3-8-09... Apex, NC, I had to take the boy kid to the dentist early last week (I have a girl kid too) and when we left DDSville, the kid wanted lunch. With a Cookout close, it was a natural thought. My wallet fought back. Two Washingtons do not cut it for lunch. "Hey, I will make you a sandwich when we get back to the house." "Okay"... was the meek reply.
Right behind the dentist is a Fresh Market. Usually I would hit it for a few things while the kid was in the chair and then high tail it back to pick him up. Remember hitting Fresh Market for a few things is always $35.
Then it dawned on me. I am the crumb bum messing the economy up. That Cookout should have grabbed ten bucks from me, Fresh Market thirty five... That was $45 I did not spend. These two fine establishments were short $45 that day. The taxes the government would have grabbed went AWOL too.
I am the one messing things up. It is me. NOW multiply me times a few million.
Honestly, I have not spent much money at all this past week. Now, when my lease is up in December, I will get a new vehicle. But that is nine months away.
If we do not spend, businesses and the government receive no revenue. Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin'. So...
I PROMISE I WILL SPEND MONEY EVERY DAY THIS WEEK. Look for me, I am coming!
Happy selling.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Idle Thoughts Too
3-6-09 Apex, NC...
Remember when bankrupty was considered a bad thing?
How come the only Americans guaranteed their jobs with great pay and benefits are elected officials?
Arrogance and greed started this recession. The banking system was number two.
If you are really honest, no matter who you voted for in November, did you vote for this?
General Motors stock is cheaper than a gallon of gas. Can you smell the irony?
The same experts who tell us times are very bad are the same experts who told us that stocks were solid investments.
If we own the banks now, are we socialists?
My 401k changed to a 301j.
Money was set aside for manure research in the stimulus package. Dang, I really want to be honest here but you stopped me...
Happy selling!
Remember when bankrupty was considered a bad thing?
How come the only Americans guaranteed their jobs with great pay and benefits are elected officials?
Arrogance and greed started this recession. The banking system was number two.
If you are really honest, no matter who you voted for in November, did you vote for this?
General Motors stock is cheaper than a gallon of gas. Can you smell the irony?
The same experts who tell us times are very bad are the same experts who told us that stocks were solid investments.
If we own the banks now, are we socialists?
My 401k changed to a 301j.
Money was set aside for manure research in the stimulus package. Dang, I really want to be honest here but you stopped me...
Happy selling!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
A Crisis in Confidence
3-05-09 Apex, NC... I know the old saying well... Time heals everything. And you know, that saying is correct; no matter what major issue we have personally or professionally experienced in life, over time we accept the event and move forward knowing that life by definition has its share of sadness, tragedy, and things we do not understand.
The problem with time is that we are not very patient. How many of us need to lose weight and want that first five pounds off in 24 hours. Or when we have to sit at a red light for three minutes and that seems like forever. We can think of a lot of things.
We all want a healthy economy. We all want to see the car business succeed. Not just the Big Three, Toyota was down 40% in February.
The majority of Americans want to WORK, have job security, health benefits, and good pay.
All of us who are affected by the recent tank of the economy, and I mean all of us, wants things to go back to "normal" tomorrow.
Here is how to do it. BUY SOMETHING. If you hold back and delay purchases of both product and services you are making things worse.
Quite frankly, my small business is very challenged by lack of confidence. The dealerships I can support just are not paying for training or recruiting right now. Every time I talk to them, whether it is here on the East Coast or in the Midwest, General Managers are just making do without. They would rather let the less successful leave and keep the survivors. They will go with less salespeople rather than pay for training.
This mind set is not 100% their fault. Sales have dived. Profits have dived. And NOTHING happens until you sell something. For every potential sale there needs to be a buyer. And at 2009 sales projections, we have not seen numbers like we are seeing since 1981.
The only way my business and all the other small businesses will survive is to sell enough vehicles to support process improvement for the troops. As the larger businesses improve, the smaller follow suit.
I just hope my personal and professional confidence outlasts my patience. Because right now there are many of us running slightly faster than the bills...
I know things will get better; but how many of us will survive in a land of doubt? No Pastor is successful without a congregation...
Happy selling!
