CARFAX boosts consumer confidence and builds loyalty to your facility.

CARFAX Service Link helps keep vehicles coming back to your shop even after they change owners. Records of service from your facility may help improve vehicle value at trade-in or resale, making your repair facility more attractive to potential customers.

CARFAX Service Link lets your facility gain exposure to the millions of people who are saying,
“Show me the CARFAX.”™
Call 888-655-5362 to learn more and to activate this free upgrade(Version 8.0), courtesy of ShopController. Or call ACS at 800.898.2038
————————————————————

Thank You,

Issue 5

Creating your MasterShop Labor Force

Excerpt from Lesson 4, MasterShopCoaching – 09.14.2010

Few things are as evasive as excellence. This is because it cannot develop on its own. It must be conceived in the heart, intended in the will and pursued by the character. As those of us who work with concepts find, everybody wants success and will think they will achieve it.

Achieving success is a process of personal development that attracts good things to you. Building that personal development desire is tough, for many times the sacrifice to attain it is too uncomfortable.

Being willing to comply in order to attain is not natural and defenses arise and sooner or later the aspirant will reason that it is taking to long, or they are being taken advantage of. When one is protecting oneself, the nobleness of giving and creating can be lost.

So, as you engage in learning how to motivate, you will have your hands full. Many times you will plant the objective in your trainee and even though he will ascend to the process, he can sour some times in it and suspect he is being used and manipulated.

Stop and think about it. You are going to try to convince him that being congenial and sharing and creative and unselfish are attributes that will attract people and goodwill and trust to him. Now before you try to sell it to him – you must trust it yourself!

I was exposed early in life to a father in law to be, that looked at me as a kid who didn’t know much. How did I intend to marry his daughter and provide for her? He was a big intimidating, gruff, cautious guy.

I needed to win him over. The process of winning him over was going to be long and hard. I would sit and ask him questions and appear to bathe in his wisdom. After all, what dad in law is ever really listened to? They think – who cares what I think-nobody listens?

I would wait on him and be very interested in everything he would do and everything he had to say. After all, I recognized that I needed to change the way he saw me. Now, this is going to work,

I told myself, just keep it going. For some time I saw no evidence that anything was working. He was dubious and sometimes got on my case. I thought I had failed, but I now know he was testing me to see what I would do. Do you have any idea how tough he was making it?

I reasoned more than once that his wasn’t going to work. He was too opinionated and bull-headed. Unreasonable and selfish. Did I hang in there? I had to. My own Dad was coaching and teaching me not to give up. It took some time but GRADUALLY he came around.

I had sold him that I thought he was smart-wise-charming-funny-tough and a good man. ‘You see this is the world of politics and political savvy’. I finally convinced him that I appreciated him and his abilities. And guess what? In the process I discovered – I really developed an appreciation for him.

I began to see he was gruff, but real and I began to like him and respect him. The same thing I was trying to accomplish in him – happened to me!

QUESTION- HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD LIKE YOU IF THEY COULD GET TO KNOW YOU?

How many friends would you have if you took the time to know them? I did not lie to him or compliment him when he was wrong. I disagreed with respect. He got to the point where he appreciated me for the young man I was and he began to trust me.

This is the essence – YOU TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO MEET OTHERS NEEDS, for in doing so, YOUR and THEIR NEEDS GET MET!

Ray Hauenstein (Author)

www.mastershopcoaching.com

Free upgrades to ShopController (version 8.0) – Save time and money while increasing car count.ShopController has been upgraded and now includes CARFAX® QuickVINTM  & Service LinkTM applications. These powerful tools help increase productivity in the shop and get your name in front of more customers. To activate at no cost, simply call 888-655-5362.
CARFAX® QuickVINTM

The tedious, unreliable process of recording Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) of cars you service is no longer an issue. Typing a vehicle’s license plate and state into the CARFAX QuickVIN application instantly produces the VIN. You’ll be able to move more cars through with the ability to generate over 100 VINs per hour using this simple feature already built into ShopController.

With CARFAX QuickVIN, you won’t have to worry about technicians mistyping the VIN or handling expensive, often malfunctioning electronic scanners. Correct VINs mean more accurate part ordering and better quality of service.
CARFAX® Service LinkTM

Start using CARFAX Service Link – the free enhancement to your ShopController software designed to connect you with customers and keep you ahead of the competition.
Activating CARFAX Service Link means your shop’s name, location, phone number and website appear on all CARFAX® Vehicle History ReportsTM that include your repair record. This drives traffic to your website and generates more phone calls. Plus, partnering with CARFAX boosts consumer confidence and builds loyalty to your facility.

