The Great Equalizer!
In the second half of the 19th century, the new frontier west of the Mississippi was affectionately called “The Wild West.” During this time, most referred to a six-shooter as the “great equalizer.” It enabled a small man to chop a much larger one down to size.
The Seat Behind You
Mohamed Sanu is a wide receiver for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and one of their most celebrated stars. After sitting in coach during a recent airline flight, he was handed a note as he was departing the plane. The family sitting behind him had recognized him but did not bother him for autographs or a story to share with their friends. They just watched! Here is what the handwritten note said, as posted on his Twitter page:
What the Grateful Dead Taught Me About Customer Service
In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked the Grateful Dead No. 57 on their list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time.” The Grateful Dead were considered the greatest touring band in history. They performed more than 2,300 concerts. In their early career, the band also dedicated their time and talents to their community, the Haight-Ashbury area of San Francisco, making available free food, lodging, music, and health care to all. It has been said the band performed “more free concerts than any band in the history of music.”
Stealing…From Yourself!
Emmanuel Ninger was arrested for counterfeiting in 1887 after he handed a clerk, whose hands were wet, a $20 bill and the ink started smearing. A search of his attic found that he was hand-painting each bill! They also found three paintings he had created which, after his arrest, were sold at auction for a total of $16,000.
Duck Dynasty Determination
Did you know Phil Robertson and Terry Bradshaw were teammates at Louisiana Tech? Learn how two shared principles made both men champions in their chosen fields.
Master the Art of Communication!
I just finished a very frustrating phone conversation with the company that provides my phone and internet service. The word “communication” is in their company name, and the reason I am frustrated is the person I was dealing with had no idea how to communicate effectively. The conversation made me feel as if my business was not appreciated and my perspective was not important — only the perspective of the person on the other end of the line.
Create a Lombardi Culture
I just returned from Green Bay, Wis. Like most visitors, I drove by and took pictures of the Vince Lombardi statue in front of Lambeau Field.
Speak with the Loudest Voice!
I looked into the face of a top-performing F&I professional and said,
Your potential is furious with your performance!
After the initial shock, he realized it was a valuable challenge. As independent agents, we meet regularly with great F&I managers who are producing at the best levels they have seen in their career. A simple request to keep improving performance sounds hollow unless it is shared in contrast to potential.
Adopt the Manning Mindset!
Archie Manning, an NFL quarterback in his own right, raised two sons who have made an even greater impact on the league. The Manning clan attributes their success more to the mindset they were taught than to the talent they were born with and developed. Recently retired, Peyton Manning often shared two principles that enabled him to set records year after year during the course of his career.
Sales Up! Guard Down!
The car business exists in a constant state of flux. As independent agents, we have to step back and evaluate the business during the good and the bad times. Consistently growing the skills and knowledge level of all our team members is as critical when the money is flowing as it is in an economic downturn. It is simply human nature when things are going well to spend the money, take the business we have for granted and neglect the need to always be ahead of the competition. This leads to a “sales up, guard down” mindset.