Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training and Pico Technology
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In this episode of Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z, Matt Fanslow uses a famous Michael Jordan quote, a heartbreaking Minnesota Vikings loss, and a rant from Jeff Compton of The Jaded Mechanic Podcast to dig into a big question:
When did we get so impatient with young people—and what is it costing our industry?
Matt reflects on how we treat new, entry-level mechanical and technical specialists in our shops, how “common sense” isn’t actually common, and why our own backgrounds make it easy to forget what it’s like to start from zero. He draws parallels between sports, restaurants, and auto repair, and makes the case that if we want to “grow our own,” we must build patience and structure into our businesses.
Along the way, he talks about failure as a prerequisite for greatness—using Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Muhammad Ali, and even win–loss records and batting averages to remind us that the “greats” failed a lot before anyone called them great.
Highlights & Topics Covered
- Michael Jordan’s failure quote and what it really says about success
- A recent Vikings–Bears game:
- JJ McCarthy’s rough day, clutch fourth-quarter drive, and
- How special teams and defense actually lost the game
- The internet meltdown: instant calls to replace a young quarterback who’s essentially still a rookie
- A short video rant from Jeff Compton (The Jaded Mechanic Podcast) about having patience with young people
- The core question: When did we get so impatient—and were we always this way?
- Generational shifts in handling criticism, shame, and feedback
- Why “common sense” isn’t common:
- How background, upbringing, and exposure shape what feels obvious
- Growing up around farms, equipment, and shops vs. growing up with screens
- Homemakers, latchkey kids, and how changing family structures change what kids bring into the workplace
- The reality of today’s entry-level hire:
- No mechanical background
- Doesn’t know a hex from a Torx… yet
- The shop’s responsibility if you want to “grow your own”:
- Structuring the business to shoulder an apprentice who isn’t producing much at first
- Defining basic expectations (showing up, being on time, not repeating the same mistake endlessly)
- Skill decay and repetition:
- Lab scopes, training classes, and how fast proficiency fades without regular use
- How we criticize: sharp scalpel vs. rusty spoon; cutting people apart vs. building them up
- Remembering that apprentices didn’t choose their childhood or start point—but are choosing this career
- The sports angle on failure and greatness:
- Michael Jordan getting cut from his high school team
- Pat Riley’s quote about last shot vs. “save my life” shot (MJ vs. Larry Bird)
- Muhammad Ali’s losses, UFC careers, and the obsession with “perfect records”
- Baseball batting averages: greatness at 30% success
- A teaser for a future episode: how this profession can play a role in the “war on young men”
Key Takeaways
Failure is part of greatness. The people we call “the greatest” in sports failed repeatedly. Expecting perfection from a first-year tech is delusional.
Common sense is built, not born. What feels obvious to you probably came from years of exposure, mistakes, and stories you grew up around. Your apprentice didn’t get that same download.
If you want to grow your own, structure for it. Shops that bring in entry-level mechanical/technical...