CARFAX Service Link helps keep vehicles coming back to your shop even after they change owners. Records of service from your facility may help improve vehicle value at trade-in or resale, making your repair facility more attractive to potential customers.

CARFAX Service Link lets your facility gain exposure to the millions of people who are saying,
“Show me the CARFAX.”TM
Call 888-655-5362 to learn more and to activate this free upgrade(Version 8.0), courtesy of ShopController. Or call ACS at 800.898.2038

ShopController Management Software “Update”

ShopController has just added a new “Third Party Integration for Email Marketing” This is an awesome enhancement to our flagship product. With email marketing you can pick groups such as Lubrication, Tuneups, Brakes etc and selectively email reminders to your customers in an interval configured setting.

You will also have the ability to email Newsletters to the complete list of customers with a built in email editor.

Note: (The email marketing module is available by subscription) Call us for details. 800.898.2038



Issue 4

Computer/Software Issues for Businesses

 

The Bookends of Success by Dr. John C. Maxwell

NASCAR drivers know the importance of starting in the right place. Before a race even begins, they compete with one another in the hopes of earning the best starting position. At qualifying runs, held the week prior to the official race, each driver speeds around the racetrack in a timed performance. The driver with the fastest time earns pole position – or the right to begin the race in front of the other cars. A driver in pole position doesn’t have to be concerned about passing anyone in order to win the race. All he or she must do is hold their position in order to win.

Conversely, a driver who does poorly in the trial run must begin the race in the worst possible position – at the very back of the pack. Stuck behind the other racecars, the disadvantaged driver has virtually no chance of winning. To finish first, he or she would have to pass every other car on the track during the course of the race.

In addition to starting strong, a NASCAR driver understands that his or her performance depends on finishing well. In a 500-mile race, leading for 499 miles is meaningless if a driver isn’t in front at the checkered flag. Regardless of a driver’s skill maneuvering the car early in the race, if he or she crashes or loses focus toward the end, the driver will forfeit the lead and lose the race. Nobody wins points for their position in the middle of the race; rather, each driver is assigned a place based on how he or she finishes.

THE BOOKENDS OF SUCCESS

Great leaders understand the two bookends of success: starting and finishing. We generally think about them in terms of doing a task or project. However, what’s true in our approach to projects is also true in our approach to each day. How we spend our mornings and evenings has a tremendous bearing on the course of our leadership.

I use my morning to set up a game plan for the day. During this time, I allow no interruptions. I never schedule breakfast meetings, and I isolate myself from distractions. I do not permit myself to strategize years down the road or to project my thoughts months into the future. Rather, I narrow my focus to the upcoming 24 hours. I ask myself: “Just for today, how can I be a success?” Viewing life in 24-hour increments, I place a premium on each day. I try to make each one a masterpiece.

During the evening, I reflect on my day. By reflecting, I translate my day’s experiences into learning opportunities. This process solidifies in my mind the lessons I’ve discovered or bits of knowledge I’ve uncovered. Reflecting also gives me the space to assess my progress on the goals I made during the morning.

Relaxation is another important part of my evening routine. I make a point to put my leisure time into activities that replenish me by refueling my energy. For me, such activities include spending quality time with my wife, reading a book, or studying Scriptures. Relaxation puts me in a good emotional state, lifts my spirits, and reminds me of the joys of life.

When I neglect to carve out time in the morning to plan my day, I notice adverse effects. First, I don’t live my day on purpose. Instead of choosing where to invest my time, I cede control of my schedule to whatever circumstances happen to arise. Second, I squander my energy. Since I don’t outline clear goals for my day, I float from one activity to another without getting anything done. Finally, when I skip my morning planning time, I feel overwhelmed. Since I’m ambitious, I have a propensity to bite off more than I can chew. If I don’t focus my attention, the weight of my numerous involvements begins to drag me down.

When I am not intentional about setting aside evening time for relaxation, I encounter negative symptoms, too. First, I get uptight. My times of reflection and relaxation act like valves that release stress from my life. If I don’t guard those times, I get tense, my thoughts are more negative, and my health suffers. Second, I lose passion. My leisure times fuel me. If I am not intentional about putting time into my favorite activities, then life loses its luster. Third, I miss chances to grow. When I don’t reflect on the meaningful moments from each day, I rob myself of the benefits of experience.

SUMMARY

Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow is out of reach. That’s why today matters. Leaders who value each day know the importance of starting well and finishing strong. In the mornings, they focus their energies on key tasks, and in the evenings, they replenish themselves. By mastering the bookends of success, leaders position themselves to make an impact every day.

