John Baranski started as an automotive technician in the middle of the 2008 recession, when shops were closing and layoffs were constant. Instead of quitting, he learned everything no one else wanted to do. Water leaks. Convertible tops. Hybrids. That grit carried him from fixing cars to fixing boats… and eventually, into leadership.
Today, John is a shop foreman in the marine industry, managing a team that repairs some of the most advanced wake and performance boats in the world.
In this episode, we talk about:
👉 How to survive shop closures and layoffs
👉 Turning hard jobs into career opportunities
👉 Building accountability and trust on the shop floor
👉 The difference between working hard and leading hard
👉 What it takes to move from wrenching to leadership
If you’re a mechanic, technician, or service professional who wants to level up, this conversation will hit home.
🎧 Listen to more episodes of The Wrench Turners Podcast
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@WrenchTurners
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Subscribe for episodes on:
Service advisor training
Technician productivity
Repair order accuracy
Dealership leadership and culture
Fixed Ops coaching and management
Automotive Content Creation
Event Media and Publication
Event Filmography
Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb
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FixedOPS Marketing — Service marketing tools for dealerships
https://www.fixedopsmarketing.com
https://www.youtube.com/@fixedopsmarketing
https://www.linkedin.com/company/fixed-ops-marketing
Chapters:
00:00 – Opening Prayer
01:00 – Who is John Baranski?
03:00 – Discovering a Passion
05:00 – Getting Recruited
07:00 – Surviving the 2008 Crash
09:00 – Learning Work Ethic
12:00 – Accountability, Trust
15:00 – The Power of Great Leadership
18:00 – Finding Culture and Coaching
20:00 – Moving to Florida:
23:00 – Becoming a Master Tech
26:00 – Reaching the Top
29:00 – The Hardest Jobs in the Dealership
31:00 – Transition from Cars to Boats
34:00 – Entering the Marine Industry
36:00 – Learning Boats from Scratch
38:00 – Mentorship, Mindset, and Learning
42:00 – Universal Skills All Mechanics Share
44:00 – Advice for Technicians
47:00 – “Do the Jobs Nobody Wants to Do”
49:00 – The Wildest Customer Stories
51:00 – The Coolest Thing That Ever Happened at Work
52:00 – Final Thoughts and Closing Quote
