When’s the last time you got into a fight? If you work in the automotive industry, chances are you’re reading this in between rounds. In sales, every day we are enveloped in a triple-threat cage match-mentally beaten, battered, and bruised, only the strong survive to fight another day. Not only are we faced with the negative stigmas of our industry, but we also have to battle to overcome customers’ fierce prejudices, staunch objections, and defeating words-all the while combatting the war going on inside of our heads. As we wake up in the morning, we stare into the mirror and ask, “Do I still have it or have I lost my touch?” “Is it even worth it anymore or has the final chapter been written?” With blood shot eyes we wonder if we’ll be able to make it through one more day or should we just give up and quit. Your reflection in the mirror faithfully tells you to hang in there because you do still have it, it is still worth it, and yes…you can make it through another day-your best days are just ahead.

Show me a person of faith and I’ll show you someone who is willing to fight-I’ll show you someone in the car business. Nowhere does it say that life’s going to be easy; if you want something bad enough, you’re going to have to fight for it. With more month than money, it was faith that got you out of bed to face overwhelming odds of rejection and ridicule. When the economy was on its knees, it was faith that made you stand by an industry that was blackballed and bankrupt. It was faith that caused you to leave a rewarding career and wade into the murky waters of entrepreneurship-becoming the newest vendor to the automotive industry.  Some say you’re crazy and delusional, I call it faithful.

With a crushing economy ravaging your veteran sales staff-faith is what caused you to be a beacon of hope. In the face of fears, you continued to deliver morning meetings of substance to a handful of green-peas. What was a flourishing consulting business, faith is what caused you to close your newly remodeled offices and become home-based in an effort to keep your staff working and your business afloat.  As dealerships closed, faith was hocking all of your assets in order to make payroll while at the same time watching your accounts diminish and investments tank. Faith is showing up to work-fighting to pull a day out  right after your attorney advises you have no other options-you’re financially ruined. Sitting in your living room- no other hand to play, 2 mortgages and a car note looming, no salary in over a year, your business on life support, and only $2100 left in your bank account-faith is writing a $1000 check to help build a youth center, instead of selfishly squandering your last dimes. There comes a point in everyone’s life that your faith will be tested beyond the brink. With circumstances gouging your eyes and burdens buckling your knees, faith is what keeps you in the fight. The richest minerals are mined from the deepest depths; when you’re literally at the end of life’s rope, you must tie the knot of faith and hold on to fight one last round. It’s been said, when you’ve reached the end, God can now begin.  Like scorched earth, new beginnings sprout up; seemingly out of nowhere buds of opportunity begin to break through for you; new accounts are signed up; dealerships are restored, and traffic driving sales are on the rise. You made it…just barely.

The automotive industry is no stranger to faithfully fighting-which is what makes us so unique. The Automotive Super Conference, a conference as unique as the industry we represent, is coming to the Charlotte Motor Speedway and I’m proud to be a part of it.  Keynoted by bestselling author Dave Anderson, industry leaders are coming together to share faith-based principles of how your can run your dealership more efficiently. Leaders understand you can’t lead where you’ve never been; like you, every one of these leaders have had to endure crushing defeats, terrible setbacks, and embarrassing losses-their failures will help you succeed. By refining their trials and errors, these leaders will show you how you can maximize not only the front and back end of your store, but also how to create a stronger social media presence, advertise more effectively, hire and inspire the right people, as well as how to prospect for future business. Featuring over 20 speakers, you’ll be equipped with a war-chest of information to take back to your dealership. This conference has nothing to do with religion or denomination, but instead of a common thread we all share in our industry-the tread of faith.

If you want to see a change in the industry, the change begins March 13^th and 14^th. The Automotive Super Conference, held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

I’ll see you there!

For more information go to http://automotivesuperconference.com/