 

 

 

Sponsor:         ShopController Shop Management Software

                                  ……….Free Evaluation………

ACS would like to announce the Newest version of ShopController:  a completely revamped application.   The last year has seen a complete revision of the software including a lot of new additions.

ShopController developers have done an awesome job in the changes that have been made includ-ing the upgraded fleet module. they also have a special service to meet with you online and do a “Gotomeeting” so we can help you evaluate our software.

ACS has completed integrating the Wrencheads Nexpart catalogue with online ordering into ShopController. We are now a certified partner.  In a few days we will also have the integrated labor guide. We now have an interface to the NexCat catalogue for parts pricing with aftermarket pricing. Shopcontroller has the ability to bring this data into its invoice and Estimates.

Next: WorldPac integration should be ready this week.

ShopController has completed the Import Utility to bring data from digital price lists and also data from Quickbooks into Shopcontroller for Quickbooks users that purchase Shopcontroller Software.

   ACS has also upgraded the Carfax Vin Decoder to include the full Truck information upgrade for large trucks. The software now comes in(click to review)  four levels for the needs and budgets of the vehicle service market.  Visit www.shopcontroller.com for more details or Click HERE for a free evaluation of ShopController software..

ACS would like to mention a couple of things about the desktop operating systems. Microsoft is having a lot of issues with the Vista operating system. When putting together a new computer, ACS reccomends that you buy it with XP professional and when the bugs have been worked out, then upgrade to Vista. If you do your research on the web you can find out the issues that are causing problems.

Sponsor / Partner…….. Discount Payment Services

Discount Payment Services was reccomended by ACS (ShopController Software) ACS gave us this resource because they reviewed their merchant service account and the review saved them several hundred dollars. Part of the problem was that ACS did not do a regular review and has changed how their merchant service is handled.

Payment Solutions for Your Business
Discount Payment Services, LLC offers a comprehensive line of payment solutions for your business.

   Credit card acceptance, debit cards, and check acceptance – for all types of businesses including retail storefronts, restaurants, hotels, service companies, wireless merchants and mail, telephone or internet order businesses.

  DPS will even customize a merchant account to meet your needs. Most merchant account providers are paid based on the amount they charge above their cost. 

   DPS, on the other hand, are paid a share of the revenue earned from passing our costs directly on to the merchant. That means we don’t markup our rates.

   That’s why they Guarantee their rates are the lowest in the industry. They will even prove it.

How much does it cost? It’s FREE. There is no cost to establish a new Discount Payment Services merchant account. And, there is no cost to reprogram your existing point-of-sale (POS) system.

   We’ll setup your account for free and then you’ll get a call from one of our conversion/training specialists. They’ll help you program your terminals and train you on how to use them in one call. 
Click here for free comparison information.

 

 

 

If you have any questions, email support@autoshopnews.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this world of always wanting the latest “Thing”, there is a lot of discussion in the vehicle service industry when shops are starting up or when existing businesses decide it is time to upgrade their hardware.  This is normally not a problem unless it includes a change in the operating system. 

Software providers are having a lot of frustration when a shop upgrades from an older operating system to the new” Vista” platform. This operating system is, for lack of a better word, in a “Beta” or “pre-release mode”.

While trying to use third party software such as QuickBooks, or Management Systems, and working with network configurations, the consensus is that most businesses should wait at least one year so that most of the “unbearable” issues have been addressed.

One of the main concerns for third party software is that, although everything works well before upgrading, they play the “Blame Game”, when changing operating systems and to say that it is the third party software vendor’s problem.

They forget that, there was no problem before the upgrade was completed, an dismiss it is a third party issue.

The new Vista operating system is brand new and has not been out long enough to have most of the problem issues handled. The key word if you are intent on upgrading to Vista is “Patience” with all of the other software vendors.

Software vendors tell us that “there is one area that never fails to amaze them” and it is in the area of their customers not “BACKING UP DATA FILES”.

One story told to me was that there was a customer that had a problem with a electrical outage and that when it happened the database in the management system was wiped out.

This particular customer had not backed up in three years. Can you imagine trying to put three years of data back into a software application??

Database issues are really miss-understood. If you search Google for “database corruption”, there are hundreds of ways that a database can become corrupt.

Vendors tell me “there is no code in a software application that will cause corruption in the database”.

When I was doing research on the subject there was one site that will “try” to fix your corrupt database.  The cost starts at five hundred dollars with “NO” guarantee.

Backing up daily should be the top priority. It only takes minutes to copy a data base backup back into a software application and you are back in business.

