From Bartering Repairs for Pepsi to 3 Million in Sales with John Lonas

From Bartering Repairs for Pepsi to 3 Million in Sales with John Lonas

Author: SLCAutoPodcast October 21, 2022 Duration: 40:36

If you're a tech with a dream to open your own shop or an owner who is not seeing the success you dreamed of, then this episode is made especially for you. Today's guest, John Lonas of Autoworks Service and Repair in Prescott Valley, AZ, has one of the most genuine love for cars of anyone I've met. Sure he has his favorites, but John loves the freedom they create. He transformed this love into a successful career as a tech and then ventured into ownership. He struggled greatly in the beginning, even losing his first shop. On his second shop, many years in, he still found himself chained to the shop, just barely getting by and rarely able to cash his paychecks. At one point, his accountant called his shop the "Titanic." OUCH! John decided this had to change, so he started making critical decisions that dramatically changed his life. In this episode, John will explain what worked for him, who helped him do it, and what life is like now. This episode is truly inspiring. 


Behind every thriving auto shop, dealership, or industry supplier, there's a story of how it got there. Success Leaves Clues: An Automotive Industry Podcast digs into those stories, moving past the myth of the solitary genius to explore how real growth happens through shared knowledge. Each conversation pulls back the curtain on the day-to-day realities and pivotal decisions that shape careers and businesses. You’ll hear from shop owners navigating expansion, technicians mastering their craft, service advisors building client trust, and the investors and vendors whose support keeps the entire ecosystem running. The dialogue gets into the specifics-the operational tweaks, the leadership challenges, the customer service philosophies-that actually move the needle. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a practical look at the automotive trade, built on the premise that the most valuable insights often come from someone who has already walked the path you're on. Tune in for honest, detailed conversations that feel more like a mentorship session than a broadcast, all focused on the tangible clues that lead to lasting results in this demanding field.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Success Leaves Clues: An Automotive Industry Podcast
Podcast Episodes
How to Make Your Shop A True Force For Good with Matt Carlson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:26
What is the point of becoming profitable? I’ve talked to hundreds of shop owners, and not a single one wanted to become rich for the sake of being rich. Almost all of them opened their shop to better the lives of their f…
From Working In the Fields to Millionaire Shop Owner with Juan Acevedo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:53
There’s a saying that says, “You can’t change your stars” It implies that the family line, situation, or status you are born into will determine what you can accomplish and how far you can succeed. Challenging this notio…
Don't Walk Through Hell Alone with Adam Preusser [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:27
Sometimes things at our shops take some pretty sharp turns, and sometimes those turns are into a ditch, but other times it’s straight into a canyon! What do you do? Perhaps it's ego, but for many of us, the first instinc…
What If You Had To Start Over From Scratch? With Glenn Todd [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:34
What if you had to start over from scratch? Like one day, you have a shop, and the next day you don’t. Where would you start? What resources would you pull from? -- From buildings, to contracts, to hiring, to marketing —…
Redeeming A Relationship with Dad with Veille Arthur [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:46
Every son longs to have a good relationship with his dad. Sometimes though, as many, including myself, can attest, that doesn't always happen. Now take that pain, and imagine trying to run a shop together. That's the exa…
Becoming a Compelling Leader with Jay Huh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:22
Becoming a compelling leader unlocks doors to moves that others simply can’t make. Moves like successfully expanding your shop during a global pandemic or growing the revenue by nearly 50% two years in a row. This is exa…