EBTGains

As I began to think about the difference between being resigned or being resolved, I realized they both kind of go hand in hand. Once a resignation is in the works, we are resolved to reach even greater heights in the new endeavor. In the late 1700’s, the English colonies resigned their support for the King of England and were resolved to gain their freedom. We all know how that played out and realize now the sacrifice that occurred to make it happen. The same principles are played out in our life when we resign to one way and resolve to another. When a resignation of employment is rendered, it brings joy and relief to one side and can bring surprise, anger, and/or resentment to the other. It is a choice. It is an end to one era and a beginning to another.  Some people are resigned mentally from their position long before the decision is ever officially made. Others work hard up to and through a resignation and if you were looking in from the outside, you would have a hard time deciphering if there was a resignation in the works at all.

Even if there is not an official resignation at hand, there are other things to resign from daily. In business, we need to resign from poor choices, wasted time, entitlement mentality, laziness, procrastination, and taking for granted the things we should be grateful for. We should resolve to simply give our very best each day and be good stewards over that which we have under our authority. We should resolve to put our heads down and be diligent with each opportunity, and not just simply exist in the time and space provided. Ultimately, we should be eternally thankful that whatever we are resigning and resolving to do, it is puny in comparison to the sacrifice and magnitude of the American Revolution.

As I began to think about why Black Friday is a success for many retailers, it became so obvious. They plan for it. They focus on it. They prepare for it. They have great enthusiasm for it. They advertise for it, and ultimately they have great results. Many people in the car business just keep doing what they did last week, last month, and last year. The customer is bored, the staff is bored, and the bottom line reflects the lackadaisical approach that many Sales Managers, Service Managers, and General Managers take to growing and sustaining their business.

Truth be told, we get just about what we focus on. That is why we create action plans, forecast our month and even our year, and have written goals to run after. After all if we do not focus on growing our business daily, we could be swimming in the red ink, or barely in the a profitable situation. So let’s take a page out of the retail industry. Let’s plan for it. Let’s stay focused on it. Let’s prepare for it. Let’s have great enthusiasm for it. Let’s advertise for it, and let’s have great results all the time like every week was Black Friday.

One very common mistake many leaders in the automotive industry (and probably all other industries) make, is they criticize and tear people down before earning the right to speak into their lives. These are not leaders. They are tyrants. They are used to bullying their way to some level of success, if you will. But if an employee feels you have their best interest in mind, they will be all ears. Have intentional one on ones. Have a cup of coffee together. Ask them about their life. Ask them about their job. Ask them if there is anything you can do personally to help them succeed. Do it often. Once you spend enough eyeball to eyeball time, you will have earned the right to be frank with them concerning their performance, attitude, or otherwise. Remember that timing is everything. Once you recognize the open door, act upon the opportunity.

The employee’s trust must be earned through consistent action. Once that happens, you can speak into their life and they will not only hear you, they will listen and act. So remember to draw your people close to you. Close enough that you see the whites of their eyes. Then you can shoot (figuratively of course).