Marshall: Editor

Issue 3

This month I would like to comment on the challenges of a slowing economy. Coming from the comments of fellow industry associates, there is so much “hype” that comes into play that moves us in a direction that does not really benefit us in a positive way.

I would like to ask you a question that we all should really think about. Why do we let others direct our responses to the media and our other social resources? I really think we should do our best to adapt to the economic condition of our business and be as flexible and prepared to make changes that are occurring in our environment.

When our current means of acquiring business or customers is not working or maybe not as well as we would like. Don’t you think we should look at doing other things to enhance our bottom line? I don’t think we should throw up our hands and then lower and sit on them.

We should look around us at other type of busineses that are doing well and see if some of the things that they are doing would work for us. We might have to “tweak” the process to fit our particular industry. I think we sometimes limit ourselves when we say, that would not work for me because what they are doing is not a fit for the vehicle repair business.

Do you think it is more productive to market to your customers more effectively when your business slows down, or do you just sit and wait for things to pick up? In our area there is a vehicle repair business that sends out a large number of newsletters to his monthly mailing list and he is booked up for two weeks when the other shops in the area are complaining of little or no business.

 WHAT ARE YOU DOING?…..

Article:

Building Loyalty

The erosion of employer-employee loyalty in the workplace has been the subject of much debate and consternation. Economic downturns make employers appear ruthless when they layoff their workers. Employee infidelity seems to be the norm as workers search incessantly for more lucrative or more fulfilling work.

Gone are the days of forty year careers followed by hefty pensions. Frequent job transitions are the new reality. In observing this shift, many have referred to the death of workplace loyalty, claiming that workers are all free agents now.

On one hand, the mobile workforce benefits both workers and business owners. American workers have the opportunity to experiment throughout their careers in order to find their niche. For businesses, the ease of downsizing affords the flexibility to restructure payroll in order to stay competitive during lean times.

On the other hand, disloyalty places a wall of suspicion between the employer and the employee. In the absence of job security, workers live with underlying stress. Employers run their businesses uncertain how long their top talent will stay on board.

An organizational culture bereft of loyalty is doomed. With too little loyalty, motivation plummets and cynicism threatens to divide workers from the organizations in which they serve. In a climate of disloyalty, backstabbing, second-guessing, and finger-pointing infect relationships and destroy productivity.

What can a leader do to earn the loyalty or his or her people?

For a moment, let’s examine why we’re loyal in the first place. Generally, we’re loyal to companies for three main reasons, 1) the relationships we have in the organization, 2) the values we share in common with the organization, and 3) the sense of fulfillment we derive from our role within the organization. Each of these reasons provides motivation for us to commit ourselves to a job.

PRINCIPLES FOR INSPIRING LOYALTY

People don’t walk away from a job; they walk away from a manager. The best way to build loyalty is by making an effort to know people at a personal level. Find common interests and build bridges into their world. Understand what makes them tick. Reward their successes. Appreciate each person in a way that recognizes and validates his or her unique personality.

People will be drawn to the values espoused by your organization, and they will stick by your side because they share those values. Be clear about values from the hiring process onward. It’s not enough to profess your values; you must consistently walk in step with them. Allow your values to be scrutinized, and give people permission to hold you accountable to them. Explain any behavior which appears not to align with values, confront behavior that runs contradictory to values, and seek forgiveness when you fail to uphold values.

Like it or not, “What’s in it for me?” is the refrain at the forefront of the minds of those you lead. To win loyalty, cast a vision for the future so that each person sees how they will benefit by being part of the team. Be intentional about uncovering each person’s strengths, and, as much as possible, position them where their job duties match their desires. Train, mentor, and stretch every person under your leadership. People respond with loyalty to those who invest in them.

Leave Problem Employees Behind

The United State Army Rangers have a policy of “no man left behind.” The U.S. Department of Education’s latest initiative is entitled No Child Left Behind. The state of Michigan has begun No Worker Left Behind, a program to train the unemployed.

When it comes to the workplace, shouldn’t the slogan be “No Employee Left Behind?” Shouldn’t leaders look out for the welfare of all so that everyone benefits when the team wins?

Not at all! That’s the resounding answer from Mark Goulston in a recent article. Goulston warns that leaders not only risk losing their top performers, but also imperil their own health when they devote too much time attempting to motivate low-performance, low-potential employees.

Leaders squander effort when they over-invest in the weakest link. In the words of leadership author Warren Bennis, “There are none so blind as those who will not see, none so deaf as those who will not hear, none so ignorant as those who will not listen… and none so foolish as those who think they can change those who will not see, hear or listen.”

