Episode 122

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Published on:

21st Feb 2024

"Ask Us Anything" Webinar with Justin Morgan [E122]

Matt Fanslow and guest Justin Morgan tackle various issues within the automotive industry during a live "Ask Us Anything" session. They discuss the struggle for industry respect, the challenges small shops face, and the crucial role of specialization. The conversation highlights the importance of training for staff development and the difficulties in motivating technicians to attend. They also explore the impact of influential figures on training, the dynamics between shop owners and technicians, and the importance of mentorship for new technicians.

Show Notes

  • The barrier to elevating respect in the industry (00:01:18) Discussion on the challenges and factors affecting the level of respect in the automotive industry.
  • The importance of specialization for small shops (00:09:26) The challenges faced by smaller shops and the importance of specializing in specific car lines or services.
  • The impact of training on staff improvement (00:14:55) The significance of training and its role in enhancing the skills and knowledge of staff members in the automotive industry.
  • The frustration of low training attendance (00:15:17) Discussion about the disappointment of low training attendance and the struggle to motivate technicians to take advantage of available training opportunities.
  • The lack of awareness about available training (00:17:20) Exploration of the widespread lack of knowledge about the existence of various training resources and events within the automotive industry.
  • Challenges of implementing online training (00:19:22) Discussion about the resistance and challenges in implementing online training, including the mental block towards online training and the lack of engagement with online resources.
  • Differentiating job from career mindset (00:21:02) Exploration of the distinction between a job mindset and a career mindset and the difficulty in converting individuals from one mindset to the other.
  • Discussion about specialized tools and training costs (00:25:21) Conversation about the cost and necessity of specialized tools and training, particularly focusing on the cost of entry and P-WAS tools for specific car lines.
  • Challenges Faced by Small Shops (00:32:00) Challenges faced by small shops and the struggle for improvement and recognition.
  • Perpetuating Positive Evolution (00:38:29) Addressing the negative attitudes towards the automotive industry and encouraging perseverance and growth.
  • Delayed Gratification in the Automotive Industry (00:42:26) Comparison with other skilled trades and the potential for growth and success in the automotive industry.
  • Investing in New Technicians (00:43:28) Discussion on investing in new technicians, advice for newcomers, and the challenges of starting out in the automotive industry.
  • Discovering Your True Calling (00:45:11) Exploration of finding one's true calling, the expectations on young people, and the importance of giving opportunities without bias.
  • Developing Mechanical Aptitude (00:46:21) The impact of changing environments, the lack of mechanical aptitude in younger generations, and the need for patience in skill development.
  • Dealing with Frustrations in the Trade (00:50:01) Addressing the difference between frustration with vehicles and feeling stuck in the trade, and the importance of managing toxic work environments.

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech napaautotech.com

Email Matt: mattfanslowpodcast@gmail.com

Diagnosing the Aftermarket A - Z YouTube Channel HERE

Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com/

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About the Podcast

Automotive Field Theory
From Automotive Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health
Automotive Field Theory explores the forces that shape automotive repair, including the ones measured with a meter or oscilloscope and the ones that cannot be found on a wiring diagram.

Hosted by automotive diagnostic specialist, shop manager, and instructor Matt Fanslow, the podcast begins in the automotive aftermarket but rarely stays inside its traditional boundaries. Diagnostics, electricity, technology, leadership, psychology, economics, game theory, history, music, movies, family, and human behavior may appear unrelated. Look closely enough, however, and connections begin to emerge.

A vehicle may arrive with a technical fault, but the work surrounding it is rarely technical alone.

Information is incomplete.

People make decisions under pressure and uncertainty. Incentives shape behavior. Standards gradually drift. Good intentions produce unexpected results. The official process may say one thing while the system quietly rewards another.

Automotive Field Theory is an attempt to understand those interactions.

Drawing from real diagnostic work, shop management, industry conversations, personal experience, and an occasionally inconvenient level of curiosity, Matt examines not only how things work, but why they work that way, how they became what they are, and what apparently unrelated subjects might teach us about repairing vehicles, leading people, running businesses, and improving the automotive industry.

Some episodes begin with a failed component. Others begin with Metallica, quantum physics, professional wrestling, a historical disaster, a round of golf, or a question that refuses to leave Matt alone.

Eventually, they all enter the same field.