BONUS EPISODE! Charlie Zlatkos is Living The American Dream

In this bonus episode on Confessions of a Shop Owner, Charlie tells me his story of migrating from Greece to owning a multi-location repair shop. His story is what I think of what "American Dream" is mentioned, because this dude was a hard worker, would not take no for an answer, and found a way to find a way. We can all learn something from guys like Charlie. What is one ingredient he would say made him successful? Listen and find out!01:25 – Charlie’s Early Years: From Greece to Boston at 1703:20 – The First Jobs: Gas Stations, Chasing Work, and Learning English05:43 – Launching Pleasant Car Care: Starting with Almost Nothing08:11 – Naming the Shop & Choosing a New Standard for the Industry11:11 – How Coaching Helped Charlie Think Bigger12:15 – Meeting Todd & Bill: The Crucial Lessons of Early Coaching13:31 – “Customer Pays for Everything” – A Lesson That Changed It All15:09 – Moving from Technician to True Business Owner17:23 – Why Most Shop Owners Think Too Small19:24 – The Trap of Doing Owner Work Instead of CEO Work21:04 – Why Your Time as an Owner Is Your Most Valuable Asset23:14 – How One Decision Could Make Your Shop $6 Million More24:07 – Four-Day Work Weeks, Six-Day Service: Staffing & Customer Service Debate25:52 – Letting Your Staff Choose: Four, Five, or Six Days?26:25 – The Challenge & Opportunity of Sunday Operations27:17 – Saturdays, Sundays, and Putting Customer Convenience First28:22 – Why Small Shops Can Be Super Profitable29:36 – The Power of Efficiency in Small Shops30:13 – Outro & Final Thoughts from Charlie and Mike