Leaders free themselves from the “no employee left behind” philosophy by ordering underperformers to shape up or ship out. Those leaders who aren’t willing to cut loose underperformers, place themselves in danger of the following fates (as described by Warren Bennis):

Allowing frustrations with mediocre workers to spill over into negative treatment of top performers

Losing self-respect or the esteem of colleagues

Burning out after failing to motivate inept workers

With so much at stake personally, leaders cannot afford to tolerate employees who refuse to change and fail to contribute.

In addition to the personal toll, leaders jeopardize their relationships with all-star performers by avoiding the removal of unproductive employees. Having to rely on an undependable colleague drains a high-performance individual. Likewise, a person who pours passion and energy into their job is tremendously de-motivated when a lazy worker receives promotion or recognition. Ultimately, top talent will take flight if it perceives a leader is unwilling to eliminate mediocrity from the midst of a company.

Leaders can actively address performance issues by looking out for telltale signs of mediocre employees:

They stubbornly resist change

They are reactive rather than proactive

They are habitually lazy and unprepared

They make promises, but they don’t deliver results.

They shirk responsibility and pass on blame.

They identify problems without finding solutions.

In business, sometimes a leader is forced to drop the axe. It seems harsh, but in reality, tolerating mediocrity poses greater danger to an organization than the unpleasantness of having to fire an employee.

Author: Mark Goulston

 

ShopController Shop Management Software (New & Improved)         ……….Free Evaluation………

 

ACS would like to announce the Newest version of ShopController:  a completely revamped application.   The last year has seen a complete revision of the software including a lot of new additions.

ShopController developers have done an awesome job in the changes that have been made including the upgraded fleet module. 

ACS is integrating the Wrencheads Nexpart catalogue with online ordering into ShopController . In a few days we will also have an integrated labor guide. There will also be an interface to the NexCat catalogue for parts pricing with aftermarket pricing. Shopcontroller will have the ability to bring this data into its invoice / estimate.

ShopController has completed the Import utility to bring data from digital price list and also data from Quickbooks into Shopcontroller for Quickbooks users that purchase Shopcontroller Software.

ACS has also upgraded the Carfax Vin Decoder to include the full Truck information upgrade for large trucks. The software now comes in(click to review)  four levels for the needs and budgets of the vehicle service market.  Visit www.shopcontroller.com for more details or Click HERE for a free evaluation of ShopController software..

ACS would like to mention a couple of things about the desktop operating systems. Microsoft is having a lot of issues with the Vista operating system. When putting together a new computer, ACS reccomends that you buy it with XP professional and when the bugs have been worked out, then upgrade to Vista. If you do your research on the web you can find out the issues that are causing problems.

 

Sponsor / Partner…….. Discount Payment Services

Discount Payment Services was reccomended by ACS (ShopController Software) ACS gave us this resource because they reviewed their merchant service account and the review saved them several hundred dollars. Part of the problem was that ACS did not do a regular review and has changed how their merchant service is handled.

Payment Solutions for Your Business
Discount Payment Services, LLC offers a comprehensive line of payment solutions for your business.

Credit card acceptance, debit cards, and check acceptance – for all types of businesses including retail storefronts, restaurants, hotels, service companies, wireless merchants and mail, telephone or internet order businesses.

  DPS will even customize a merchant account to meet your needs. Most merchant account providers are paid based on the amount they charge above their cost. 

   DPS, on the other hand, are paid a share of the revenue earned from passing our costs directly on to the merchant. That means we don’t markup our rates.

   That’s why they Guarantee their rates are the lowest in the industry. They will even prove it.

How much does it cost? It’s FREE. There is no cost to establish a new Discount Payment Services merchant account. And, there is no cost to reprogram your existing point-of-sale (POS) system.

   We’ll setup your account for free and then you’ll get a call from one of our conversion/training specialists. They’ll help you program your terminals and train you on how to use them in one call. 
Click here for free comparison information.

AutoShopNews:

   If these are the kind of articles and resources that will make a difference in your business, please tell your friends and business associates about our newsletter, email us at info@autoshopnews.com.

If you have any questions, email support@autoshopnews.com

To unsubscribe, email unsubscribe@autoshopnews.com

To change your email address, email webmaster@autoshopnews.com

Or, if you would prefer to use postal mail,
please contact us at:

AutoShopNews Newsletter
310 E. Southern Ave
Mesa, Arizona 85210
Toll Free: 800.898.2038

“Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it — but sail we must and not drift, nor lie at anchor.”

