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.

After 4+ decades in manufacturing, I've seen this industry transform in ways most people never imagined.

When I started, shops were running manual mills and engine lathes. Programming meant doing math with a pencil. CAD/CAM didn't exist. Automation was rare. And the idea of AI helping optimize manufacturing would've sounded like science fiction.

Today we're running five-axis machines, automation cells, digital inspection systems, ERP platforms, and now AI is entering the conversation.

But the biggest shift hasn't just been technology. It's the people, the culture, the expectations, and the way manufacturing is perceived.

In this milestone episode of My TRUE POSITION, I take a step back and reflect on:

• The evolution from manual machining to modern automation
• How the workforce has changed across generations
• Why manufacturing's reputation is finally shifting
• The impact of digital tools, social media, and modern sales
• And where I believe this incredible industry is headed next

Manufacturing didn't just evolve over the last five decades. It transformed.

There was a time when machine shops could sit back and wait for RFQs to land in the inbox. If you ran a solid shop, the work showed up.

That world is changing fast.

In this episode of My TRUE POSITION, I talk about the new reality of sales in manufacturing—prospecting tools like Apollo, using HubSpot to track opportunities, writing emails that actually get read, making phone calls that build relationships, and why consistent follow-ups matter more than ever.

This isn't theory. It's what we're doing right now at CARR Machine to build a modern sales engine.

What would happen if I sold the business tomorrow?

Not the valuation. Not the multiple. Not the wire transfer.

What would I regret?

In this episode, I take a hard look at ownership beyond the balance sheet. After decades in a second-generation aerospace machine shop — through downturns, reinvention, leadership transitions, and strategic pivots — I ask the question most owners avoid: Did I build something that can stand without me?

I break down what I'd be proud of, what I should've done sooner, the conversations I delayed, and the identity shift that comes when you realize you are not the company — you're just its current steward.

If you're a shop owner, executive, or next-generation leader, this one isn't about tactics. It's about legacy. Because one day, whether by choice or by force, you won't be in the chair anymore.

The real question is — what's left when you're gone?

Most machine shops think they're unique. Most are wrong.

In this episode, Jim breaks down the EOS concept of 3 Uniques and why they determine whether your shop competes on price… or commands a premium. If your differentiation sounds like "quality" and "on-time delivery," it's time for a strategic reset.

Clarity drives margin. Let's define yours.

Most C-suite leaders track every metric inside their business — margin, throughput, OEE, cash flow. But almost none of them track the performance of the one asset that drives all of it: THEMSELVES.

In this episode of My TRUE POSITION, Jim Carr breaks down why executive health isn't a lifestyle choice — it's a leadership strategy. From sleep deprivation cutting cognitive performance by up to 30%, to how strength training improves decision-making and stress resilience, this is a straight talk discussion about executive throughput. If you're building enterprise value, planning succession, or leading through volatility, your physiology matters more than you think.

Because your company can't outperform your nervous system.