Better Together

**🎙️ Podcast Show Notes

 What separates the shops that keep surviving from the ones that keep improving?

It isn't luck. It isn't having the biggest building or the newest equipment. More often than not, it's being willing to learn from other people.

In this episode, I'm resharing one of my favorite conversations because its message is just as relevant today as it was when I first recorded it. Throughout my career, I've had the opportunity to be part of several coaching and performance groups, and I can honestly say they've played a huge role in both my personal and professional growth.

Too many shop owners try to figure everything out on their own. I get it—running a collision repair business is demanding. Between insurance companies, staffing challenges, OEM procedures, EVs, ADAS, customer expectations, and keeping the doors open, it's easy to feel like you're on an island. But here's the truth: the fastest way to grow isn't by working harder... it's by learning from people who've already been where you're trying to go.

We talk about why coaching groups create accountability, challenge your thinking, expose blind spots, and help you avoid expensive mistakes that can take years to recover from. You'll also hear why the best leaders never stop learning and why asking for help isn't a weakness—it's one of the smartest business decisions you can make.

Whether you own one shop or several, this episode will challenge you to stop going it alone and start surrounding yourself with people who will help you become a better leader, build a stronger business, and create a more rewarding life.

Key Takeaways

• Success leaves clues. Learning from people who have already solved the problems you're facing can dramatically shorten your learning curve. 
• Growth happens through accountability. Coaching groups challenge your assumptions, help eliminate blind spots, and push you to become a better leader. 
• The best investment isn't another tool or piece of equipment—it's yourself. The stronger you become as a leader, the stronger your business becomes. 

If you're serious about taking your shop—and your leadership—to the next level, this episode is a reminder that you don't have to figure it all out alone. The right people in your corner can change your business... and your life.

Remember... none of us is as smart as all of us. Learn faster. Grow stronger. Win together.

🧠 Mind Wrench Insights
Lead Better. Live Better. Make an Impact.

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Transcript

Chicago Symposium And The Big Lesson

Rick 0:00

As this episode is being released, I'm in Chicago attending the Collision Advice Spartan 300 Symposium, hosted by my good friend and industry legend Mike Anderson. This is my second year sponsoring the event, and every time I'm around this group, I'm reminded of something that has shaped my career more than almost anything else. You simply can't grow as fast alone as you can with the right people around you. I've been attending collision industry conferences since the mid-1990s, but last year, after experiencing the Spartan 300 and several other high performance coaching groups, I recorded an episode that really struck a chord with listeners. With everything that's changed in our industry over the past year, new technologies, AI EVs, changing business models, and new performance groups forming. I went back and listened to that episode again. And you know what? The message is even more important today than it was then. So if you've ever wondered whether joining a coaching or performance group is worth the investment, this episode is for you. Welcome to the Mind Ranch Podcast with your host, Rick Dulover, where minor adjustments produce major improvements in mindset, personal growth, and success. This is the place to be every Monday, where we make small improvements and take positive actions in our business and personal mindset that will make a major impact in our success, next level growth, and quality of life.

Subscribe, Reviews, And Daily Quotes

Rick 1:36

Hey, what's up everybody? Welcome to the Mind Ranch Podcast. I'm your host, Rick Solovie. Thanks so much for stopping in. If you're a returning listener and haven't done so already, please take a minute and click the follow or subscribe button and then rate and review the show. When you rate and review the show, the algorithms for Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and all the other platforms will see that it's valuable and show it to more people that have never seen it before, and hopefully it can help them too. I would really, really, really appreciate your help sharing this word with your friends and family as well. And if you're a brand new listener, welcome. I hope you find something of value here that helps you in your personal or professional life as well. Please make sure to click the subscribe or follow button so you never miss another episode. If you've been listening to the show for a while, or been on the receiving end of my daily quote of the day emails, or maybe just catch my posts on Facebook or LinkedIn. You know I'm all about the quotes, right? If you'd like to start receiving my quote of the day emails, there's a link in the show notes to sign up. It's free and you can unsubscribe at any time. This week, as this episode is released, I will be in Chicago attending the Collision Advice Spartan 300 Symposium, led by industry legend Mike Anderson. This will be my second year as a sponsor, hosting the Garmat USA Booth. Last year this event made such a powerful impact on me, not only as an industry contributor, but at a deep personal level, that it has inspired episode number one hundred and ninety seven, which I released back in April of twenty twenty five. As all of you know, our industry is changing at a breakneck speed, and the last twelve months have been no exception. There are some new industry players, new technologies, new performance groups forming, new equipment, and new solutions surfacing almost daily. While preparing for this week's time with the Spartan three hundred group, I went back and re listened to last year's message and felt it really needed to be shared again as a reminder for some, an important direction for those hearing it for the first time.