~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

Issue 2

We at ASN would like to thank everyone for their response to our newsletter. As I have been  researching articles on “Shop repair management” there seems to be an air of this being a private area of resources. I know that there is more information

There are some good resources on the Automotive sponsored site AMI (Automotive Management Institute) and Autoinc (ASA)asashop.org. I would like to ask anyone that has articles or information you might have, to possibly share these resources with our automotive community.

There also are awesome coaches and consultants in this niche who have really done a great service to shops who are committed to making changes in the way they do business.

Dan Kennedy, the marketing guru made a statement in one of his newsletters that really struck a note with me and that was, My business is different so that way of doing things will not work for me. He says that this is simply not true. (99% of the time).

Staff comments: “A Funny”

I did not know this …Did you? (Author unknown)

 I have been driving (legally) for over  forty years. One would think I would have noticed the little secret on my dash that was staring me right in the face the whole time.  I wonder if you have?

Quick question, on what side of your car is your gas tank?  Since I’ve owned my vehicle for more than three years, I know it’s on the left (driver’s side). If I’m in a strange car, I have uncomfortably stuck my head out the window, strained my neck and looked (or pulled up to the wrong side at the gas station).
I’m going to share with you a secret so you will no longer look like Ace Ventura on your way to the gas station or put your neck at risk of  injury.

If you look at your gas gauge, you will see a small icon of a gas pump.  The handle of the gas pump will extend out on either the left or right side of the pump.  If your tank is on the left, the handle will be on the left.  If your tank is on the right, the handle will be on the right (see photo below).  It is that simple! I don’t know how you feel right now but when I found out this morning I felt DUMB!

Why don’t the dealers share such important information with car buyers?  I don’t understand why this isn’t in the drivers education manual (yes, I looked).  I don’t get why any mechanic I have ever been to or know has even thought of mentioning this to me.  Can the only possible explanation can be that all these people don’t know!

Go out and share a best kept auto secret with your friends, and IF you KNEW this, why didn’t you tell me??!!

 

                                                     FREE EVALUATION………..

  ACS would like to announce the Newest version of ShopController:  a completely revamped application.   The last year has seen a complete revision of the software including a lot of new additions.

   ShopController developers have done an awesome job in the changes that have been made including the upgraded fleet module. 

ShopController is working on a Import utility to bring data from digital price list and also data from Quickbooks into Shopcontroller for Quickbooks users that purchase Shopcontroller Software.

   ACS has also upgraded the Carfax Vin Decoder to include the full Truck information upgrade for large trucks. The software now comes in(click to review)  four levels for the needs and budgets of the vehicle service market.  Visit www.shopcontroller.com for more details or Click HERE for a free evaluation of ShopController software..

Sponsor—-Results Marketing

Since 1989 Results Marketing has been a trend setter in the promotions business. They have constantly stayed ahead of the curve of creativity, inventing new ways to promote, and utilizing the tried and true methods of marketing.

Results Marketing is a creative advertising and marketing firm specializing in results driven campaigns. Through the use of direct mail, promotional products, web pages and traditional media we promote brands and events in B2B and B2C environments.

In short, we promote, remind, reward, incent, design, program, record, publish, create, invent, print, produce, fulfill, and service. Best of all – it’s all guaranteed! Click on www.resultsmarketing.com

Sponsor / Partner…….. Discount Payment Services

Payment Solutions for Your Business
Discount Payment Services, LLC offers a comprehensive line of payment solutions for your business.

   Credit card acceptance, debit cards, and check acceptance – for all types of businesses including retail storefronts, restaurants, hotels, service companies, wireless merchants and mail, telephone or internet order businesses.

  DPS will even customize a merchant account to meet your needs. Most merchant account providers are paid based on the amount they charge above their cost. 

   DPS, on the other hand, are paid a share of the revenue earned from passing our costs directly on to the merchant. That means we don’t markup our rates.

   That’s why they Guarantee their rates are the lowest in the industry. They will even prove it.

How much does it cost? It’s FREE. There is no cost to establish a new Discount Payment Services merchant account. And, there is no cost to reprogram your existing point-of-sale (POS) system.

   We’ll setup your account for free and then you’ll get a call from one of our conversion/training specialists. They’ll help you program your terminals and train you on how to use them in one call.  Click here for free comparison information.

AutoShopNews:

   If these are the kind of articles and resources that will make a difference in your business, please tell your friends and business associates about our newsletter, email us at info@autoshopnews.com.

If you have any questions, email support@autoshopnews.com

To unsubscribe, email unsubscribe@autoshopnews.com

To change your email address, email webmaster@autoshopnews.com

Or, if you would prefer to use postal mail,
please contact us at:

AutoShopNews Newsletter
310 E. Southern Ave
Mesa, Arizona 85210
Toll Free: 800.898.2038

“Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it — but sail we must and not drift, nor lie at anchor.”

