I’m going to put you in my shoes as a 28 year old on April 15th, 2013:

I’m recently fired (long story), lost 6 years of client data so I’m essentially starting from scratch, and looking for work, it’s 8:30am on a Monday.

I get 2 phone calls and needed to make a decision.

Option #1

Go to a dealership that is 30 miles further away from my clients, not that well-known, sells 12 new vehicles per month, is in a community of 180 people, has had the same owner for 30 years, has a $20,000 annual advertising budget, in a building that has no air conditioning, no cell phone service, no water cooler, no coffee machine, no customer waiting area, no cell phone service, no wifi, graveled lot, and no real office (would have to make shift one with a desk from the 70’s and it would be located on the other side of a paper-thin wall where the pressure washer is for detailing). And yes this is really 2013.  I’d learn from someone who is essentially self-taught and I would have the potential to buy into the company at some point but no guarantee because I have to work for 6-months first to see if I’m a good fit or not.  And if I would even be considered a viable owner not only to the dealership but to the OEM as well.  Oh and my wage would drop 25% which would be difficult to handle with 4 mouths to feed, plus a dog, on that single income.

Option #2

Go to a dealership that is in the heart of where my clients are, is a household name and extremely well-known and highly reputable, sells 70 new vehicles per month, is in a community of 60,000 people, is one of the largest dealer groups in Canada, has a near unlimited budget for advertising, would set me up with the proper training that would nearly guarantee success, and is in a brand new $15 million dollar facility, including its own restaurant! The added bonus is that I’d be able to sell the same product which is all I knew at this point in my career. I’d get to learn from a family that has been and dominated the industry for over 60 years, has 30 dealerships, and the potential to buy into one or run my own dealership at some point.  Same as Option #1 where I’d have to work for 6-months to see if we’re a good fit together and if I’d be considered a viable owner or not by the dealer group and its OEM. 

Decision time….

Which option would you choose, Option #1 or Option #2?

By the time you’ve determined your answer, I’ve already made mine.  For those who know me already know my answer, and for those of you who don’t, I went with Option #1.  There is no right or wrong answer.  There was no guarantee of success or failure either way.  I was being pulled towards Option #1 for reasons I can’t explain. 

Since 2013, I’m happy to report that Woodworth Dodge now has air conditioning, more offices (added on to the dealership), a water cooler, comfortable client lounge with leather couches and a tv, wifi, cell phone service, a paved lot, we’ve 5x our advertising budget, and the last 2 months we’ve sold 29 new retail vehicles in each month for a total of 58. We grew our new sales volume 61% while keeping our customer acquisition cost (total advertising dollars/retail units sold) under $250, and I’ve bought the majority shares (80%) of the company.  I live in beautiful Kelowna, BC with my wife, 2 kids and black lab, while the dealership runs as good as it ever has back in Manitoba without me there.

Had I gone with Option #2, I wouldn’t have had the freedom I do now or the new opportunities that have presented themselves since moving to Kelowna that are proving to be life changing.  On the surface, Option #2 was certainly more attractive and looked like a clear cut winner but I knew Woodworth was the place to go. All I needed was an opportunity to prove myself and this was it.  Sure it was going to be a lot more work than Option #2, but the easy way isn’t necessarily the best way. Self-belief and intuition have played a major role in our families life and quite honestly, how the dealership operates and continues to thrive without me there.  It took a lot of hard work, long hours, courage, and belief, but Woodworth is a place now where people know who we are, in a good way. 

Trust your instincts and let them guide you, after all, they are the highest form of intelligence.