Do the "RIGHT THING".. You can make mistakes and be forgiven,but dishonesty lingers in people's memories forever.It's much easier to keep your reputation than rebuild it. Nothing will turn people against you more than being percieved as dishonest.People forgive for making mistakes.In LINCOLN ON LEADERSHIP , Author Donald Phillips…

AOA Accessories Midyear Trend Report: Electronics Continue as Profit-leader, Protection Gains Momentum, Factory Performance Revs Up  

Auto dealers continue to generate profits from accessory sales with average gross margins of 47% and average net profit margins of 32.8%, according to izmocars report 

SAN FRANCISCO, September 15, 2011 -- izmocars (…

Google Places.  Facebook.  Twitter.  Foursquare.  Etc.  All free.  Car dealers have to love that price, right?

My caution is not about whether to use these services, as YOU MUST USE THEM.  It’s not an option any longer—it’s just a matter of when you can get to using them with the attention they deserve for the result you need.

My caution IS, however, about…

We have a responsibility to our people to set expectations not goals.

You set a goal and if they don't hit it then it's "oh well" maybe next month! or they come to you all proud and say ohhh i got so close, maybe this month!

Expectations put a little responsibilty on the shoulders of the person that is trying to make them a reality, then have consequences for those who do not meet them. As managers we sometimes want to soften the blow by saying " well he was…

Business Development Centers have always been a strange abnormality and a sticking point for me because they were created and sold to address a systemic issue that no one really wants to tackle. Slumping sales and under performing salespeople that are routinely described as order takers, because they lack the ability to be business developers, have created an opportunity for this anomaly in the sales and customer relationship management…

IIt is not my job, it is my duty to be inspired and inspire others.  Since my early twenties, I have said final farewells to nineteen brave patriots, heroes and friends.  Each paid the price for freedom before the rigors of life made them old and gray.  These are nineteen friends that I had planned to grow old with, but instead I honor their sacrifice to trade in their future as an investment in my…

UPDATE: 9/19/11 - The Digital Dealer Webinar scheduled for 9/22/11 with Phil Zelinger has been postponed until after the 11th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition. Stay tuned for more details. 

Digital Dealer Webinar: How to Sell More with Less Using Technology Driven Processes Powered By Social Media

Date: 9/22/2011 at 11:30am EST -…

In (Part 1) of this blog, we talked about the experience you receive when you go to a restaurant for lunch.

In (Part 2) of this blog, we talked about the “Level of Expectation” process in your Sales Department.

In (Part 3) of this blog, we talked about the “Level of Expectation” process in your F&I/Business Manager’s…

Do you ever wonder why some people seem to “have it all” and others complain all the time? Why do people continue to choose to fail? Why do people keep Blaming others if things don't go as planned?

If you talk to people who have achieved great things in life, they will tell you that persistence is one of the key factors for their success. People who are successful believe that they are capable of success. Positive thinking and positive people are…

I get asked many of times if I am a motivational speaker and I usually smile when I hear the question because I know why they are asking. I am extremely curious so when I’m engaged in a conversation, I ask a lot of questions that usually get people thinking differently about what they have come to accept as normal. Let’s take sales training for example, did you know that just about every company and everyone on the planet…

I have found that training, or lack thereof, makes a huge impact on the success of a fixed operations department.  Manufacturers spend a great deal of money developing curriculum to enhance dealership personel performance.  They entice the dealership to utilize this training in the way of money allocation for car sales and parts ordering.  I am amazed at the number of employees who simply cannot stand to be forced to increase their knowledge.

From the very beginning of my career, I…

Leadership, There are so may ways to define it  , however narrowing them down to the most important aspects  strarts  with   Having A Concrete Vision...Be direct- People must understand what your vision is and that they are being asked to be a huge part of it. Change is coming, and they will either be on the bus or at the  Bus Stop.  Get people…

In (Part 1) of this blog, we talked about the experience you receive when you go to a restaurant for lunch.

In (Part 2) of this blog, we talked about the “Level of Expectation” process in your Sales Department.

Now….lets talk about setting the “Level of Expectation” in your Dealership’s F&I/Business Manager…

A friend of mine asked for my help in leasing a new SUV the other day, she had settled on a Toyota.  I coached her to look up a car on buyatoyota.com.  There she found the 4runner she wanted and the next day went to the dealership that had it in…

Statistics reveal the average golfer has a 1 in 12,000 chance of hitting a h*** in one; the statistics can’t be much better for a salesperson looking for a lay down. You know the customer who comes in with the Sealy Mattress strapped to their back looking for an anything goes kind of deal. If you are hoping to win a brand new Chevy Silverado, take a gamble and…

Guidance comes to us in all forms of inspiring moments. We can be inspired by a loss that produces an epiphany and clarity.  Sometimes that inspiration comes under the auspices of adversity. These select snippets in time are what define us as individuals and professionals. 

Elite professionals…

One of the most overlooked and biggest issues revolving around warranty infraction is lack of communication between the Warranty Administrator and the Service Manager.  Many times, the Warranty Administrator gets so self-involved with repair order review/correction that they forget that it is the Service Manager that is ultimately responsible for the fiscal well being of the service department.  Don't get me wrong, when I wore the hat of Fixed Operations Manager the last thing I really…