If I had known then what I know now.......
Ok, you can now time travel, 1 month, 1 year 5 years, 10.15,20,25,30....40....Back in time to the day you started selling cars. What 3 things would we have done differently? Why those or would you do it exactly the same way again?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Brad Alexander on
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OK, I'll bite. First of all, I can think of a couple turns I wouldn't have taken! LOL. One big thing I would change is getting caught up in dealership politics and drama. Hard to do when you care about the people you work with and spend so much time with but, the reality is we are all at work for one reason: generate income. For ourselves, for our company. HOW we do it is a different discussion but the truth of the matter is we are there to produce. Early in my career I allowed my emotions to dictate my responses to dealership decisions etc. Also, I would focus on my attitude more and be more conscious of the fact that in every situation, God is there with me (would have prevented me from some mistakes and given me boldness to say/do some things I avoided). Someday I will learn to curb my tongue, when I do then I'll tell you what I would go back in time and change...
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Permalink Reply by Craig Lockerd on
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lol@t.o.'s........It really is very easy early on to lose focus and get involved in all that stuff.I think FEAR has much to do with all that.If we find ourselves in a horrific storm and lose focus.....we could sink.
Brad Alexander said:OK, I'll bite. First of all, I can think of a couple turns I wouldn't have taken! LOL. One big thing I would change is getting caught up in dealership politics and drama. Hard to do when you care about the people you work with and spend so much time with but, the reality is we are all at work for one reason: generate income. For ourselves, for our company. HOW we do it is a different discussion but the truth of the matter is we are there to produce. Early in my career I allowed my emotions to dictate my responses to dealership decisions etc. Also, I would focus on my attitude more and be more conscious of the fact that in every situation, God is there with me (would have prevented me from some mistakes and given me boldness to say/do some things I avoided). Someday I will learn to curb my tongue, when I do then I'll tell you what I would go back in time and change... -
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Permalink Reply by Tim Pendergast on
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Wow, Loaded question!
First I would of stayed with a certain big group as a Finance director when they sold my 2 stores. I should of taken the transfer. The guy who took it now owns 40% of each store. He was the smart one..lol
Second, I would take the leap I was offered last year by. I got stubborn and thought I was special and should not have to pay for training upfront.
But time moves forward and am now working on some great things. Looking forward to rest of year, and can't wait till January to roll out new program. -
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Permalink Reply by Craig Lockerd on
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Looking back is hard to do ....and that 2nd one can always be fixed....lol.....Thanks for your input Tim
Tim Pendergast said:Wow, Loaded question!
First I would of stayed with a certain big group as a Finance director when they sold my 2 stores. I should of taken the transfer. The guy who took it now owns 40% of each store. He was the smart one..lol
Second, I would take the leap I was offered last year by. I got stubborn and thought I was special and should not have to pay for training upfront.
But time moves forward and am now working on some great things. Looking forward to rest of year, and can't wait till January to roll out new program. -
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Permalink Reply by David L Hoier on
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I would have found "the" dealership and stayed their as a salesman and not gone into management. I would have instituted a strong follow-up system and today I would be selling 30+ cars a month, working only by appointment and setting my own schedule.
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Permalink Reply by Craig Lockerd on
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No kidding...can you imagine if we had all stayed where we started? Desk,computer,phone ,assistant,inventory....20 days a month or less and ....smoothhhh sailing!
David L Hoier said:I would have found "the" dealership and stayed their as a salesman and not gone into management. I would have instituted a strong follow-up system and today I would be selling 30+ cars a month, working only by appointment and setting my own schedule. -
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Permalink Reply by Tobias Sedillos on
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Thankfully, it's never too late to learn this lesson, and to get started in doing things right: the correction happens faster than you think. I stepped out of management 5 years ago. I learned how to make my phone ring and put a good follow-up system into place 3 years ago. Last month was a new career record month: I now schedule myself for a four day work week, and work by appointment only.
Tobias Sedillos
David L Hoier said:I would have found "the" dealership and stayed their as a salesman and not gone into management. I would have instituted a strong follow-up system and today I would be selling 30+ cars a month, working only by appointment and setting my own schedule. -
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Permalink Reply by Craig Lockerd on
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Good story,thanks
Dan Creamer said:I have enjoyed my career immensely and can really think of nothing else that would have been as rewarding financially or personally. Having said that whenever I think of how I got started two particular deals always come flooding back.
Three weeks into the business at a Salt Lake City Ford stores used car lot and I’ve yet to sell anything. Saturday morning bright and early I catch an up from Heber and land him on a 72 T-Bird. It’s a liner closer store and he gets turned three times x three. At 10:30 that night the used car manager breaks into the showroom through the shop to get a temp tag and we roll him.
Monday morning I get a voucher for $316:00. I was going to quit that Monday but when I saw the voucher for what was a week’s pay I thought to myself “I can learn to do this and if one deal on a three way split pays this kind of money I’m in for keeps.”
The other deal is a long story but it was just as transformative. I guess it all comes down to the fact that the choices we make are what make us. -
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Permalink Reply by Ernie Kasprowicz on
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I was fortunate when I started selling cars to be working for a mega dealer selling multiple product lines. What seperated this dealer from others at the time was the extensive initial and ongoing training the sales staff received. There truly wasn't a situation that could occur within the selling process that we were not prepared for. The entire sales organization was a highly coordinated unit. Going into management increased my knowledge and understanding of the business. If I were to change one thing it would have been to take a long view of things and return to sales. I can only imagine the customer base I would have developed to this point.
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Permalink Reply by Craig Lockerd on
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But the I wouldn,t have gotten to know you and AutoMax would be screwed without you!
Ernie Kasprowicz said:I was fortunate when I started selling cars to be working for a mega dealer selling multiple product lines. What seperated this dealer from others at the time was the extensive initial and ongoing training the sales staff received. There truly wasn't a situation that could occur within the selling process that we were not prepared for. The entire sales organization was a highly coordinated unit. Going into management increased my knowledge and understanding of the business. If I were to change one thing it would have been to take a long view of things and return to sales. I can only imagine the customer base I would have developed to this point. -
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Permalink Reply by Ernie Kasprowicz on
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Had I stayed in retail it would be the way to go. However, I am very thankful to be a part of AutoMax. WE have accomplished a lot with so much more to achieve!
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Permalink Reply by Craig Lockerd on
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There you go,great answer....
Ernie Kasprowicz said:Had I stayed in retail it would be the way to go. However, I am very thankful to be a part of AutoMax. WE have accomplished a lot with so much more to achieve! -
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