HOW WILL I FEEL TODAY?

I woke up yesterday morning as I usually do, slowly, putting both feet on the ground before standing, so as not to fall flat on my face. I admit I'm not as steady as I used to be, especially since acquiring the agony of da feet.

It's six am and I have to get ready for another day out on the lot. As most of you know I'm a salesman for Superior Toyota of Merriam, soon to be Rick Hendrick's Toyota as soon as we move into our new location at 67th and I-35. A larger new state of the art building that will hold both the New and Used sales staffs.

After showering I usually feel much better about getting out and going to work. I never decide beforehand how I'm going to feel but I know that if I want to be successful today I have to have a positive attitude, forget the aged aches and pains, the FFA, overlook the tightness in my back or the shaking of the knees or whether the hips will make it through the day. I tell myself, keep smiling and all of the above will disappear. Sometimes it does, in fact, most of the time, I feel pretty good, especially at my age.

I have to get ready for a customer that is coming in to purchase a car today after coming in three previous times without making a buying decision. She called last night and said she's ready to buy but does not want to fiddle around and spend all day with the process.

When she finally arrives she decides that she does not want to sit in my office and do the paper work. "It's too nice a day" she says, and it is, "Let's do it outside". It's a first for me but my manager says go ahead, so we did. We completed all the initial paperwork out on the trunk of her new car. So far we've only spent 18 minutes. She had already informed me that she was in a sort of rush so we should move quickly. She didn't know that she was working with Rapid Ron.

I took her down to our finance office to complete the transaction and while she was there I drove her car down to detail to get it ready for presentation and delivery. She finishes at the same time her car comes up and she's on her way after spending less than an hour, a new all time record, at least for me.

Two minutes after she drove off the lot, my cell phone rings and she's calling me back. I knew it was too good to be true, what could be wrong, did I screwup which would not be unusual. Was the there something wrong with the car, did she run out of gas, what is it. I answer the phone and she tells me that she left her garage door opener in her old car and she was turning around and coming back. I worried for nothing, all that anxiety for nothing. I grabbed her opener, went to the edge of the lot, caught her turning in, handed it through her window and she yells back "Ron you rock!"

I just hope that she feels that way when she receives her survey and she at least remembers my name instead of that short old guy.

The rest of the afternoon I had that wonderful feeling that it was truly a great day. The weather was beautiful, I wasn't hurting and I continued to make people smile, which made it another very special day and I felt 20 years younger.

I guess all it takes is making a sale and everything is good.

A CONVERSATION PIECE

Or, how to meet someone, wear a name T-shirt. The other day when I wasn't working I put on a KU Jayhawk shirt. 

We went shopping at a local grocery store and as we went thru the produce department I came upon a man wearing a KU hat. He stopped in front of me and said "Rock Chalk", as most of you in the area know, it's a KU chant. We immediately struck up a conversation  about the upcoming game. Before leaving I handed him my business card, just in case he needed or knew someone who needed a car.

As we went through the store I had three more such encounters and handed out 3 more cards. I figured, what a great time for networking, as I've been doing for so many years and recently reinforced by Rip Walker, a Toyota instructor.

During the day we made a few more stops and this time it was I that stopped and spoke to anyone wearing KU logo attire. It was easy and it was fun. We shared smiles, stories and more than anything, it felt as if I was meeting old friends that I hadn't seen in years.

It's amazing, just wearing a team shirt introduced 10 new people to each other with each leaving with a smile on their face and some with my business card in their hand.

If I wasn't wearing the shirt and happened to smile at someone, I might leave with a bruised body. Wearing the school logo was like a shield against bigotry (unless it was someone wearing an MU shirt)or better yet a way to meet a new friend, a comrade in cheering for our team.

Maybe I'll get lucky and one of those people I met will come in and buy a car or give my card to a friend, we'll see. Anyway, it was a fun day spending it with my wife and talking to so many people.

KU won their first round and tonight they play Purdue, a tough team but hopefully they can play their best and beat the Boilermakers.

The March Madness consumes everyone that is a basketball fan. It's hard to turn on the TV during this time of year and not see a game. My condolences go out to my Missouri and K State friends. I hope everybody gets a chance to cheer for their team that might still be playing, except of course for North Carolina, Kentucky or Syracuse.

Rock Chalk!!!

MY GRANDAUGHTER'S BAT MITZVAH

Yesterday was my grandaughter Kylie's Bat Mitzvah. It takes place at the age of 13 when a girl becomes a woman and as a boy becomes a man at his Bar Mitzvah, also around the 13th Birthday. Kylie was terrific, she sailed through her Torah portion with ease and clarity, making her family extremely proud of the work she had done during the previous months.

The day was also a time of togetherness. Most of the family was there to celebrate the occasion and share in the moment. Those that were given an aliyah (honor)to participate were also very good in accomplishing their assigned tasks.

We saw family that we hadn't seen in awhile and old friends that came to share our joyous occasion. We also missed those relatives and friends that couldn't come
due to illness, but all in all it was a wonderful time.

