With all the obstacles that we have seen in the past 5 years to the current day...it's no wonder there are so many dealerships struggling. We preach process and structure but yet as managers....I see so many that do not follow up, are not consistent, and allow themselves to fail by not being leaders to their consultants and fellow managers...but yet friends that allow them to fail. I look at management and sales consultants today compared to just 7 years ago...I do not see the strong bulldogs like Mark Wagoner that helped me understand that I do not need to like the guys in management personally but I sure as hell respect them because they will and have made me more mony then and now than anyone else has. They input the "car guy" in me to succeed and not accept failure in any way, shape, or form whether its in business or my personal life. If you live half ass in your dealership...that is what your paycheck will show...I know that I do not accept a half ass paycheck. It's OK that my dealership is running record numbers every month even in the downtimes...but thats because like I said...I do not accept failure...it will not happen, but I see idiots at other dealerships that would rather be "business card managers" than leaders/mentors. That's great but I can only be as good as the others around me allow me to be at a certain point. If the negative guys continue to not manage profit while also keeping the respect of the customers, they will purchase less vehicle. If everyone accepted the fact that yeah we compete with eachother but we need to embrace the understanding that if we all succeed and grow in this business world...then we will all reward the benefits from eachother.

Lead by example....don't be afraid of failure by never reaching for the stars.

I'm calling out any and all managers that accept sales consultants when they do not listen to you, do not show up ready and on time, I'm calling you out to be better and lead the next generation of "car people" down the right road because right now...there are way too many managers at dealerships that were brought up when business was great and they did not need to understand the steps to succeed because money just fell onto their laps....now its time for them to roll up their sleeves and they do not know who.

THE TIME IS NOW.

Thanks,

Jon 2Tone Smith

Houston Texas