The problem with time is that we are not very patient. How many of us need to lose weight and want that first five pounds off in 24 hours. Or when we have to sit at a red light for three minutes and that seems like forever. We can think of a lot of things.
We all want a healthy economy. We all want to see the car business succeed. Not just the Big Three, Toyota was down 40% in February.
The majority of Americans want to WORK, have job security, health benefits, and good pay.
All of us who are affected by the recent tank of the economy, and I mean all of us, wants things to go back to "normal" tomorrow.
Here is how to do it. BUY SOMETHING. If you hold back and delay purchases of both product and services you are making things worse.
Quite frankly, my small business is very challenged by lack of confidence. The dealerships I can support just are not paying for training or recruiting right now. Every time I talk to them, whether it is here on the East Coast or in the Midwest, General Managers are just making do without. They would rather let the less successful leave and keep the survivors. They will go with less salespeople rather than pay for training.
This mind set is not 100% their fault. Sales have dived. Profits have dived. And NOTHING happens until you sell something. For every potential sale there needs to be a buyer. And at 2009 sales projections, we have not seen numbers like we are seeing since 1981.
The only way my business and all the other small businesses will survive is to sell enough vehicles to support process improvement for the troops. As the larger businesses improve, the smaller follow suit.
I just hope my personal and professional confidence outlasts my patience. Because right now there are many of us running slightly faster than the bills...
I know things will get better; but how many of us will survive in a land of doubt? No Pastor is successful without a congregation...
Happy selling!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Idle Thoughts
3-03-09 Apex NC...
Is 6500 the population of Carlsbad, New Mexico or the present number of the Dow Jones? I am guessing Dow Jones.
Is 10 million really how many new vehicles will be sold in 2009? I think 10 million is the number of McDonald's hamburgers we ate today instead of a real lunch.
Is Rush versus Barack on HBO Saturday night at 10 EST? Quite the match I hear.
How can taxpayer and money have any connection? I am hearing taxpayer money all the time in the same sentence.
"Google" jobs and shovel and tool sites pop up.
Staycations will be the norm this summer.
Everybody and his mother will dig an awkward looking patch in the backyard and try gardening as soon as the ground is warm enough.
They are putting plug posts in downtown Raleigh for hybrids. What if I don't want a plug hanging out of my bumper?
Did you notice gas prices and oil prices are now unrelated?
How many of us were born at night; just not last night!
Who is lonelier? Someone stranded on a South Pacific Island or a HUMMER salesperson on the curb?
Notice how no one complains out loud about work anymore?
No matter how mean your boss is, are you not secretly thinking you are so lucky to have one?
Does AIG really stand for absolutely ignorant and greedy?
Remember when going out meant a restaurant?
And finally, don't you long for the good old days... AUGUST!!!
Hang in there; actually accolades must go to the HUMMER professional... I have trained quite a few, and one half of my garage houses a gorgeous H 3 Alpha... wish I could afford to drive it!!
Happy selling!
Is 6500 the population of Carlsbad, New Mexico or the present number of the Dow Jones? I am guessing Dow Jones.
Is 10 million really how many new vehicles will be sold in 2009? I think 10 million is the number of McDonald's hamburgers we ate today instead of a real lunch.
Is Rush versus Barack on HBO Saturday night at 10 EST? Quite the match I hear.
How can taxpayer and money have any connection? I am hearing taxpayer money all the time in the same sentence.
"Google" jobs and shovel and tool sites pop up.
Staycations will be the norm this summer.
Everybody and his mother will dig an awkward looking patch in the backyard and try gardening as soon as the ground is warm enough.
They are putting plug posts in downtown Raleigh for hybrids. What if I don't want a plug hanging out of my bumper?
Did you notice gas prices and oil prices are now unrelated?
How many of us were born at night; just not last night!
Who is lonelier? Someone stranded on a South Pacific Island or a HUMMER salesperson on the curb?
Notice how no one complains out loud about work anymore?
No matter how mean your boss is, are you not secretly thinking you are so lucky to have one?
Does AIG really stand for absolutely ignorant and greedy?
Remember when going out meant a restaurant?
And finally, don't you long for the good old days... AUGUST!!!