As is modern custom, a party is given that evening so the Bat Mitzvah can share her evening with a hundred or so of her friends and family. This party starts out with the girls all standing together and the same for
the boys. It was the same when I was that age and I'm
sure for most of you that are reading this. Though the parties back then were not this elaborate.

The adults all stood around screaming at each other so they could be heard over the music and the screaming of the kids. It was fun watching the packs of youngsters running here and there trying to avoid speaking with the opposite sex. When the DJ finally played some of their requested music, they all started jumping and swaying, but not touching, g-d forbid they should touch.

In vain, I tried to get the girls to pick out  a boy and the same with the young men. The girls shrieked and the boys all answered with the same "But they're taller than us", as it was in my day. I tried to explain to the boys that dancing with a taller girl could be fun, no explanation neccessary.

The room was decorated in a white winter theme and most attendees wore outfits basically white. The placards showing your table assignments were sno globes, really a classy effect. Our creative son David outdid himself.

It was a great evening, enjoyed by all.

Monday morning I arrived back to work full of enthusiasm after being off for two weeks sure of the fact that I could become that salesman that I knew I would be. I was warmly welcomed back by my friends  who told me I was missed, they had gone for 2 weeks without a story. While I was gone the weather in KC was great, I return and so does winter, I know, I'm sure it's my fault. It's funny though, when you sell a car,it warms up and my feet don't hurt.

During my vacation I finished reading a training book and started reading a few of the chapters a second and third time, specifically on closing. I thought I had it down pat, ready to put it into use. The way to keep people from leaving is to lock your office door.

I'M ON VACATION

I can't believe how fast my life is going bye. In another week I'll be selling cars at Superior Toyota for eight months. It seems like yesterday that I answered an ad in Career Builder. I had applied at just about every dealership, auto parts store or photo lab in the greater Kansas City area to no avail. I had great interviews and an impressive resume showing everything I had done since my discharge from the Army in 1956.

Big mistake, even though age is not supposed to be a deciding factor, once they realize how old you actually are they just don't call you back. My daughters were looking at my resume and told me that I could say that I was a veteran but not to mention the year I was discharged. So, I made a slight change eliminating about ten years from my early experiences.

After e-mailing my resume to Mr. Ed Harris, the used car sales manager at Superior, I was called the next day to come in for an interview. During our conversation I decided that I wanted to work for this man. He looked me right in the eye, gave me the good and the bad about selling cars and said he would call me back, which he did the next day and asked me to come in for another interview with the New Car manager.

He too was upfront and very impressive. I had told Mr. Harris my actual age so we would start out on the right foot. I should have chosen the left because I developed Plantar Fasciitis in that foot. Anyway, I started soon after and from day one I was in my niche.

They started by sending me to training by Rip Walker, A Hendrick Auto training specialist on the companies way of selling and ethics. The training they provide is excellent. It took me awhile to soak it all up and I'm still learning something new everyday. My immediate managers Ryan and Jeremy have continually tried to help me become the salesperson I know I'm capable of being.

Ed Harris my mentor, just makes it a great place to work. All of the sales people get along great and put up with this old man, me, not Ed. I believe I'm the oldest employee in the whole store but until recently, few people knew my age. I try to hold up my portion of the daily work load and not let my age dictate my performance.

Because of age and or experiences, I'm constantly telling stories. It's gotten to the point that they ask me for a story almost daily. I try to relate memories out of my memoir "MAKING HAPPY" and they seem to enjoy those the most.

I'm in Florida again this year staying with our good friend Irene (the ex Mrs. Cruel) who shares her beautiful condo with us. I hesitate sending photos from here (but I'm sure I will) so my friends at Superior won't feel bad working in the cold while I enjoy the sun and fun, however I hear the weather this week is pretty good.

I'm at the point in my auto sales that give me the confidence to sell more that I've sold the previous month and to increase that number from here on. Am I having fun, I believe I am. Other than the agony of da feet, I'm enjoying going to work every day and plan on selling at least a car a day. I'm fullfilling a need and to watch the people drive away in their new car with a smile on their faces helps me keep the promise I made in the Smoky Mountains to make people smile everyday and yes, I'm still a 44 short.

I'll leave you with this, I'll try to keep my blogs coming more often if you send someone in to buy a car. I promise that they will enjoy the experience.

A SLIGHT EXAGERATION

When I started doing blogs about three years ago they contained bits of family stuff that I thought might be entertaining or bring a smile to one's day, and they did, or at least, that's what I was told. 


Actually  the first blog was in 2007 and has continued sporatically over the years. Some of my (fans) readers have told me that the blogs are not funny anymore, they're lacking the original RONNIEISMS intent. 


They said that the commercialism of the last few blogs has turned them off. I apologize for creating those reactions but there aren't many funny things that go on at an auto dealership, however, yesterday was a special day.

