There’s a lot of division in the world right now. Politics, beliefs, backgrounds, opinions — it feels like everyone is being pushed to pick sides and fight each other. But real leadership isn’t about yelling louder than the other side. It’s about setting the example. Treat people with respect. Lead with integrity. Choose compassion over anger. Show the kind of behavior you wish more people practiced. If more of us focused on being the example instead of winning the argument, the world would start to look a little different. That’s what this video is about.

I just finished building something I’m really proud of. I put together a full class on AI for the automotive industry, but the truth is the lessons inside it go far beyond just cars. What I’m teaching in this class is how AI can help professionals: • communicate better • organize information faster • build systems instead of relying on memory • train people more consistently • market and educate customers • automate repetitive tasks I happen to use these tools inside an automotive shop, but the same platforms can be used in almost any industry. Business owners. Managers. Technicians. Service professionals. Entrepreneurs. If you work with people, information, or systems, AI can make you dramatically more effective. The goal isn’t to replace professionals. The goal is to make skilled people more powerful. And once you understand how to use these tools correctly, you start seeing opportunities everywhere. This class walks through exactly how AI can support communication, diagnostics, hiring, training, marketing, and automation inside a real business. But the bigger lesson is learning how to think with AI, not just how to ask it questions. If you’ve been curious about AI but didn’t know where to start, this class will give you a practical way to see what’s possible. Let’s raise the standard.

Thanks to the first members of Champion University. I expect to change the automotive industry for the good and you are part of it. Remember, we lead everything in the shop and part of being a good leader is taking ownership when things go wrong. I have made many mistakes in my career. When you make a mistake you have choices on how you move forward after the mistake. True leaders look at mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow. When was the last time you had the opportunity to grow?

A Quick Update on New Courses Champion Service Advisor College is growing quickly, and we’re currently building several new courses including: • Champions of Communication• AI in the Workplace• Champion Tire Onboarding Training• Additional advisor and shop communication modules Much of this material is being actively built and refined right now. The goal is not to rush content out. The goal is to create the highest quality training available for automotive professionals. Champion Service Advisor College was founded by Kevin Tarpley, owner of Champion Tire & Automotive. At the same time he is building Champion Tire, raising a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old, and developing both Champion University and Community Care Champions. This community is in its early build phase, and your feedback is part of shaping it. Thank you for being here early and helping raise the standard of this industry. More training is coming soon. Let’s raise the standard.

Empathy Is the Delivery System for Truth Truth without empathy doesn’t build trust. It builds resistance. You can be right and still lose the relationship. The Core Problem Most people don’t reject information. They reject how it was delivered and who it came from. When someone feels: • judged • talked down to • misunderstood • rushed • minimized They shut down—even if the advice is correct. ⸻ Experience Changes the Way You Speak Example: Parenting A parent of two babies understands: • how hard it is to leave the house • how exhausted and defensive you already are • how thin your patience is • how often you question yourself So when they correct another parent, they do it carefully. Not because they’re unsure—but because they remember. They lead with: • understanding • shared struggle • humility Same correction. Completely different outcome. ⸻ The Contrast: Knowledge Without Experience Now take someone young, technically trained, but without lived experience. They may: • be factually correct • know the “right” method • have professional exposure But without empathy, the delivery feels: • rigid • arrogant • dismissive • condescending They sound like an all-knowing snob—not because they are one, but because they don’t know how much care is required when correcting someone who’s already under pressure. And once someone feels disrespected, they stop listening. ⸻ This Is Sales—Whether You Like the Word or Not Every objection is a moment of vulnerability. When a customer says: • “I don’t have time” • “I don’t need it right now” • “I can’t afford this” They’re not just giving a reason. They’re exposing a pressure point. If your response is: “I get it” and you keep moving You didn’t empathize. You acknowledged and ignored. Real empathy sounds slower. Softer. More curious. ⸻ Empathy Isn’t Agreement—It’s Understanding You don’t have to: • fix their finances • solve their life • overstep boundaries But you do have to show you actually heard them.