BY MATT SELLHORST
You wake up, shower, brush your teeth and get dressed every morning. Grab some breakfast and out the door taking the same route to the dealership every morning. Five, six, even seven days a week.
You open up the dealership, sit at your desk and I’d guess you do the same 11 tasks in the exact same order almost every day. Turn on the same lights in the same order. Start the coffee. Turn on the TVs. Do a walk-around the store. Sit down at your desk and turn on your computer. Take the phones off ‘night mode.’ Open the cash register. And, check your emails.
Your 11 tasks may be different but I’d bet dollars to danishes that practically every day your routine is virtually identical.
If so, you may need to get out of your rut.
Here are a few suggestions… some more impactful than others.
1. TAKE A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO WORK
Drive past your competitors and see what they’re up to. See what your prospects see when they are out shopping.
2. DON’T OPEN YOUR EMAIL UNTIL 10 A.M. OR 11 A.M.
Take the first few hours of your day to accomplish something important but not urgent. Be proactive on one of those major thorns in your side or big opportunities that just never seem to get done.
3. WALK THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE EYES OF A POTENTIAL CLIENT EVERY MORNING.
Try to look at things like you don’t know anything about boats or boat dealerships. Do you notice some things that may need to be addressed? Walls needing paint … trash in the parking lot … light bulbs out or rough-looking signs … cobwebs on the boats … dirt and grease. Make it a point to have that cleaned up, fixed up or picked up ASAP.
4. RE-ARRANGE YOUR OFFICE.
Yes, after just a year most offices start to gain clutter: A pile here, a pile there. Some gear, some dust, some dirt, old parts, tools, etc. By making a change in your environment, you make a change in the way you think. Think about how much better your truck drives when you’ve just had it detailed. Shiny rims, glossy finish, clean interior and smelling good. That same feeling and emotional excitement will come with a cleaning and re-arranging of your office.
5. TAKE A TRIP.
A great opportunity to take a trip is coming up in November for the Marine Dealer Conference and Expo in Orlando. These four days will not only get you out of your rut but it will also expose you to new ideas, new people and may just get you extra excited about the upcoming year. Click here to learn more about MDCE.(By the way, I’ll be presenting and would love to meet you).
6. PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING OR READ A BOOK.
Often, hearing new ideas and being exposed to other ways of thinking can trigger enormous improvements in your boat business. Take 15 to 30 minutes each day to take in some new information (inside and outside the boat business).
For some good free info, visit my website www.BoatDealerProfits.com. You can also check out the MRAA’s virtual training center and of course BoatingIndustry.com for articles, white papers and other resources.
7. TAKE OUT A BOAT WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS OR EMPLOYEES.
Sometimes we need to remember how much we really enjoy boating. Experience the dream that we sell. Interact with our clients out on the water and look for opportunities to serve the better. Plus, there is no better way to clear your head and get out of a rut than to feel the wind in our hair as we put the throttle down heading to nowhere.
Hey, routines are fantastic. They allow us to get through life without wasting energy on basic everyday tasks. But remember every once in a while you need to jump up out of that rut and make sure you’re not missing something important. Make sure a year or two hasn’t passed without making the improvements you know you’re capable of in your bot business. It can happen, especially if you’ve been in the industry for 5, 10, 20 or 30+ years.
I’d love to hear your ideas on ways you keep out of a rut so accomplish all of your goals and dreams. Comment down below and like or share the article with others down below.
Matt Sellhorst is the author of the book “Marine Marketing Strategies” and Head Profits Coach at Boat Dealer Profits. Sellhorst was also the winner of the MDCE Best Ideas Contest, Boating Industry’s Movers and Shakers Bold Moves award, a top producing boat salesman, and a speaker and presenter at the Marine Dealer Conference and Expo. He now helps dealers, brokers and manufacturers sell more boats with proven sales and marketing systems.
To receive a free copy his book, visit www.HowToSellMoreBoats.com to receive instant access (and your special bonus training). More info at www.BoatDealerProfits.com.