Harmonic Motion Podcast Episode 11: Andy Crook

by Olivia Dillon | Nov 13, 2024 | Harmonic Motion Podcast

Episode 11: Andy Crook - Building a Better Business For Garage Owners

In this episode, James welcomes Andy Crook, a long-time friend and other half of the famous dynamic duo.

James and Andy met at Snap-On where they ran training courses and engaged in public speaking events as a pair.

Together they discuss Andy’s early days in the automotive industry and how his passion for cars and motorsport shaped his career.

The conversation dives into the creation of the Garage Owners Network, a community aimed at helping garage owners improve their businesses. Andy emphasizes the need for proper planning, understanding business finance, and building effective systems. He also touches on the significance of marketing and measuring performance to ensure long-term success.

Throughout the episode, Andy’s passion for the industry shines through, making it an inspiring listen for any garage owner striving to be the best. His practical advice and real-life experiences offer valuable insights that you can apply to your own business, all while keeping the tone light and engaging.

Enjoy!

Key chapters and takeaways

Andy’s Journey and Early Career
[00:02:05 – 00:04:07]
Lifelong Learning Journey
[00:08:08 – 00:09:03]
Mechanic to Mentor
[00:09:00 – 00:10:03]
Delegating in a Business
[00:28:00 – 00:40:00]
The Garage Owners Network
[00:32:00 – 00:36:10]
Maintaining Personal Well-being
[00:44:00 – 00:48:00]
Practical Tips for Garage Owners
[00:28:23 – 00:41:19]
The Role of Marketing in Building A Successful Business
[00:41:19 – 00:50:00]
Balancing Home and Work Life
[01:04:20:00 – 01:23:22:17]

More about Andy Crook

GotBoost: https://www.gotboost.uk/

Join the Garage Owners Network: https://www.facebook.com/garageservicesonline

Get in contact with Andy: https://www.gotboost.uk/contactus/

Get Involved

Are you loving the podcast?

Find your next episode: https://techtopics.co.uk/harmonic-motion-podcast/

Join the Facebook group to get behind the scenes action, previews of unreleased episodes and join discussion about topics from the episodes.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/549573740317836/

Harmonic Motion Podcast Episode 10: Jim Lang

by Olivia Dillon | Nov 13, 2024 | Harmonic Motion Podcast

Episode 10: Jim Lang

James is joined by web expert Jim Lang from Garage Services Online for this episode.

The pair dive into the intricacies of running a successful garage business in the digital age. They discuss the importance of having an effective website that not only attracts customers but also brings in the most profitable work. Jim emphasizes the need for websites to be dynamic and reflect the current state of the business, rather than being static.

Jim shares insights on how garages can use their websites to target specific types of work and customers, and the benefits of integrating booking systems to streamline operations. They also touch on the impact of Google updates on SEO and the growing relevance of voice search.

Key chapters and takeaways

Jim’s Background
[00:00:00 – 00:02:30]
Meeting Customer Requirements With Your Website
[00:02:30 – 00:06:30]
The Impact a Mentor Can Have
[00:06:30 – 00:13:30]
How to Have a Profitable Website
[00:18:03 – 00:28:23]
Paid Advertising, Should You Do It?
[00:28:23 – 00:41:19]
Integrating Social Media and Websites
[00:41:19 – 00:50:00]
Practical Advice for Improving Your Website
[00:55:12 – 01:05:00]

More about Jim Lang

Garage Services Online: https://garage-services-online.co.uk/

Follow their Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garageservicesonline

Get in contact with Andy: https://garage-services-online.co.uk/contact/

Get Involved

Are you loving the podcast?

Find your next episode: https://techtopics.co.uk/harmonic-motion-podcast/

Join the Facebook group to get behind the scenes action, previews of unreleased episodes and join discussion about topics from the episodes.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/549573740317836/

Harmonic Motion Podcast Episode 26: Opinions from Master Technicians

by Olivia Dillon | Nov 11, 2024 | Harmonic Motion Podcast

Episode 26: Master Technicians Opinions - Technical Synchromesh

We welcomed another group of our Master Technicians into the TT podcast studio whilst they were here at Technical Topics for the Advanced Electronics course.

James, Eugene, Steven, Callum, Malc and Frazer chewed the cud on specialising vs general repair, being clear in client communication and expectations and the integral role software has on modern vehicles.

Enjoy!

Key chapters and takeaways

About the Master Technicians
[00:00:41 – 00:05:00]
Technological Advancements in the Industry
[00:05:05 – 00:09:02]
Software Updates and Customer Communication
[00:18:02 – 23:12]
Specialisation vs All Makes and Models
[00:34:12 – 00:41:38]
MOT Standards and Improvements
[00:00:38 – 00:40:38]
Licensing and Regulations
[00:50:32 – 01:00:04]
Information and Access to Dealer Tools
[01:10:46 – 01:20:56]

More about our Master Technicians

Eugene – Autowise: https://www.autowise.ie/

Steven McLeod

Callum Bamsey – https://ccmhelp.co.uk/

Malc Smith – https://martinwrightltd.co.uk/

Frazer Wood – https://ramseyhillgarage.com/

Get Involved

Are you loving the podcast?