~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

   Discount Payment Services was recommended by ACS (ShopController Software) ACS gave us this resource because they reviewed their merchant service account and the review saved them several hundred dollars. Part of the problem was that ACS did not do a regular review and has changed how their merchant service is handled.Sponsor—–ACS: ShopController Shop Management Software (New & Improved)…..

 

Looking at how other successful businesses have made great strides in growing their bussiness and trying new ways to revive or escalate thier sales and revenue. We have to make changes so the old term of “If you keep doin what you are doin, you will keep gettin what you got” will not be our motto.

 Diligence: The Key to Accomplishment
 By Dr. John C. Maxwell

When studying the accomplishments of Benjamin Franklin, it’s hard to believe one man could have contributed so much to society during his lifetime. Consider a list of Ben Franklin’s notable achievements. Over 200 years later, many of them influence our daily lives.

• Invented bifocals, the lightning rod, and an odometer for carriages
• Founded America’s first public library, public hospital, volunteer firefighting organization, and fire insurance company
• Founded the American Philosophical Society
• Wrote Poor Richard’s Almanac, one of the most popular books in early America
• Wrote America’s first political cartoon
• Held position of Postmaster General of the American Colonies and dramatically improved the United States’ postal system.
• Owned colonial America’s most prominent printing network
• Served as America’s first ambassador to France
• Was the oldest person to sign the Declaration of Independence
• Proposed idea of Daylight Savings Time
• Made groundbreaking scientific discoveries in the field of electricity. During his experimentation he coined the following terms: battery, conductor, charge, uncharged, negative, minus, plus, electric shock, and electrician

What made Benjamin Franklin such an extraordinary individual? Natural genius? Charm? Charisma? While Franklin may have had each in abundance, his diligence stands out as the quality most responsible for his greatness. His maxims on hard work are still ingrained in America’s vernacular.

Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
Diligence is the mother of good luck.
Lost time is never found again.
Plough deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep.
One today is worth two tomorrows.

OUR PROBLEM

Everyone can be diligent, but few are. Why? True diligence runs contrary to human nature. In fact, the trait common to all humans is our desire for instant gratification. We want as much as we can get, as fast as we can get it, with as little effort as possible. That is our nature. We all have a natural inclination to follow the path of least resistance. We seek out shortcuts, hoping to get maximum return on minimum investment.

Perhaps nothing highlights our trouble being diligent better than dieting fads. The secret to a healthy body is to eat less and exercise more. It’s that simple, yet we can’t seem to discipline our diets or find our way to the gym. Instead, we fuel a $50 billion weight-loss industry in a vain search to bypass the consequences of a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle.

WHY IT’S WORTH FIGHTING FOR DILIGENCE

Earn an advantage

Since the average person lives for the moment, a leader gains ground on the competition by being diligent. When others are slacking or cutting corners, a diligent leader is building a firm foundation for success. By sacrificing temporary pleasure for long-term profitability, a diligent leader stands above the crowd.

The secret of your success is determined by your daily agenda. The most successful leaders accept no excuses for taking action each day in the direction of their dreams. When energy is low, the diligent forge ahead anyway. When emotions are negative, the diligent rise above their feelings. When obstacles block the path, the diligent climb over them. Through time, discipline promotes the diligent above their peers.

Gain control

When a person’s life spirals out of control, it seldom results from a momentary lapse of judgment. Rather, an accumulation of bad decisions lead to a series of negative consequences. For example, look at Michael Vick’s predicament. Although blessed with loads of ability, Vick did not diligently surround himself with positive influences, and he ended up sabotaging his career. Instead of enjoying an iconic life as a sports superstar, Vick will be locked behind bars where he will be powerless to control his football future.

The diligent select the life they want to live rather than responding to a life dictated by circumstances. For instance, if a leader wants to retire early and have a secure future, then he or she will diligently save and invest with that goal in mind. If a working father desires to have a healthy family life, then he will prioritize time with his children and find ways to express his love for his wife. The diligent see a desired destination, and they stick to the path that leads there—even when the road is hard.

Win Respect

Leaders draw others to them from the attractiveness of a life well lived. Diligence through time yields results, and those results stand as testament to a leader’s character. Followers flock to a profitable leader who has proved his or her worth over an illustrious career.

Similarly, leaders search for talented individuals who consistently demonstrate excellence in their work. Most anyone can have a brilliant moment, but the best workers leave a track record of success by diligently contributing in whichever roles they are given.

