Did you ever wonder why some people suddenly grow old and fade out quickly?

I've always thought that when a person stops growing they begin dying. So many of my friends wasted their entire lives never taking a risk, playing it safe, working toward retirement. Looking forward to that day when they could stop being productive and "Stop and smell the roses".

Excuse me! Most people telling me to smell the roses can't afford any damn roses. "Retirement" is something for people who hate their lives and don't enjoy what they do.

In my hardcover book, "The Prosperity Equation, New Millennium" ...

... I address these questions why some people are successful and prosperous, while others languish and fail. We've sold thousands of copies since I first wrote the original in 2000 and now I like to give all of the readers of this column a FREE copy of the book in PDF version. Click here for your copy. http://zieglersentme.com/stuff/TheProsperityEquation.pdf 

Granted, some of the technology references are outdated, but; the content of the book has helped thousands achieve a greater clarity of vision. Some people have told me it changed their lives. It's an easy read and my gift to you... enjoy it and, please, comment here if you appreciated it and tell me what you got from it.

Got Work Ethic? 

As I sit here putting these thoughts into the keyboard at nine o'clock in the evening on a Sunday, it occurs to me that I've been sitting in this chair for five hours researching what I am about to put into words. That's the spirit that separates the achievers from the entitlement mentality people who want to be rewarded just because they showed up. If I am going to write something and publish it, then; it needs to be something worthy of demanding your time and attention.

From early July through the end of the year my schedule has me speaking and consulting in no less than 20 cities... some of these engagements are three days or more. I'm writing for two national publications as well as two Social Communities, and; I'm scheduled to speak at NADA Convention again. Debbie and I just returned from Internet Battle Plan VII in New Jersey. Despite all of the dirty tricks by the competition we prevailed.  And now... we fly right back to Las Vegas where I am moderating a panel for the J.D. Power Internet Roundtable... back home Friday and out again Sunday for two more cities the next week two dealerships, in-dealership work. That's my life and work into infinity... and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Retire? I have always said I plan to die onstage in front of a cheering audience after the best performance of my life during a standing ovation... just grab my chest and go "arghhhhh". (thud)

Disbelief

Toyota dealers have flooded my email as well as many calls in the last few weeks following up on the optimistic article I wrote last month predicting Toyota would come out swinging in October. it was a huge shock when they announced the most flaccid incentives and introduced the most vanilla Camry in recent memory. It's almost as if they're losing on purpose. In the fight to regain market share this corporation, former juggernaut, acts like they're still on the ropes just trying to last until the bell.

I was a featured speaker at The Industry Summit two weeks ago sponsored by F&I Showroom Magazine.  One of the other speakers, my friend of many years, Ron Reahard, http://www.go-reahard.com , was doing a presentation on how to sell F&I. I cracked up when Reahard said... "The reason customers don't buy service contracts on Hondas is because they believe they are built by God... God used to build Toyotas but He subcontracted that."

You have got to believe that, perhaps... just maybe... Toyota is doing a Muhammad Ali "Roper Doper" here just tricking the competition before they lower the boom and drop their opponents to the canvas. Damn, I sure hope so.

One corporate idiot told one of my dealers about the new Camry... "You just got to get the customer to sit in it". Sorry...but I have to say it... The new Camry is an obvious step backward and everyone knows it. No matter how many times you say it's beautiful and great...it ain't, everyone knows the Emperor Has No Clothes.

Makes my blood boil... that's the same inane bull crap every manufacturer has said about every ugly-ass uninspiring car they've ever built from the beginning.  "They just have to drive it."  I think that's what Honda said about that ugly-ass square box they built called the Honda Elephant. At the time I wrote that ugly SOB ain't gonna sell...and it didn't.

Speaking Out of Both Sides of Their Mouth

They say they're going to come out firing...and then they come out fizzling. 

Akio Toyoda - we want to believe - BUT you gotta show us the beef. You guys are shuffling but we see it as it is... get real. All evidence seems to point at Toyota's strategy is cost-cutting as opposed to aggressive marketing. Regardless of what you're saying your actions seem to be accounting, de-contenting product, and squeezing your suppliers rather than incentivizing and aggressively attacking the market.

Toyota Dealers have stayed the course through the worst of factory missteps, calamities, disasters, and screw-ups... YOU owe them better than this. SO...lose the attitude and get nice. 

NOW, Akio Toyoda has appointed Dezi Nagaya to be in charge of design and Dezi Nagaya (who I prefer to call... 'Steve'...) is making wild promises of exciting, edgy, modern, passionate and emotional product in the pipeline. (and a dozen other buzzwords) 

Excuse me Steve, this is the Alpha Dawg talking to you... "You better get your butt in gear because these dealers need better designed and better quality product and they need it now... no more polite bowing, tap-dancing, and smiling...get it done or go down in flames."