It's Monday morning and I'm getting ready for a new adventure.  While I'll still be working with dealers to help them staff up and train, I'll be responsible for marketing and delivering on my own.  With the market still not where it needs to be and many dealers believing they still do everything right, this is a scary endeavor.  How can one possibly compete  with companies that have been around for a while?  How can a "new kid" (even as old as I am), possibly go up against the old guard?

I remember feeling exactly like this almost everytime in my life when I attempted something new.  When I first started at a dealership in 1979, I thought, "What makes you think you could sell even one car, let alone make this a career."  As I left retail to begin training F&I people with (then) Universal Underwriters, my mind said, "Why would any F&I managers ever listen to you?"  And when my former boss told me, "You'll never write a book," I wondered if he might be right.

In each of those cases, and for every situation in the future, it all comes down to choice.  We all have a choice in making decisions.  I've learned that even making the right choice is not a guarantee for world fame.  But, I know also that not making a choice is in fact, the worst choice one can ever make.  A life of not choosing is a life of regrets about what might have been.  Don't fall into that habit.  Decide!

With each new challenge, I have a decision - a choice.  And, throughout my life, each choice has had consequenses, good and bad.  But, in the end, the one thing these choices didn't have was a pile of regret.  I can look back on my life and feel good that I left no stone of opportunity unturned.  I explored everything that came my way and have had more than my fair share of great results.  But, some had higher prices than others.

While I was writing my first book, I was turned down, rejeted, by over 100 different publishers.  Now, I have 10 books on the market, have trained sales people around the world, and have over 1.5 million readers.  I share this because I've also learned that many writers give up after just 10 publishers turn them down.  What a shame.  These people may have had some wonderful stories, life lessons, and insights to share.  But, just because 10 strangers said "no," they decided to give up.  Bad choice.  Especially when there are 10,000 publishers and you only need one to agree with you to get your book in front of the world.

I realize, after all these years, there is only one choice to keep life as it should be - exciting.  That's by choosing amazing!  Think about it.  Just by making a decision that today, this week, or even for the rest of your life, you've commited to thinking adn being AMAZING!  Why not.  If it's so believable that we can make ourselves sick by thinking negatively, or by worrying all the time, why wouldn't amazing thoughts change us for the better?

If you see a customer on your lot, you have choices.  Run and hide and hope someone else takes care of them.  Go out there and see if what they want.  Or, handle them after choosing to be absolutely amazing!  Greet them amazing!  Find out what they need with amazing questions.  Share your amazing inventory.  Take them on the most amazing demo they've ever been on.  Amaze them with your hard work and compassion for their particular situation.  See what happens.

Will they all say "yes"?  Don't be rediculous.  But, what will happen is, more of them will feel good enough about the experience to keep you in the running.  Some may even send you a referral EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T BUY.  Some will buy at great grosses.  But each and every one of them, and you, will continue the day with a whole different attitude.

The choice is simple.  But it isn't easy.  Choose.

John Fuhrman is the National Senior Trainer for The Dealer Resource Group.  He has been an award winning writer, speaker and trainer for nearly 20 years.  He has been in the auto industry since 1979 and works with dealers who are serious about having an amazing sales staff.  (c)2011 by John Fuhrman.  Permission is hereby granted to reprint this areticle inits entirety, including the contact information.  He can be reached at dealerprofitsnow@aol.com and by visiting www.thedealerresourcegroup.webs.com.