This episode hits home.

I sat down with a close friend—a third-generation machine shop owner—who took his family business all the way through a private equity exit. From the outside, it looks like a win… but behind the scenes, it was anything but simple.

We get into the real story: the pressure, the complexity, the emotional weight of legacy, and what it actually takes to navigate a deal like this the right way. If you've ever thought about selling your shop—or even wondered what that path looks like—this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

Automation didn't fail us—the wrong partner did.

In Part 2 of this two-part series, Jim Carr and Ryan Carr finish the story behind a CNC automation retrofit that went off the rails—and get into what really matters: the lessons. This is where they break down what it actually cost, what they would do differently, and how to properly vet an automation company before you hand over your time, money, and trust.

From missed expectations to hard conversations, this episode is about accountability, due diligence, and protecting your shop from making the same mistake. If you're serious about automation, this is the part you can't afford to skip—because the difference between success and failure isn't the technology…

It's who you choose to work with.

Automation is supposed to make your shop faster, leaner, and more profitable. But what happens when the company you trust to retrofit your CNC turns out to be the wrong partner?

In this episode, Jim Carr sits down with Ryan Carr for the first of many co-hosted conversations on My TRUE POSITION. They unpack the real story behind a CNC automation retrofit that didn't go the way it was supposed to. What started as a smart investment quickly exposed a hard truth: choosing the wrong automation partner can cost time, money, and a lot of frustration on the shop floor.

In Part 1, Jim and Ryan walk through how the decision was made, what promises were on the table, and the early warning signs they wish they had paid more attention to. If you're thinking about automating your shop—or partnering with anyone to do it—this is a conversation worth hearing before you sign the check.