Find your next episode: https://techtopics.co.uk/harmonic-motion-podcast/

Join the Facebook group to get behind the scenes action, previews of unreleased episodes and join discussion about topics from the episodes.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/549573740317836/

Harmonic Motion Podcast Episode 9: Steve Scott

by Olivia Dillon | Nov 7, 2024 | Harmonic Motion Podcast

Episode 9: Steve Scott - Simply Diagnostics

Welcoming Mr Awesome himself, Steve Scott.

If you don’t know Steve, where have you been? Steve is the founder of automotive community Simply Diag Network – The Automotive Community For Invested Professionals.

Steve and James talk about Steve’s amazing journey from Automotive Tech To YouTuber and his experiences which set him on the path to creating the Simply Diagnostics Network. You’ll hear about Steve’s early career, his mission in Africa and what drives him to help others to be the best they can be. Known amongst his peers as Mr Awesome, we think you’ll understand why when you discover more about the man, his inspiration and the great work that the Simply Diagnostics Network does for the industry.

Key chapters and takeaways

Steve’s Background
[00:01:41 – 00:05:19]
Time in Africa
[00:07:05 – 00:13:02]
Return to the UK
[00:13:02 – 18:12]
Founding Simply Diag
[00:18:12 – 00:26:38]
Future Goals for Simply Diag
[00:35:38 – 00:40:38]
Support and Training for Technicians
[00:46:46 – 00:48:56]
Industry Challenges and Solutions
[01:07:32 – 01:10:04]

More about Steve Scott & Simply Diag

Follow their Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimplyDiag

Check out their website: https://www.simplydiag.net/

Get in touch: live@simplydiag.net

Get Involved

Are you loving the podcast?

Find your next episode: https://techtopics.co.uk/harmonic-motion-podcast/

Join the Facebook group to get behind the scenes action, previews of unreleased episodes and join discussion about topics from the episodes.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/549573740317836/

A Diagnostic Technician’s Journey at Tech Topics: David Evason

by Olivia Dillon | Jun 20, 2024 | A Diagnostic Technician's Journey

A Diagnostic Technicians Journey: David Evason

At TTHQ, we have the privilege of fostering a community of dedicated and skilled professionals and watching these guys and girls grow into highly skilled and highly efficient technicians.

One such individual is David Evason, an esteemed Diagnostic Technician who is now 11 months into our programme. We had the pleasure of sitting down with David to discuss his experiences and insights gained through his journey at Tech Topics.

Professional Background

David is the owner of family garage Seaforth Radio Cars Ltd, based in Liverpool. He studied A-Levels at college before joining the family business when he decided he no longer wanted to pursue his current line of education.

Seaforth Radio Cars Ltd was a local taxi firm initially. They had a garage as part of the business venture, designed to fix their own fleet. Now, David fixes a blend of taxis and vehicles belonging to the general public. He encounters all kinds of vehicles and all kinds of faults and problems but specialises in VAG, Ford and Mercedes.

David was promoted to manager of the business and employs one apprentice.

The need for training

In David’s own words, he’s addicted to training. He really enjoys meeting like-minded techs and enhancing his own ability. He first identified his need for training many years ago and has completed formal training throughout his career. With car parts becoming more and more expensive, this highlights how impactful the ability to have a working understanding of the ‘why’ behind problems. Being able to accurately diagnose an issue and have the knowledge and skills to be able to fix the issue without replacing parts was rewarding in itself for David, but it also gave him a competitive edge amongst other local garages.

Overcoming initial doubts

Attending an 18 month programme is a huge commitment in terms of time and money. The cost of attending 12 courses, accommodation, travel and time not fixing cars quickly adds up. Having worked in the industry since he left college, David was sceptical about joining the Diagnostic Technician programme and wondered whether it would be too basic for him, based on his current skillset. David found that the programme allowed him to dive deeper into each subject area, refreshing and refining his skills. When you have worked in a certain way for a long time and never deviated from the way you were taught, you can forget small details and perhaps not consider different ways to approach challenges.

Daily benefits

The impact the programme has had for David’s daily work has been profound. He uses the knowledge and techniques he’s acquired at Tech Topics every single day and feels more equipped to tackle unfamiliar jobs than ever before. He has a new perspective and a more open mind which is evident in his approach to diagnostics.

What learning at TTHQ is like

One of the highlights of the programme for David is how comfortable and supportive the learning environment is. The group he’s taking the programme with have formed an inspiring bond where they regularly communicate and share insights on jobs they encounter at work through their WhatsApp group chat. Another huge benefit of the programme is the structure. With the course dates set out at the beginning, there is a clear and easy pathway towards David’s professional development. He finds this contributes to staying focused and motivated.

We are proud to be a part of David’s journey and have him as part of our community. We look forward to supporting his ongoing journey towards technical excellence.