How to 10X Your Growth: Lessons from Growth Con 2025 for Collision Repair Shop Owners
- Maxwell Masters
- Mar 25
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 28
Running a collision repair shop isn’t for the faint of heart. Between managing customer expectations, navigating insurance claims, keeping up with evolving vehicle technology, and ensuring your team delivers top-notch work, it’s a battlefield out there. But what if the chaos could be your competitive edge? At Growth Con 2025, hosted by Grant Cardone and featuring heavyweights like Charlie Kirk, Eric Trump, and Robert Herjavec, I uncovered a treasure trove of wisdom that translates directly to the collision repair industry. These aren’t fluffy platitudes—they’re battle-tested principles to help shop owners like you not just survive, but dominate. Let’s dive into four key lessons and how they can transform your shop into a powerhouse.
Lesson 1: Build a System and Master Never Quitting -Grant Cardone
Grant Cardone kicked off Growth Con 2025 with a truth bomb: successful people don’t wing it—they build systems and never quit. For collision repair shop owners, this is your blueprint. Your shop isn’t just a place where dents get fixed; it’s a machine that can run like clockwork if you design it that way. Cardone’s advice is to take an idea—say, delivering the fastest, highest-quality repairs in town—and systematize it from start to finish: marketing, customer intake, repair processes, financial management, and scaling.
Imagine this: a customer rolls in with a crumpled fender. Instead of scrambling, your team follows a checklist—greet the customer within 60 seconds, assess the damage with a standardized form, and assign the job to a blueprinter to complete 100% disassembly of the vehicle and a complete estimate. This allows you to build a unique repair plan with a standardized process. By eliminating uncontrollable variables through process you are able to deliver the vehicle back to your customer with an average 6-day cycle time and an average RO of $4,500. That’s a system. It’s not sexy, but it’s the backbone of consistency. Cardone says the most important thing is to have a target—yours might be cutting cycle time by 20%, Boost customer CSI to 97% or increase your average RO by $1,000. Whatever it is, nail it down and build your system around it.
But here’s the kicker: systems only work if you refuse to quit. The collision industry is brutal—supply chain delays, labor shortages, and picky insurers can test your resolve. Cardone’s mantra is to become a master of persistence. When an insurer makes you order a part from 6 states that comes in damaged, or a key employee walks out, don’t fold. Tweak the system, train harder, and keep pushing. One shop owner I know in Arizona turned a calibration delay crisis into a win by creating ADAS center and mobile calibration service—now he’s the go-to guy when others are stalled. That’s the Cardone way: systematize, persist, and turn obstacles into opportunities.
Lesson 2: Burn the Boats and Become Anti-Fragile
-Charlie Kirk
Charlie Kirk’s session was a wake-up call: success means burning the boats—there’s no going back. For collision repair shop owners, this isn’t about torching your shop (please don’t); it’s about committing fully to your vision. Too many owners hedge their bets—dabbling in side restorations or coasting on outdated methods. Kirk says the “musts” matter more than the “wants.” You must adapt to electric vehicles, must invest in training, must market aggressively. Half-measures won’t cut it.
Kirk also introduced the idea of becoming “anti-fragile”—the more you’re pushed, the stronger you get. In collision repair, the punches come daily: a bad Yelp review, a botched repair, or a competitor undercutting your prices. Anti-fragility means you don’t just weather these hits—you thrive on them. Take that negative review as a chance to showcase your customer service by responding publicly with a solution. Use a repair mistake to tighten your quality control. When a rival slashes rates, double down on value—offer a lifetime warranty or a free detailing service 60 days after delivery they can’t match.
I spoke to a shop owner in Texas who embraced this mindset. When a hailstorm flooded his competitors with work, he didn’t panic over lost business. He burned the boats by investing every dime into a mobile repair unit, hitting the streets while others were swamped. Now, he’s anti-fragile—ready for the next storm, literally and figuratively. Kirk’s right: hate and hardship are signs you’re on the right track. Lean into them.
