From My Mentor

I read an email from my boss yesterday and decided it'd make for an appropriate blog post for both this blog as well as my more "worky" type blog (which by the way I hardly ever post in and feel like a complete loser for leaving it idle for so long). You can view it here: Driving Sales Through Business Development

First, let me tell you a little bit about me, my job and my boss. I started working for the company in 2009 when I first moved to SC. I started in an entry level position, with entry level pay and entry level tasks. I had never worked in the automotive industry before and found myself thrust into a completely new atmosphere with  different types of people, aggressive monthly goals, and co workers I could have sworn slept in their offices because they were here so much. But all of this didn't scare me (well, maybe it did at first). I saw an opportunity. I noticed there were things that could be improved on, that would benefit both the sales and service side of the business, that someone with my personality and quirky obsessiveness could do.

So I formulated a plan. I spent days, weeks, even months researching how to develop and operate a successful Business Development Center (BDC) for a large automotive group. I joined forums, called other dealers, read countless articles, sat through webinars... and I put together a proposal. I'll never forget the day I walked into my boss's office with it in my hand (I had emailed him a pdf of the PowerPoint and printed it out for good measure- quirky obsessiveness). At the time I reported to a man named Bobby, the VP of our company. Bobby and I had a good working relationship. He said jump, I said how high, so he trusted me and enjoyed my work ethic. He was a business man and felt strongly that if you benefit the company the company will benefit you. When I came to him with the idea of a centralized business development center I could tell he felt proud and excited. We were about to do something big.   

Naturally the plans for the BDC went through a lot of critiquing and revising. We've grown into a  13 person team (with 2 more starting next week), with room for even more. As a matter of fact, the BDC I developed is featured in a magazine this month- Automotive Dealer Monthly (see page 22). Still to this day we are always evaluating and changing our processes to ensure we are doing the best we possibly can. Which leads me to the point of this post: Change is a catalyst for growth.

Bobby is no longer with our company, he had a great opportunity in Orlando and left us last year, so I now report directly to our President and CEO, Warner. The same qualities I loved so much about working for Bobby are also present in Warner, which only reiterates to me the strong foundation of the company I work for. Warner is a self-made successful business person, and I respect that more than I can explain. He may not know it, but he is entirely my mentor. I often joke with my husband that one day I'll get enough guts to say to Warner, "what do I need to do to be as successful as you." The crazy things is I truly believe he'd tell me. This is why I look up to him so much. I listen to what he says, pay attention to the way he manages, make sure I understand the motivation behind his decisions and learn from him everyday. He makes it easy because he is honest, transparent, and truly a pleasure to work for. When you respect the person you work for it motivates you to work harder. That's a fact. 

So yesterday we were discussing some changes we wanted to try in my department. As I said above, I'm flexible with trying new things to generate more business. The goal here is to sell cars and make money. Warner responded to one of my emails with two quotes:

"When you are though changing you are through" 

and 

"Change always comes bearing gifts."

Had I not been open to change the last 3 years of my life I wouldn't be in the position I am in today. I may still have that entry level job, entry level pay....heck I might not have even moved to South Carolina. The point I'm making here is that in order to grow you need to be willing to push your boundaries and try new things....even if they seem a little scary at first. Don't pass up an opportunity because you're afraid. And if you don't see an opportunity staring you in the face, dig a little deeper and find one. Make your own opportunities.

Are there any doors you can open for yourself today?

One Week Down- Not Feelin' the Love

I have to say, the first week of my "wellness challenge" has been difficult. I've replaced my evening glass of wine with evening chocolate, which I'm already seeing the effects from. This week I'm going to focus on making healthy substitutions. A hot cup of tea or a walk with my dogs is a much better alternative. I figure if I force myself to do this each night it will become my new routine to replace my old bad habits. This week is dedicated to habit breaking.

I went out on Saturday night and stayed strong while friends had drinks. We talked and laughed and I found it surprisingly easy to keep sipping on water all night long. I almost caved and ordered a glass of wine after dinner while my friends all enjoyed an after dinner drink, but I reminded myself that I wasn't ready to face the challenge of drinking without smoking. The fear of smoking kept me with a full glass of water. We were home and in bed my midnight which was awesome. Doug and I are not strangers to late nights. I hate staying up super late because we inevitably waste the next morning sleeping in. Instead we were up by 8:30, making coffee and taking the dogs for a nice long golf course walk. The day started off wonderfully!

After walking I putzed around the house and then headed into work for a few hours. I actually enjoy working on Sundays because I am able to get a lot done with very few interruptions. I left by 3pm and made it to my friends by 4 to watch football with  the gang. We ate some delicious crab legs, salad, bean dip and wings. I think I noshed for 3 hours straight.

Kyle, Evie and Rhys during the game

As the night went on it became increasingly difficult to be the sober one. A few of my friends got drunk and felt the need to tell me that I've been acting "different." With little more explanation than that I tried to suck back my hurt feelings and exit gracefully. Yes, I've been busy. I haven't been coming around as much b/c we've had out-of-town plans on the weekends or I've had other commitments. I also spent a weekend on the sofa/in bed with a rotten cold. I've refused 2 or 3 nights out with friends because I needed to get up early the next morning for marathon training. Dragging Doug away after only 2 beers is a difficult task, and he usually ends up upset with me and telling me I'm no fun. So rather than dealing with disappointing him and being dubbed the "party pooper" I've opted not to go. I still made it out for Mexican with friends 2 weeks ago and hung out both Saturday and Sunday this weekend. So I'm not sure why all the criticism. I'm still me, It's just been a little busy for me lately.

