Do you feel like an intrepid explorer every time your feet hit the blacktop of your dealership lot? You should. Every single day is a chance to discover new worlds, and if you’re not making the most of it, guess what? There’s another explorer very close behind you. Don’t give him any room to steal your thunder. Today we reflect back on Christopher Columbus’ major moment in American history and learn a few lessons on how to apply it to making your own major moment.
You’re on your own. Sure, Christopher Columbus had three fleets’ worth of stewards and other backup, just like you’ve got your other management staff, sales people, and administrative personnel. You’re not technically adrift alone, but it sure can feel that way. The entire survival of the dealership is on your back, your name, your reputation. This can crush you – or it can spur you forward. Make like Columbus and sail directly into those scary waters. After all, the end result was quite worth it for him.
Keep your pointy hat on. This one’s figurative (though if dressing in funny costumes help with sales, go for it). The point is that Columbus’ sailing wasn’t an easy one. At one point, his crews actually mutinied. Has your product specialist staff ever threatened to walk out? You could capitulate to their demands, which only sets a poor example of leadership, or you can be like Columbus. He stood his ground, kept his pointy hat on, and eventually took those crews exactly where they wanted to go.
Make that impression. Along with the famed pointy hat, Columbus was a stylish dresser when he needed to be. When he first stepped foot in Spain, he was dressed so nattily that the first people to view him thought he was a god. And then they treated him that way. We don’t encourage a “God complex,” but remember that first impression. You’re the leader of your ship. Your style should reflect that. You should be the best-dressed person any customer will see. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with logo dealer apparel as well, especially on theme days or casual Fridays. Just keep it professional, stylish, and “captain-worthy.”
Think of what awaits. Christopher Columbus had no real way of knowing exactly what America was going to yield for him and his descendants. Yet he went anyway. You can’t really ever know what direction the auto industry will follow, especially with economic downturns, shifts toward fuel-conscious vehicles, and changing buyer preferences. So you can look at it one of two ways: “Oh no, I can’t tell what the future holds for me” or “Yeah! I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me!”
Give it time. It took 400 years after Columbus’ 1492 journey for the United States to make Columbus Day a national holiday (in 1892). Can’t wait that long to see some forward motion at the dealership? We understand. Who knows whether we’ll simply be laser-beaming our atoms places in a couple centuries, instead of driving? But you can take a cue from the wait to learn that positive things do happen over time. Could be a few days or weeks. Tom Petty sang that “The waiting is the hardest part.” But it’s worth it, right? And happy Columbus Day!
Here’s something Columbus could have used to soothe the sea-weary souls of his crew – a book of scripts! We’ve put together a free eBook of 9 scripts custom-written for the auto sales industry. Download your free copy and learn how to boost spirits, increase sales, and combat the negative stereotypes that people bring onto your lot about the auto sales industry. Use the scripts and set sail on your own adventure!