“This article is used by permission from Dr. John C. Maxwell’s free monthly e-newsletter ‘Leadership Wired’ available at www.maximumimpact.com. ”

Issue 1

We at AutoShopNews would like to Invite you to be a part of our new project here at ASN. This is a new venture for us in reaching out to the vehicle service community with a venue of looking into the real time issue of “Business Management”.

   We would like this newsletter to communicate problems and solutions to real life challenges that face most business owners and managers in a very competitive and changing environment.

   We will be accepting sponsors that will provide input and insight into “Today’s” problems, issues, and solutions. One of our sponsors will be ACS, the developer of ShopController Automotive Management Software.

   AutoShopNews would like to bring to this forum new and exciting ways to optimize the business management experience. Please drop me an email with your suggestions and opinions and we will do our best to include them in our articles.

Staff comments:

   “It takes time you don’t have. It is not fun to do. It is that very annoying thing that you have to do when you could be doing anything else! That is only part of the list!

   It is also the key to your long term success and vital to your bottom line.

   Repairing vehicles requires the right tools and skill set. Well, management is a lot like any other set of tools or controls. Done right, management gives you the tools you need to steer your business where you want it to go.

   Management is the set of tools that can be used to see where your business is going before it stalls out or runs into trouble.

   Management is the diagnostic tool set used to fine tune a business and keep it running correctly.

   Remember it is not your father’s Oldsmobile©. Well, it’s not your father’s economy either. The way we do business is changing. It will never be quite the same again.

   The best guarantee that any business, or person has is the guarantee of having a basic set of management tools in place and learning how to use them to steer the business where you need it to go.

   Developing your tools and skills in management is fairly easy to do. All that it requires is the decision to take control of your business’s future and following through with making the time to do it.”

Sponsor—–ACS: ShopController

   ACS would like to announce the Newest version of ShopController:  a completely revamped application.   The last year has seen a complete revision of the software including a lot of new additions.

   ShopController developers have done an awesome job in the changes that have been made including the upgraded fleet module.

   ACS has also upgraded the Carfax Vin Decoder to include the full Truck information upgrade for large trucks. The software now comes in four levels for the needs and budgets of the vehicle service market.  Visit www.shopcontroller.com for more details or Click HERE for a free evaluation of ShopController software..

Sponsor—-eAutoclub.com

   eAutoClub is a pioneer in what is known as, natural language Decision-making Support Systems (herein “DSS”), the next big step in computer processing power.

   Search engines efficiently find the exact words you tell them to, no more, no less. Database systems serve up customer information from a set of records, but only according to a specific request.

    eAutoClub DSS gathers automotive service historical data, extracts knowledge, arrives at conclusions and acts on them. For a testimonial please click hereDSS is a new type of computer systems that extract “meaning” from your service data and takes action based on that meaning.

  

   The DSS efficiently and accurately makes business decisions, such as service need identification, that pinpoint sales opportunities or alerts managers of problems such as missed opportunities.

   This new “brainpower” delivers competitive advantage by improving the “customer experience” and drives sales by communicating service requirements clearly.

   Additionally, DSS boost efficiency, relieving precious human resources for other activities. Click here eautoclub.com for more information.

Sponsor—– Discount Payment Services

   Payment Solutions for Your Business
Discount Payment Services, LLC offers a comprehensive line of payment solutions for your business.

   Credit card acceptance, debit cards, and check acceptance – for all types of businesses including retail storefronts, restaurants, hotels, service companies, wireless merchants and mail, telephone or internet order businesses.

   We will even customize a merchant account to meet your needs. Most merchant account providers are paid based on the amount they charge above their cost.

   We, on the other hand, are paid a share of the revenue earned from passing our costs directly on to the merchant. That means we don’t markup our rates.

   That’s why we Guarantee our rates are the lowest in the industry. We’ll even prove it…

   How much does it cost? It’s FREE. There is no cost to establish a new Discount Payment Services merchant account. And, there is no cost to reprogram your existing point-of-sale (POS) system.

   We’ll setup your account for free and then you’ll get a call from one of our conversion/training specialists. They’ll help you program your terminals and train you on how to use them in one call.  Click here for free comparison information.

AutoShopNews:

   If these are the kind of articles and resources that will make a difference in your business, please tell your friends and business associates about our newsletter, email us at info@autoshopnews.com.

 If you have any questions, email support@autoshopnews.com

To unsubscribe, email unsubscribe@autoshopnews.com
To change your email address, email webmaster@autoshopnews.com
Or, if you would prefer to use postal mail,
please contact us at:

AutoShopNews Newsletter
310 E. Southern Ave
Mesa, Arizona 85210

Toll Free: 800.898.2038