I felt hurt last night and came home and cried. Instead of feeling like I had the support of my friends for doing something healthy I felt the opposite: I'm no fun. I'd like to make it clear that up until the last 20 minutes of the night, when these conversations happened, I was having fun. I was laughing with friends, playing with the kids, yelling at the TV... What I really find odd is that my friend Emily hasn't been drinking either (she's 8 months pregnant) and neither does her mother-in-law who was also hanging out with us. Why is it so interesting that I'm not drinking? Why does it even matter? And it's not like I was broadcasting this fact. I had a beverage in hand all night long to prevent from having to turn an alcoholic one down.

Needless to say I'm feeling discouraged with this challenge. On the ride home my mother-in-law gave me a few words of encouragement. it helped but I still feel like I need the support of my husband and friends. I'm going to keep going because I want to kick my social smoking habit, despite the hurt feeling. Truth is I may be a bit overly emotional right now because in addition to not smoking I'm also PMS-ing. Is that do much info??

 Any advice on how to get my friends and family on my team?

Who Doesn't Like a Good Parable?

In my attempts to step up my frugality a notch, I visited a thrift shop in search of a few items I needed. I'd much rather re-use something than waste the resources on producing a new, more expensive one. In reality I probably spent more money that day than if I hadn't walked through the door of Off Island Thrift because I probably wouldn't have shopped anywhere else. Still, there's something exciting about circling the crowded shelves of a second-hand shop, weaving through the retirees and looking for that diamond in the rough. We all dream of finding that one item, unique and exactly what we needed, skipping up to the counter and happily paying a few bucks for it. I had no such luck.

The furniture selection was dismal (I was looking for a bookshelf), the bedding and mattress area is still giving me nightmares, and one can only have so many chachkis. So I spent the majority of my time perusing the book section. Used books are an absolute favorite of mine! After purchasing almost all of my books second-hand in college I've made it a habit. They're cheaper, sometimes you find interesting or insightful notes, and there's something nostalgic about reading a book with ruffled pages that has obviously been enjoyed time and time again.

One of the books I came home with is a parable about coping with change. Who Moved My Cheese, by Spencer Johnson, is an adorable tale about two mice and two humans living in a maze searching for cheese. Occasionally their cheese supply gets moved and they must search all corners of the maze (even the dark and scary ones) to find the new supply. They must adapt and use their instincts.

At only 96 pages (several with illustrations), the book is a quick read with an easy message: In order to reach you goals (cheese), you have to be willing to change. You have to go out and search for it, put forth some effort and run through the maze. You can't be afraid of trying different things and leaving your comfortable little corner. Only then will you be able to reap the benefits.

With such an easy message I feel frustrated that I regularly encounter people who simply can't adopt this philosophy. They like the way they do things, they have a routine, they've been doing it for twenty years...blah, blah, blah. It's impossible to grow while resisting change and new ideas. Becoming complacent with your dated ways can be very destructive.

Try something new. If it doesn't workout and you find yourself falling, pick yourself up, dust off your knees and keep going. Isn't this something we all learned as children? Applying it to our professional and personal lives is just as simple. It just takes an open mind.

As you can see, I found this book very relatable to my life. And in several ways: professionally, personally, even physically. I definitely recommend it. I found mine for just $3. Click Here to find it on Amazon.com.

Although I also walked away from the thrift store with a Nicholas Sparks novel, I'm suddenly in search for other books that will help me professionally. On my Amazon wish list: The One Minute Manager, The Go-Giver, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Coaching Sales People into Sales Champions.

One last note: the mice have jogging suits and running shoes. It's adorable.

Time for a Change

We've all experienced those days: the kind when nothing in your closet looks fit to wear, you hate all of your shoes, your hair looks drab and mundane, and you simple lack that confident glow. I had 7 of those days in a row, and decided it's time to shake things up a bit. On todays agenda? Tackling my mess of a closet and freeing it of all it's unfashionable items. I'm in no way the most fashion-savvy woman, but some hoodies from college, tops that show stomach, and sweaters from 10 years ago have got to go! And why do I have 3 pairs of running shoes? I replace them every few months because their worn out and hard on my feet. In the garbage they go!

Old skirts, pants that don't fit, shorts a 26-year-old should not be seen in, tiny t-shirts and the like will all be donated and hopefully reused. It's time for me to start dressing and looking my age. And along the way I'm sure I'll find items I forgot I had that would love to be worn again.

I've started wearing make-up to work everyday, too. In the past I would shower, put my hair up into a messy bun, get dressed, put on flats and head to work with a bare face. The last few weeks, however, I've made it a point to put on at least mascara and blush because it really does make me look older and more professional. It also makes me feel pretty and will help when Im having the above mentioned type of days.

My final step has been the most drastic so far: changing my hair. I debated for weeks on what route to take. A cute bob? Drastic bangs? Maybe just change my part. Highlights? Or low lights? And then I decided to go dark. Darker then I've ever been. I set the appointment and anxiously waited. My hairdresser was excited when I told her I wanted a dark chocolate brown, the color of my father's hair, with lots of layers for extra body.

An hour later my hair was DARK RED! Yup. A color I'm not sure I've ever seen before. If it would have been fall I could've gotten lost in a see of changing maple leaves. My hairdresser explained that they always mix red in with the dark brown color in order to cover up the lighter parts of a client's hair. We had no idea that my hair naturally pulls red because of the red undertones I acquired from my mother. She reapplied the brown and within an hour I was darker, but still with a tint of red.

I have to say, it looks pretty bad-ass. But I'm not sure about the red. I have a few days to decide if a return visit is necessary for another brown application.

One thing is for sure; the changes have made me feel fresh and new. It's exciting and playful to try new things, and I'm loving it. The next step will have to be a shopping trip. Maybe I'll tackle that next month.