Hang in there; actually accolades must go to the HUMMER professional... I have trained quite a few, and one half of my garage houses a gorgeous H 3 Alpha... wish I could afford to drive it!!
Happy selling!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Short and Sweet
3-2-09 Apex, NC...In the things could be worse department, 26 years ago I was a victim. They did not even call it carjacking then; they called it stolen car. I had a sawed off shot gun put in my face about 11:30 at night on Tuesday March 2, 1982. In an instant, gone was my car, my wallet, and any illusions of my mortality. I thought I was done that night. I gave him everything I had. I laid down in the wet snow like he told me to. And I did not look up until he was a half block away. !982 was much like 2009 is today for the car business. Times were tough. When things got real bad job-wise that year, I just counted my blessings.
No matter how bad things are, remember to count your blessings. I sure did that night...
Happy selling.
No matter how bad things are, remember to count your blessings. I sure did that night...
Happy selling.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
7062.93
3-1-09 Apex, NC... Much of the U.S. is seeing March come in as a lion... We sure could use a little lamb... Where is Mary when you need her?
Seriously, the above number in my title reflects the Dow Jones... What will this new week bring? The economy just cannot get it together; and we can't send it to Betty Ford, it just is not that easy to rehab.
The President thinks he is the winning combination of FDR, JFK, LBJ and Reagan; on the other side we have Rush Limbaugh throwing F bombs... Failure, feud, fiasco, fear and flop.
Not surprisingly, we have so called experts using the term "massive restructuring" instead of what it really is... bankruptcy... Meanwhile we average citizens are still struggling to pay monthly bills. The alleged playmakers are in better stead. I do not think Rush or Barack fly coach, eat ramen noodles, or dig for change to put gas in the family car.
Let's get real...
Here is what we need to do. But again who am I?
Lower taxes. Lower interest rates. Help small business. Create incentives to purchase items that we have avoided purchasing since September.
Putting more money into an employee's paycheck. It is the only answer.
The car business has to survive. Period. Saving Detroit is critical. It is ESSENTIAL. It is not just General Motors or Chrysler here; the local grocery store and dairy queen go bye-bye along with dealers and suppliers.
Small businesses, like mine and so many others, MUST survive. The majority of our commerce in this country comes from small business.
WE can help ourselves if the politics let us. Put money where it needs to be, our pocket books.
It is never any good when political parties fight. I thought these leaders had more brains than this. Whose side are they really on?
Putting the economy back in our hands is just the start to increase sales and profits for everyone.
Let's see the fallout of Rush's speech and the administration's reaction. Maybe POSITIVES will come from it.
Happy selling!
Seriously, the above number in my title reflects the Dow Jones... What will this new week bring? The economy just cannot get it together; and we can't send it to Betty Ford, it just is not that easy to rehab.
The President thinks he is the winning combination of FDR, JFK, LBJ and Reagan; on the other side we have Rush Limbaugh throwing F bombs... Failure, feud, fiasco, fear and flop.
Not surprisingly, we have so called experts using the term "massive restructuring" instead of what it really is... bankruptcy... Meanwhile we average citizens are still struggling to pay monthly bills. The alleged playmakers are in better stead. I do not think Rush or Barack fly coach, eat ramen noodles, or dig for change to put gas in the family car.
Let's get real...
Here is what we need to do. But again who am I?
Lower taxes. Lower interest rates. Help small business. Create incentives to purchase items that we have avoided purchasing since September.
Putting more money into an employee's paycheck. It is the only answer.
The car business has to survive. Period. Saving Detroit is critical. It is ESSENTIAL. It is not just General Motors or Chrysler here; the local grocery store and dairy queen go bye-bye along with dealers and suppliers.
Small businesses, like mine and so many others, MUST survive. The majority of our commerce in this country comes from small business.
WE can help ourselves if the politics let us. Put money where it needs to be, our pocket books.
It is never any good when political parties fight. I thought these leaders had more brains than this. Whose side are they really on?
Putting the economy back in our hands is just the start to increase sales and profits for everyone.
Let's see the fallout of Rush's speech and the administration's reaction. Maybe POSITIVES will come from it.
Happy selling!
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