Automotive Hustler

One thing I learned from Napoleon Hill’s Think And Grow Rich (A book I have about 4 copies of and have read multiple times) is to have a definite purpose in life and the desire to transmute it into reality.

Napoleon Hill said that those who are successful and make money generally tend to make decisions quickly and not switch decisions easily once they have made one.

One of the hardest parts in the game of business is avoiding the tendency to think that the grass is greener on the other side.

The temptation will always be there no matter endeavor you do.

The thing is even if you switch what business you do, the feeling that the grass is greener on the other side will resurface once you change to the other thing.

Whereas previously you were wondering, “what if I did this instead“, you would now be thinking, “what if I didn’t switch and stayed with that instead“.

However, now you will have nothing accomplished and will have to start over from zero again.

You will have nothing to show for your struggle and will give up once you get discouraged.

If you become like Henry Ford and choose a path of business, and continue until you have reached the finish line, you will accomplish more in years than most people achieve in a lifetime and become a legend one day.

That is why I have decided to go all in to the automotive business once and for all.

For a long time, I was scared to completely commit to the automotive industry as it is an industry facing massive change.

Change is everywhere, especially with companies like Uber and Tesla taking over.

I believe in the future the automotive business will be a subscription based business.

Many people in the automotive business fear the new way of doing business (Internet sales) and believe that things will remain the same.

They refuse to realize that businesses like Tesla, Uber and Carvana are growing at rapid speeds.

People no longer want to deal with salespeople and would rather have everything done online or over the phone.

The businesses who are able to cater to that changing demographic while still remaining profitable are the ones who will endure the coming automotive apocalypse and emerge even stronger and richer.

I used to fear the change, thinking that everything I worked for would be lost.

But instead, I should have been grateful for the incredible opportunities that will come as a result of this change.

Never let people tell you what you can and cannot do.

When I was trying to get into the automotive business in Early 2019 at the age of 22, I applied to several luxury car dealerships.

I had no experience, no knowledge of cars but I had a burning desire to make money and hunger for success.

I walked into an Audi dealership and asked to speak with the hiring manager.

The receptionist handed me an application and a pen and told me to fill it out.

I had no experience, no references but I had been studying sales for many months.

I was determined to be a salesman at a luxury car dealership.

Prior to getting into the car business, I bartended, made music, and created a Shopify store (which failed). I will write more about this in the near future.

The failure of my Shopify business caused me to go into huge debt, so I had to get a job cutting boxes and stocking shelves at Target to pay off the money I owed.

While working at Target, I eagerly studied sales books of sales greats like Brian Tracy and Grant Cardone and listened to their audiobooks in my Airpods while cutting boxes at Target. The day they told me I was not allowed to listen to my Airpods while working was when I decided to never show up again.

What I learned is that studying is essential but you learn so much more through real life experiences than through reading books.

At the Audi dealership, I quickly filled out the application in 3 minutes and requested to speak with the sales manager.

He was busy but I was persistent and would not leave until I got the chance to speak with him for 5 minutes.

They told me to have a seat and he will be with me shortly.

The sales manager could see my hunger and drive but did not want to mentor another individual. I had no experience and there was much that I had to learn.

He said he did not have time time or desire to take in another salesman with no experience and suggested that I apply to a domestic job at Ford or Chrystler as those places will hire salesmen without experience. He told me it is impossible for someone to get hired at a luxury car dealership with no experience.

I did not listen to him and kept applying to luxury car dealerships.

I would drop in like Osama Bin Laden and request to speak with the sales manager or general manager. Waiting for a company to reach out to me first was not something I had the patience or luxury to do.

I was hungry for success and every day that passed me by I would never get back.

That being said, I sent out my resume on every job portal in existence, applied to thousands of jobs via linked in and even via email.

Eventually, I got called in to a BMW dealership for an interview.

I thought it was for the position of Client Advisor, which is what I initially applied for.

When I got the interview, I pitched the general manager of the BMW dealership with my drive for success and convinced him to give me a job.

He said he would give me a shot but did not want to hire me as a Client Advisor yet.

He did not think I was ready to be one.

He liked me, though and offered me a position as part of their Business Development Center (BDC). He told me that was a good place to develop skills in answering objections, cold calling and learning how to sell.

I was grateful for the opportunity and said I would not let him down.

I was determined to be the best BDC agent there ever was and then move up to sales.

I never cold called anyone in my life before. I did not know if it was something I could handle.

The first day I got in, they showed me my desk upstairs with a computer, a phone and a list of people to call.

I had no idea what to say when I called these people and was scared beyond measure.

The first call I made, I messed up so bad because of my nervousness and the Internet Sales Manager had to take over the phone to save the call.

For months, I would wake up at the crack of dawn, put on a tailored suit, and make 70+ calls by 11am. I made about 100 calls a day.

I would listen to sales motivation tapes in my left Airpod while holding the telephone on the other ear.

I became fearless at cold calling, and was able to make the hardest of calls and answer every objection thrown at my way.

I became an expert in bringing in customers who I never met before through the phone and building rapport with them.

I pushed hard and worked hard for the company, but no matter what they would not promote me to the position of Client Advisor.

I was persistent and disciplined but my efforts were futile.

Meanwhile, I was going through Hell on earth getting addicted to Red Bulls, working upstairs in the call center (while I wanted to be downstairs in the showroom) and putting in 150% every single day.

I hustled hard but I soon felt that the promises that I would be given a shot on the floor were all talk and no action.

I