Today's guest, Josh Arnold, never planned to be a mechanic. He picked it off a college list like a random raffle number. On day one, his future mentor told him to quit. And honestly, he probably should have. But he didn't.Instead, he worked six days a week at a flat rate, with no shortcuts. Fast-forward, and he is now a Toyota and Subaru Master Tech, a trainer in the shop, and the MyKarma Grand Prix Champion for his top-tier Video MPI skills.In this episode, we cover:Clueless apprentice to award-winning Master TechThe power of doing the jobs nobody wants to doWhy Video MPIs are a game changer How techs can build their careers, increase their pay, and change the industryJosh offers real-world advice for technicians looking to level up. His message is clear: Do things differently, do the work others will not, and watch your career grow.Like, comment, and subscribe to help spread this message and support technicians everywhere.Always looking for guests, please reach out by email to be on the show: joshua@justworkhard.com A Special Thank You

The Wrench Turners Podcast is made possible thanks to the support of our Partners, Sponsors, and Affiliates.

FixedOPS Marketing

• https://www.fixedopsmarketing.com
• Changing the game in dealership service marketing.

The Lion Partnership

• https://www.lionpartnership.com/
• Your go-to for industry connections that matter.

Digital Communication Solutions GmbH

• https://www.dicoso.us
• Simplifying sales and service communication.

The Bearded Brotherhood

• https://thebeardedbrotherhood.co/wrench15
• Premium beard oils, balms, and mustache waxes for the Blue Collar Man.

We appreciate these partnerships in pushing the industry forward!j.

Chapters00:00 Intro to Josh Arnold

01:21 Josh’s Unexpected Career Start

02:14 Why He Chose Auto Tech

06:05 Toyota T10 Program Entry

09:01 Learning Through Used Cars

13:27 Flat Rate Work Strategy

16:20 Becoming a Master Tech

21:12 Winning My Karma Grand Prix

25:32 Video MPI Importance

27:23 Getting Paid for VMPI

30:49 Continuous Improvement Mindset

33:24 Advice for Technicians

36:03 Service Quality Specialist Role

38:45 Work-Life Balance & Family

41:23 Future Goals in Auto Tech

42:47 How to Change Industry

43:07 Closing Thoughts & OutroListen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=9305ecd058f84eb4

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/If you found the following insightful, please consider commenting, liking, subscribing, and sharing it as we develop Mechanics into Leaders. Wrench Turners Podcast with over 160 Episodes helps Mechanics become happier, healthier, and more productive.Wrench Turners Podcast Socialshttps://wrenchturners.onlinehttps://wrenchturnerspodcast.comhttps://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

Operating Partner, Fixed Operations Director, Coach - David Sparks

Join us as we explore the career journey of David Sparks, a leader whose path in the automotive industry started with detailing, rustproofing, and window tinting and evolved into a deep-rooted passion for technical excellence, leadership, and mentorship.

David’s story is one of continuous learning and adaptation. He transitioned from technician to service advisor, warranty administrator, dispatcher, and ultimately, service manager and fixed-ops director. His experience spans CDJR, Toyota, independent shops, and now Bar Automotive, where he coaches and trains service professionals nationwide.

In this episode, David explains what it takes to thrive in automotive leadership, from technician success to fixed-ops strategy.

He shares practical wisdom on:

👉 Proactive learning is essential: technicians must be responsible for their training and career growth.

👉 Respect and trust fuel operational excellence: leaders who personalize their communication get the best results.

👉 Conflict resolution is a leadership skill: handling technician and advisor challenges effectively builds a stronger team.

This conversation isn’t just about David’s professional journey; it’s a blueprint for automotive professionals looking to turn everyday workplace challenges into opportunities for growth and leadership.

For technicians, mechanics, service advisors, service managers, and fixed ops leaders aiming to increase their impact, develop leadership skills, and improve shop culture, this episode delivers insightful, actionable advice you won’t want to miss.

Let’s get into it.

PS: Always looking for guests and sponsors!

Reach out by email: joshua@justworkhard.com

j.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:30 David Sparks’ Career Journey

05:10 Owning Your Technician Training

08:50 Attitude vs. Aptitude in Growth

12:40 Climbing the Fixed Ops Ladder

17:30 Leadership Through Communication

23:15 Managing Change in the Shop

26:50 Trust and Personal Leadership

29:10 Self-Reflection for Technicians

33:50 90-Day Rule for Career Growth

38:00 Defining Strong Leadership

41:30 Career Planning for Techs

43:10 Final Takeaways and Wrap-Up

David Sparks

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-sparks-b6031119/

Michael Barich

https://www.fixedopsdoc.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-barich-75210648/

All Things Fixed Ops Clubhouse - Wednesdays 9 am EST

https://www.clubhouse.com/house/all-things-fixed-operations

If you found the following insightful, please consider commenting, liking, subscribing, and sharing it as we develop Mechanics into Leaders. Wrench Turners Podcast with over 160 Episodes helps Mechanics become happier, healthier, and more productive.

Wrench Turners Podcast Socials

https://wrenchturners.online

https://wrenchturnerspodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

https://www.tiktok.com/@mrjoshuataylor

https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

Wrench Turners Podcast on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=9305ecd058f84eb4