In this insightful episode of Untapped with UpSmith, Wyatt welcomes Shawn Ferguson, an entrepreneur from North Texas who runs a chain of quick service auto-lube locations, including Kwik Kar Lube & Tune. Shawn shares his journey from college athlete to business owner, discussing his background and the experiences that shaped his work ethic. He explains the operations of his auto-lube business, emphasizing the importance of customer trust, team performance, and personal interaction. Shawn also talks about his strategies for motivating his team, including competitions and incentives, and the role of technology in streamlining processes and enhancing customer service. He offers valuable insights on building a successful business culture, hiring the right people, and the importance of clear expectations and accountability.

00:00 Introduction and Team Dynamics

00:41 Meet Shawn Ferguson: Entrepreneur and Partner

01:10 Understanding Quick Service Auto Shops

01:46 Shawn's Journey: From Oil Sales to Ownership

02:34 Growing Up: Family and Early Influences

03:43 College and Professional Baseball Career

04:19 Building a Performance Culture

06:24 Customer Engagement and Service Excellence

08:02 Hiring and Training Technicians

09:32 Motivating the Team: Incentives and Competitions

13:03 Leveraging Technology for Business Success

17:59 Final Thoughts and Advice for Entrepreneurs

23:41 Lightning Round and Conclusion

More about the show:

UpSmith is on a mission to address skilled worker shortages by building technology to help trades companies win and skilled workers thrive. Visit upsmith.com to get in touch and learn more today!

The Untapped with UpSmith podcast helps business owners focus on answering critical questions for the people they serve, solving problems to expand workforce productivity and grow their businesses. 

On Untapped, you’re getting real talk and real help– we’re bringing you industry experts and inviting guests to share perspectives on what they're building– we’ll even workshop their business challenges in real time. 

Expect practical advice, inspiring ideas, and even some fun– we promise. Ideas build the future… and the future is bright. Join us on Untapped with UpSmith!

More about the hosts:

Wyatt Smith is founder and CEO of UpSmith, a technology company on a mission to combat America’s skilled worker crisis. Before UpSmith, Wyatt led business development for Uber Elevate, Uber’s aerial ridesharing business unit. At Uber, Wyatt led a team responsible for 25+ commercial partnerships across the air mobility value chain, generating more than $5B in private sector investment. Prior to Uber, Wyatt served as a consultant at McKinsey. He began his career as a corps member with Teach for America, receiving the 2013 Sue Lehmann Award as a national teacher of the year. Wyatt holds an MBA with Distinction from Harvard Business School and a BS from Vanderbilt University. Wyatt grew up on a family-owned cattle ranch in rural Alabama. He and his family live in Dallas.