I
got into the car business in 1972 as a young man and it was an interesting
business and experience. I saw things that I loved like cars and trucks and
driving them and owning them and helping others do the same. I saw things that I
hated like sneakiness, lying, cheating, and more. Heck, back then they had
microphones in every office so the manager could listen. Those were torn out by
law shortly after I started, thank goodness. So I was at a quandary. I loved it
and hated it at the same time. What should I do?
I
chose to stay and I made it a personal mission to change the business for the
better. I was a salesman, so I became a manager within just two and a half years
in order to try to effect more change. Fortunately the place I worked was one of
the better from what I had seen and heard, and yet I was able to make some
changes that I thought were very beneficial.
But
the business didn't change with me. . . and for a long time, that was
frustrating to me. I ended up working at several dealerships in my career of 25
years in that arena, and no matter what I tried, no matter how good I got, the
business in general was ignoring me.
Of
course, it would be something like going into Las Vegas as one person, working
at a card table in a casino and then trying to get all of Las Vegas to stop
gambling. It was a crazy goal.
I
realized that all I can effect change in is my own world. I succeeded quite
nicely at that. I had many accolades from people that worked for me that I was
successful at doing it well and making a positive difference. I was the change I
wanted to see in the world and that was all I could do. It was all I needed to
do. And, it mattered a great deal to those close enough to be influenced by
that change.
Sometimes,
we just start thinking in areas we have no business in, when if we would just
look at ourselves and what we can do in our own world, we could have a more
satisfying and loving time of it. I let go of changing the world and
concentrated on changing MY world.
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