Why Community Matters In Collision Repair

Rick 3:35

I still feel just as passionate about this message now as I did last year, so let's take a few minutes right now to listen. Hey everybody, welcome back to the Mind Ridge Podcast. Today I want to talk about something that's truly resonated with me lately, something I feel absolutely compelled to share with you, the hardworking shop owners and managers who are the backbone of this automotive collision industry. Now for those of you that know me or have been tuning in for a while, you know I've been around the block a few times. In fact, I've been attending industry events since the mid-90s. Yes, you heard that right, since the mid-90s. It's a lot of conferences, a lot of handshakes, and a lot of insights gained over the years. But recently I had a unique opportunity. I attended not one but two major collision conferences for some of the largest repair groups in our industry. Events that I've never experienced before, and honestly, the immersion into their culture, the celebration of achievements, the palatable sense of community, it was a humbling and frankly inspiring experience for me. And that's why I'm so excited to dedicate this episode to you, especially those of you that might be newer to the industry or have never taken a plunge into attending these kinds of events. My goal today is simple, to shed some light on the incredible value and tangible benefits of joining a performance group. Maybe, just maybe, I can pique your interest enough for you to dip your toes in the water and see what you've been missing. Think back to the mid nineties. Conference landscape was different, right? It was mostly the paint companies hosting events, along with NACE before it came part of SEMA, and occasionally the local job or trade show. The focus was often on the latest products, like maybe a new 2K primer, an improved body filler, maybe a new putty. And while those things are important, they didn't always have the sizzle pull busy body shop owners away from their base. Back then, many body shops, as we called them, before the term collision center really took hold, viewed taking time away from the fixing cars as a loss, not an investment. Plus the repair methods and technology was relatively stable. The urgent need to constantly keep up wasn't the same as it is today. And let's be honest, there was a certain pride, shall we say, amongst many shop owners back then. Some might even say a reluctance to share. The idea of revealing your secret sauce to the competition? Unthinkable. Phrases like I don't need anybody's help, I know everything I need to know, or even the classic, I'm doing great, I still have money in the bank after paying all the suppliers. Those were common sediments, right? It was a different mindset. We're good on our own. I don't want the shop down the street knowing my business. Listen, I handle all the estimates, I fix the cars,

Two Paths For Shop Owners

Rick 6:20

and the answer machine takes care of the rest. Sound familiar? But fast forward to the 2020s and the landscape has completely changed, right? Today I truly believe there's essentially two paths you can take in this industry. Path A, you can continue to go it alone. You can try your best, stay on top of the ever evolving equipment needs, the dizzying array of paint and material options, the constant stream of training opportunities, the often complex DRP requirements and concessions, the critical OEM recommended repair procedures, stringent vehicle safety regulations, and the ever changing environmental and governmental laws. Then consider the competitive pay landscapes, and the list goes on and on and on. It's a monumental task, a constant uphill battle. Or path B. You can choose to join an industry group or a paint company performance group. You can surround yourself with a network of fellow shop owners that have already navigated these challenges, who have identified the best practices, and who have learned from their mistakes, and who have found the answers to the very questions that might keep you up at night. Now these individuals might not have written the entire playbook yet, but there are several chapters ahead of you. And crucially, they are willing to share what they've learned. Think about it, you can literally condense time, shrink years of learning into days by immersing yourself in the collective wisdom of your peers. The idea of sharing knowledge and collective power isn't new. When you have more than two people working together on a concept or a business, the combined focus creates something truly powerful, what's often referred to as a mastermind or a third mind. The old saying, two heads are better than one is more than just a cliche. Interestingly, while the concept of peer support can be found in various forms throughout history, one of the earliest documented samples is from 1727 when Ben Franklin formed the Junto Group. This group consisted of twelve members from diverse professions who met weekly for 36 years to promote useful knowledge. And get this, in the early 1900s, even U.S. President Harding was part of a mastermind group called the Vagabonds, which included industry titans like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone. Talk about masterminds. These were the individuals that shaped the future of our country. If you're running a collision shop, whether second generation, third generation, or original owner,