Lesson 3: Be Decisive and Build a Winning Culture
-Eric Trump
Eric Trump framed life as a game you’ve got to win, and for collision shop owners, that means playing decisively. In an industry where hesitation can cost you a customer or a profit margin, Trump’s call to “make decisions quickly and be obsessed with the details” hits home. Should you take on that tricky Tesla repair? Invest in a new frame machine? Fire that toxic employee? Don’t overthink it—decide and act. A shop owner in California told me he lost the chance at a big OEM certification because he waffled on upgrading his equipment. Lesson learned: decisiveness wins.
But Trump’s real gem was about culture: “Treat your people well, and give them space to be human—it comes back tenfold.” Your techs, estimators, and front-desk staff aren’t robots (yet). They’re the heartbeat of your shop. A toxic culture—micromanaging every move or skimping on breaks—drives talent away in an industry already starving for skilled workers. Instead, obsess over the details of their experience. Pay them fairly, celebrate a killer paint job, and let them breathe when life hits hard. One owner I know started a “Tech of the Month” program with a $500 bonus and a parking spot. Turnover dropped, and morale soared.
Culture isn’t soft—it’s strategic. Happy techs fix cars faster and better. Loyal staff don’t jump to the competitor across town. Trump’s right: invest in your people, and the ROI is massive. Next time you’re tempted to cut corners on payroll, remember: a winning culture is your edge.
Lesson 4: Sell Yourself Before Your Service
-Robert Herjavec
Robert Herjavec dropped a truth that’s pure gold for collision shop owners: “Sell yourself before you sell your product or service.” In a sea of repair shops, customers don’t just buy your work—they buy you. Are you the guy who’s been fixing cars since you were 16? The perfectionist who won’t let a car leave until it’s flawless? The local hero who sponsors the Little League team? That’s your story, and it’s your first sale.
Herjavec says to understand the biases of the person you’re selling to. For collision repair, that’s the frazzled driver who just wrecked their car or the insurance adjuster juggling 20 claims. The driver wants trust—show them your Google reviews or walk them through your process with confidence. The adjuster wants speed and compliance—prove it with a track record of quick turnarounds and and world class performance KPIs. One shop owner in Utah started posting “behind-the-scenes” videos of his team at work—gritty, real, and human. Customers loved it, and his close rate jumped 30%.
Don’t stop there. Herjavec warns against outsourcing your success. You can’t hand off marketing to some agency and call it a day—own it. Get on social media, shake hands at community events, and pitch yourself to every fleet manager in town. A shop owner in Illinois landed a deal with a delivery company by showing up in person with a polished pitch about his turnaround times. He sold himself first, and the service followed. In collision repair, where trust is everything, you’re the brand—act like it.
Putting It All Together:
Your Collision Repair Revolution
So, where do you start? Build a system that makes your shop a machine—track every job, train your team relentlessly, and never quit when the going gets tough. Burn the boats—commit to being the best, not just another shop, and turn setbacks into strengths. Decide fast, obsess over details, and create a culture where your people thrive. And above all, sell yourself—your passion, your story, your grit—before you sell a single repair.
The collision repair industry isn’t easy, but that’s why these lessons matter. Grant Cardone, Charlie Kirk, Eric Trump, and Robert Herjavec didn’t build empires by playing it safe—they systematized, committed, led, and sold themselves to the world. You’re not just fixing cars—you’re building a legacy. The dents, the delays, the doubters? They’re your fuel. Take these Growth Con 2025 lessons, apply them to your shop, and watch your business roar to life. The road’s yours—own it.
About The Author
Maxwell Masters specializes in helping collision repair business grow and scale their business through the Fix Auto Platform. He is passionate about saving California and supports the 10X Movement. Maxwell also works with high school and college students to imbue them with the D.R.E.A.M. Mindset™ and help them find success in their future careers.
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