Joseph Mille is a skilled automotive technician and hands-on craftsman with a passion for building, fixing, and creating. Based in Massachusetts, he spent over a decade working on Subaru vehicles, diagnosing and repairing everything from engines to electrical systems. Mille started his career in a tire shop before attending Universal Technical Institute (UTI), where he refined his automotive skills. After graduating, he worked for Clay Subaru of Norwood for 11 years, earning every certification available through Subaru of New England.
Beyond cars, Mille has a deep love for metalworking, carbon fiber fabrication, and DIY craftsmanship. Whether he’s melting and casting aluminum, making custom carbon fiber rings, or fixing something mechanical, he thrives on problem-solving and hands-on work. As of October 2024, he is exploring new career opportunities in construction, woodworking, or other fields where he can apply his technical skills and creativity.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I like to start early, especially when I have a big project or repair to work on. Productivity for me comes from having a clear plan before I start, keeping my tools and workspace organized, and making sure I don’t waste time looking for things. Whether I’m working on a car, casting aluminum, or making something out of carbon fiber, I break the process into steps and focus on completing each one before moving on.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I just start. If I have an idea for something—whether it’s a repair technique, a metal casting project, or a new way to work with carbon fiber—I don’t sit around thinking about it too long. I gather what I need, test different approaches, and learn by doing. Mistakes are part of the process, but that’s how you figure out what works.
What’s one trend that excites you?
DIY craftsmanship. More people are realizing they can build, repair, and create things themselves instead of buying disposable products. Whether it’s working on cars, learning woodworking, or metal casting, the DIY movement is bringing back hands-on skills that are getting lost in today’s world.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Keeping my workspace clean and organized. Whether it’s a garage or a workbench, I can’t work efficiently in a mess. If I know where my tools are and I have a plan, I get things done faster.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Start learning a trade earlier. I would tell myself to get into hands-on work right away instead of wasting time in jobs that didn’t interest me. I’d also tell myself to be patient—mastering a skill takes time.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Newer cars aren’t necessarily better. People are excited about electric vehicles and all the technology in modern cars, but sometimes simple is better. Older cars, if properly maintained, can outlast modern ones because they don’t rely on complicated electronics that are expensive to fix.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Take things apart. If you don’t understand how something works, open it up, examine it, and figure it out. That’s how I learned a lot about cars, metalworking, and fabrication—by breaking things down and learning through experience.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I go outside. A bike ride, a hike, or just working on a project helps clear my mind. Stepping away from a problem often gives me the clarity to solve it when I come back.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Always be willing to learn. I took every training course Subaru of New England offered, and it made me a much better technician. No matter what industry you’re in, the more you keep improving your skills, the more valuable you become.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Early on, I worked at a national tire chain right after tech school. It wasn’t the right fit—I wasn’t learning anything new, and I felt stuck. I realized I needed to be somewhere that challenged me and helped me grow, so I pushed to get into a Subaru dealership. The lesson? If you’re not learning, move on.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
A mobile DIY workshop that teaches people how to work on their own cars, build things with metal or wood, and learn real hands-on skills. Not everyone has the space or tools to learn, so bringing the workshop to them would be valuable.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
YouTube. I don’t use it like most people do—I use it as a learning tool. Whether it’s new repair techniques, metal casting methods, or woodworking projects, there’s always something useful to learn from others who have done it before.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I really liked Shop Class as Soulcraft by Matthew Crawford. It’s about how hands-on work is undervalued and why we should respect trades and craftsmanship. It made me appreciate how important mechanical and technical skills are in today’s world.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I enjoyed Forged in Fire. It’s a reality show where people make knives and weapons out of raw materials. Watching skilled craftsmen work with metal is fascinating, and I like seeing how they solve problems and refine their techniques under pressure.
Key learnings
- Hands-on learning is the best way to master a skill. Whether it’s working on cars, metalworking, or fabrication, you have to do it yourself to truly understand it.
- If you’re not learning in your job, move on. Staying in a place where you’re not growing will hold you back—seek out challenges that push you forward.
- Invest in quality tools and knowledge. Cheap tools waste time and break when you need them most. Good tools and skills will always pay off in the long run.