Masterminds, Mindset, And Coaching Help

Rick 8:49

grinding every day, putting out fires, chasing KPIs, working in rather than on the business, and wondering why progress still feels slower than it should, let's take a little pause right here. As a longtime industry supplier, performance coach, and host of this podcast, I've worked inside this industry for over four decades, and I've learned a few things the hard way. Tools and tactics absolutely matter, but mindset drives everything. How you think shapes how you lead, how you hire, how you grow, and how you show up when things get messy. That's where one-on-one coaching makes the difference. You get focused conversations, real accountability, and guidance tailored to you in your shop, not generic cookie cutter advice. The collision repair business has changed dramatically in the last few years. The technology, the tools, the equipment needed to repair today's new vehicles, customer expectations that vary by generation, OEM certifications and repair procedures, ADAS calibrations, electric vehicles, and the ever-growing national technician shortage, it's a lot, isn't it? It can be absolutely overwhelming and very challenging on where to focus first, right? If only I had someone who could help me find clarity in all the chaos. If only there was someone that could help guide me through the changes I need to make so I could create a successful business and increase my net revenue. If only I had a coach that could help me without getting in my way or trying to run my business for me or costing me a fortune. This is where I can help. The goal is simple. Help you make consistent improvements, build sustainable culture, gain better profitability, and shave years off the learning curve. If you're open to adjusting how you think and how you lead, book a free 15-minute discovery call with me right now. No sales pitch, no blue sky promises, just an honest conversation to see if it's a fit. You have absolutely nothing to lose but everything to gain. Secure a spot now. Now bringing it back to our industry. There are several types of groups that you can get involved with today. There are large, performance-based, structured coaching organizations that address every aspect of running a successful collision repair business today. There are groups specifically focused on the unique challenges and efficiencies of small to medium MSOs. And then there are the high performance groups offered by major paint companies such as Axonoble's A Code Select, PBG's MVP Business Solutions, Exalta's Local Performance Groups and Business Councils, Sherlin Williams Collision Corps, and BASF's Vision Plus. Now many of these paint companies also host large regional or national conferences which, as I recently experienced, are incredibly valuable in themselves. Now beyond the paint companies, there are also dedicated coaching and mentoring groups like Collision Advice's Spartan 300 Group, and then the Certified Collision Group, Dave Lewis Body Shop Solutions, and Collision Hub. Now these offer a mix of virtual and in-person support, with the

Groups, Conferences, And Real Benefits

Rick 11:47

first two of these hosting major annual conferences supported by vendors and other industry stakeholders. From my own experience attending many of these events, both from the paint companies and the coaching groups, I've seen firsthand the key advantages and benefits of being part of these organizations, and I want to share some of those with you. Number one, structured coaching, direction and focus. These groups lay out clear roadmaps for growth in various areas, whether it's process improvements, advanced estimating and blueprinting, front office training and culture, or profitability's best practices. Having that expert guidance and a consistent focus can propel your shop forward at an incredible pace. It truly makes a massive difference. two financial education or growth. You'll gain a deep understanding of the crucial financial aspects of your business, what to measure, how to measure it, and how to make necessary improvements. Learning to know your profit and loss statement like the back of your hand and maximizing your actual net profits becomes a reality. Having financial experts dedicated to working with you can significantly improve your bottom line. three, being held accountable. Learning new strategies is one thing, but actually implementing them is another and it's much more difficult. These groups provide a crucial element, accountability. Your coaches and your peers will help you stay on track with your goals and implement the changes needed for success. Accountability truly breeds success. Number four, continuing education. In this rapidly evolving industry, continuous learning is non negotiable. These groups foster a culture of personal and professional development, constantly feeding you new information, innovative ideas, strategic thinking, and valuable lessons learned from both successes and failures. It keeps you hungry for more knowledge and growth. five, your network equals your net worth. This is a fundamental truth in business. The most successful shops tend to have the strongest and most extensive networks within the industry. And that's not just a coincidence. Collision groups excel at fostering connections with and actively helping their members expand their own networks. If you want to increase your worth, connect with more people in your business. But there's one benefit that's harder to quantify, harder to put into words, but incredibly

Belonging, Commitment, And Next Steps

Rick 14:10

powerful, a feeling of belonging. It's about being part of something bigger than yourself or your individual business. The genuine sense of brotherhood and sisterhood that forms within these groups. I witnessed this firsthand at my conferences I recently attended. There was a distinct family atmosphere in the air. Most shop owners had forged deep friendships with other members, and the level of bonding was truly remarkable. New members were welcomed with open arms and made to feel like they belonged. There was a genuine celebration of each other's success and deep respect and admiration for their coaches and leaders, all driven by shared commitment to continuous improvement. Frankly, I see a level of commitment to excellence within these groups that is often missing in the thousands of shops that choose not to participate in these organizations. So while I've outlined several compelling reasons to consider joining a collision shop community, perhaps the most powerful driver is the fundamental choice you face. You have two paths before you, and those choices will undoubtedly shape your future. There is incredible strength in numbers. We can win together or we can try to go it alone. But the choice ultimately is yours. Well, that's all I had for today. Thanks for tuning in today. I sincerely hope this has given you some food for thought and maybe even spark some interest in exploring the power of performance groups. Do your research, reach out to these organizations, and see if one is the right fit for you. Trust me, investing in yourself and your network is one of the smartest decisions you can make for the future of your business. Thanks again for tuning in. I really appreciate your support and hope you have a great week. I can always be reached at www.ricksilover.com, or you can find all my social media links, podcast episodes, blog posts, and much more.