In his book Essentialism, The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, Greg McKeon tells the story of Larry Gelwix, one of the most successful high school rugby coaches in history. In thirty-five years, his Highland High School Rugby Team compiled a record of 419 wins, 10 losses, and 20 national championships! If you played for coach Gelwix,…
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is judging the success of your effort by the initial response you get. I was reminded of this as I sat through a 20 Group meeting. Mike Haley, the former hiring class instructor, was the guest speaker on the agenda. He opened his session by asking about…
Imagine that you’re a customer getting your car serviced at your shop. What are the first words that come to mind when you pull up to the curb? What’s the first impression you get as you walk up to the counter? How do you feel after interacting with your service advisor? Be brutally honest. If…
“Harry” is a shop owner in your area. One day he’s walking down the street thinking about his dreams, his dollars, and the upcoming decisions he will have to make at his shop. He’s so focused on his future that he fails to notice that there is a hole in the sidewalk. As a result, Harry falls in the hole!…
Several weeks ago I took my car to a local tire retailer to resolve a slow leak. As soon as I arrived at the service counter, it became obvious that “Jeff,” the service writer, didn’t want my business. He didn’t smile, didn’t greet me, but he did say the following: “Sir, I need you to step…
When it comes to automotive education, “Bill” has more degrees than a thermometer! He’s a master certified ASE technician. He also has certifications from Ford and Subaru. If you were to survey the tool truck drivers and ask them to name the most productive technician in town, they wouldn’t have to phone a friend or use a lifeline! They would…
He got out of a Ford Crown Victoria with no hubcaps. He had a full shaggy beard, a white t-shirt, jeans with holes in them, and flip flops. It appeared that it had been a while since he last combed his hair! This is how Dave Ramsey describes his sales prospect, “Chris” in his book EntreLeadership,…
In his book, Relentless, From Good To Great To Unstoppable, Tim Grover tells the story of how he became the personal trainer of choice for professional basketball players in the NBA. Back in the late 1980s, Tim was a 25-year-old, with no prior experience working with pro athletes. He was hoping to get his big break. He…
Have you ever attended a training class looking for “the silver bullet?” I thought about this as I recently watched a documentary on legendary football coach Vince Lombardi. Lombardi is considered to be the greatest coach of his era. He would conduct clinics for assistant coaches around the league who were seeking the secret to his success. During the documentary,…
Jimmy Johnson was the head football coach of the Dallas Cowboys from 1989 through 1994. He had a reputation for being a no-nonsense, disciplinarian who was tough on his players. Falling asleep during one of his meetings was considered a “career-limiting move.” Everyone knew this. Everyone, except for a backup linebacker named John Roper. During a recent interview, Johnson…