One of our clients buying a vehicle was attempting to get as much for his trade that he could, pretty normal, OK? He didn't have the car with him but he left to go get it and drop  it off. The deal was made sight unseen after the client described his older vehicle as a car that had a rebuilt engine in it that made it run like new and had recently had a new paint job. It was a manual transmission but there was no trouble shifting.

The client returns in his vehicle putt putting into the lot. You could hear the grinding as the gears were having a slight problem going into the next speed. But the best was the new paint job, a nice bright red applied with a 6"paint brush, yes you're reading this correctly, painted with a brush. One of his front fenders had been pounded by a ball peen hammer in an attempt to correct a minor accident. None of these incidents came up on the Carfax when we checked. His air conditioning consisted of having the windows open since one of the handles was inoperable.

We went back to the client and told him the car was not exactly what he had described and made a different offer knowing all too well that he would cancel the deal. But, he quickly accepted with an "I'll take it" knowing full well that he was still getting more than his scrap heap was worth. I hope the junk yard doesn't damage this classic too much more.

I guess beauty is really in the eyes of the beholder.

In my attempts to recognize accents and respond with a "hello or good morning" in their original language I usually do pretty well. Since my 5 year stint in Hawaii I can recognize and respond in about 15 languages. My limited ability does not go beyond the familiarities such as hello, good morning, goodbye and thank you.

The other day I approached a couple in the lot that looked to be hispanic (not to be racial profiling) and said "ola, buenas dias. hello, good day. They looked back at me with quizzed looks and answered in broken English, "we're not Mexicans". Naturally, I apologized for my error and carried on speaking very slowly. They were from Nepal and fortunate for them I only knew a few words in Mandarin, that I didn't try.

Many of our clients are immigrants attending the surrounding universities, mostly on scholarships. They come from Eastern Europe, Asia, South America, Mexico and the majority from India and Pakistan. I'm giving up on learning the new languages because my internal RAM is full and floppy discs are long gone. Maybe I can stick a thumbdrive in one of my ears or, never mind, bad idea.

I will stick to my script and say "Welcome to Superior Toyota" and go from there.

During the last 3 or so weeks I've developed heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis so I'm walking rather gingerly with a slight limp. With the temperature on the lot in three figures I've experienced both extremes, high heat and the agony of da feet.

WHAT A BEAUTY

This is my first of hopefully many more commercial attempts at publicizing something that is a somewhat different than the ordinary.

A knowledgeable car buyer or collector would recognize its worth more than the traditional automotive buyer.

We have in our SUPERIOR TOYOTA INVENTORY A FULLY LOADED ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL  2008 LANDCRUISER. You have to see this beautiful beast to truly appreciate it. It only has about 47,000 miles but still comes with the Toyota Certified Warranty.

You can call me at 913-269-1388 or e-mail me at ron.shapiro@hendrickauto.com. Check out the photo.

A NEW CAREER

I guess that it's been about six months since I started looking for something to do, to keep me off the streets and getting in trouble. My Rapid Peddler business is still going but not as strong as it used to be.

I started going to car dealerships, about 20 of them, filling out long applications, leaving my resume, and I thought great interviews, no luck. Next, I did the same thing with auto parts business' since I had an exentsive auto parts background. Many interviews, no call backs. Was it my deodorant? Was I too short, too old, too ugly, did my wife dress me funny? I couldn't understand what was going on. Did they all know what they were missing?

I changed my resume so that it did not reveal my actual age, maybe that was it. They might have thought I couldn't handle the hours, the stress or the standing long hours.

I then started with photo operations, ie; Costco, Sam's, Wal-Mart, Target, Ritz, etc. I had experience up the yahoo, what's wrong with these people. Hadn't they heard about my wonderful smile, personality and wonderful smell of my roll on? Didn't they know about my networking, my memberships in numerous organizations or my famous author sister? I 'm a whole package.

I had just about given up and thought I would try the ministry when I saw an ad in the Sunday paper in the CAREER BUILDER section. SUPERIOR TOYOTA was looking for sales people that did not have to have previous experience in selling cars. I immediately e-mailed my resume to Mr. Ed Harris, the pre-owned manager who had placed the ad. I attached a note asking him to call me if he would like me to come in for a personal interview. Monday morning he called, an hour later I was in his office. We talked for almost an hour and I found out what kind of a person he his and decided this is the man I want to work for. He was upfront, didn't care about my age but did care about my previous sales experiences and promised to call me back whether he hired me or not.

Two days later I received the call back for interviews with other management. Happy to say, successful. The following week I was hired. Talk about being a dummy in a strange new land but that changed almost immediately. Everyone there was more than eager to help me, what a wonderful crew, the managers, the old and new salesmen, they are a team and I was now part of that team or soon would be.

I was there three days and can you believe, I sold my first car. I loved it, it brought back the excitement I remembered from past business experiences. I couldn't have done it without Brian's help but he made it happen. Walking up to people, introducing myself, hopefully making a friend and satisfied customer what a great high. I think I will do well, not so much for the money but to prove to those (Ed} that he made the right choice. I'll keep you posted.

Please make a note, for a wonderful deal give me a call at 913-269-1388.