Life inside the dealership is an experience only those who have been there can appreciate. Whether you are in sales or service, each department carries its own unique challenges. Let’s face it, the job is monotonous. And, after every successful month, you get the pleasure of starting from zero once again. So, what can you do to be successful?

Most would agree that the answer lies in your people skills, technique and ability to adopt a mindset that stops you from falling into a “move…

You've just gotten comfortable at the dinner table.  The food looks great and it's one of the rare occassions where the whole family is there.  The conversation is interrupted by a ringing phone and on the other end of the line, "Good evening, my name is_______ and I hope I haven't interrupted anything but I have some fantastic news about your eligibility for  more insurance coverage..." 

How excited are you about calls like that?

Yet, if you have a family, a…

What would a Professional Service Advisor do?



Professional Service Advisors are prepared for the day ahead of them and don't get caught in the "why bother because everyday is the same and nothing changes" rut.



Now, why is this so important? I mean, c’mon, isn't every day just the same?



Open the door, reset the alarm, start the coffee, turn on the computers, check for night drops, check your email, flip through the stack of carry-overs, etc, etc,…

In 1982 I had the biggest blessing ever in the car business.  "Bruce" hired me as a sales person.  Bruce was the GM of a small Ford store in NJ and I was still finding my way around the business.  All I knew for sure was that I wanted to be a sales manager.  At that time, I couldn't tell a good one from a bad one but I still wanted to be one. …

I've been seeing a lot of posts lately about upcoming fall conferences and events. These posts are typically not altruistic. They're written by people with vested interests in specific events, whether that's because they're a speaker or they're the host. Now it's our turn.

For people interested in learning and are considering attending one of these events and aren't sure which to attend, I've created a graphic comparison of the three events specifically being held in October 2011 that…

By Todd Vowell, CEO, Buy Mail Direct Inc

Every now and then, you have one of those conversations that just "effects" you in ways you can't explain.  In the past 30 years, I have talked with at least 10,000 Car Dealers, GM's, and GSM's. But for some reason, some conversations just grab you in ways it…

I am a vertically enhanced female which I normally see as a benefit, except when I am trying to buy clothing.  Most of the clothing options for women do not come with a choice for inseam or length.  This often leaves me in the dressing room wondering if I can pull of this dress being too short or do these jeans look like capris or a fashion faux pas.  I am stuck in a world in which one-height-fits-all…

Isn't life funny?  Things happen all around us.  Sometimes you pay attention and somethings should be ignored.  But, as the old saying goes, life isn't about what happens to us, it's about what we do when something happens.  As a member of this planet for over 55 years, I've come to the conclusion that there are just 3 choices to everything in life.  While some of you may think I'm over simplifying, take a few minutes to finish this article and see what I mean.

To keep things…

Things are moving fast these days.  Business is conducted at the speed of a mouse click.  To gain a competitive advantage and have any chance at success, you not only have to know who your competition is, but you need to understand them as well.  Too many managers, owners, and top executives have lost sight of the real competition out there.  So, just who is the real…

Dreams are often the seeds in which goals are grown from, but it takes acting on a dream to achieve a goal.  Sometimes big goals can be as overwhelming as a football field to a five year old.  Like that scared five year old, we can let a daunting task get in the way of our success because of a fear of failure. When engaging in…

Following in the footsteps of three generations of outstanding educators, I took on the career of a high school teacher in my early twenties.  Being the new kid on the block, I was given two classes out of five that were "at risk" students.  High school students don't usually relish in the idea of math class and most "at risk" kids seem to see math as a total…

Over the years, I've had the privilege of spending time with some of the best speakers, trainers, and mentors on this planet.  Many of you know that I count Jim Zieglar as a friend.  We've known each other since the mid 90's and he has always gone out of his way to help me, encourage me and on rare occassions even ask me a question.  Through it all, it's always been fun and educational.

I've been able to spend quality time with Mr. Les Brown and listen to his advice as I was…

Before the Internet, automotive dealers had more control of the customer. The only place customers could go for pricing information was the dealership. Now of course they could ask their automotive expert friend or uncle, but they really had no idea how pricing really worked in the automotive industry.

Today with the Internet, and sites that provide invoice pricing customers are more informed then they have ever been. The carmakers also have sites to provide customers will all kinds…

Let’s explore a simple 3-step approach that will help improve any dealership department.

1. What am I doing now?

Do you clearly understand the road to revenue or process flow from origination to transacting business?

For example, are customers handled the same way every time by every salesperson? How detailed is that instruction? Is every phone call answered the same way? Are the sales techniques the same for everyone interacting with customers? (Note, I’m not…

Average is a term I think is often overused.  Average income, average performance, average height, age, etc.  But, when it comes to sales performance, what does average really mean.  For some it means the worst of the best.  For others, it's the best of the worst.  I'm from Jersey.  For me it's the "Cream of the Crap."  Average for me is doing just enough to stay out of trouble and under the radar.  And, if you are perfectly happy, there is nothing illegal about that.  However, you give up…

Now, we’re all familiar with the line, “There’s no business like show business.” Well, I wouldn’t personally know if that’s true or not, but I can say from firsthand experience that there is no business like the car business — not just for the controversy and characters, but for the triumphs as well.

In the car business, you have a group of people that range from the dealer principal to the lot attendant, who earns a living and gets some satisfaction from a job well done. On the sales…

Mark Tewart's “High Performance Management Workshop”

When:   Monday, September 19^th and Tuesday, September 20th

Where:   Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza (35 West Fifth St.)  Cincinnati OH

Times:      8:30 - 4:30 Wednesday…