• This thread is just the tip of the iceberg.The people ahead of the curve aren't Googling for answers — they're already in here, having the conversations you haven't found yet. DealerRefresh is free.Get the full picture →

Your future Manager

I AGREE WITH JON. DOING A LOT OF STUFF AND BEING PRODUCTIVE ARE QUITE DIFFERENT. MANY PEOPLE TODAY CAN LOOK BUSY AND ACTUALLY ARE DOING THINGS, HOWEVER ARE THEY PRUDUCING RESULTS AND ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING. WE ALL KNOW IN THIS BUSINESS YOU HAVE TO HAVE RESULTS AND THAT WOULD BE TURNING LEADS INTO APPOINTMENTS THAT SHOW AND THEN BEING ABLE TO CLOSE THEM ONCE THEY DO SHOW. A LOT OF THE THINGS BEING DONE ARE ENTERTAINMENT ORIENTED AND RESULTS ARE WHAT IS NEEDED.
 
Great article Alex and I couldn't agree with you more about this generation (as a Mom of 12 and 13 yr olds). The one thing that needs to be pointed out, in my opinion, is what do they do once they have the customer. They have all these ways to communicate and get someone in - but - what do they do then? They may have it all over us 'old folks' in technology BUT they can't look anyone in the eye and have an actual conversation!! I joke with my girls and say "if you are interviewing for a job - if you do nothing else than look the interviewer in the eye and have engaging dialog - you will get the job."
All of this technology creates a "put in - get out" mentality and conversation has gone away.
Maybe. . . we can have 1/2 of this generation speak and the other multi task???
 
Skip, I'm sort of with you on this one. The concept of social media has really caught on, I'll give you that. I get emails every day asking to join someones network. And, as technologically skilled as I think I am, I haven't played the social media game. I don't have a Facebook page or Twitter. It seems like it takes a lot of time to keep up with everything.

But I do know that goals, planning, and plain old hard work is still the caveat that makes most people successful. I know dealerships that will pay $5000 per month for a website to attract more leads, but still won't do the hard work necessary to convert those leads into sales.

I also know dealerships that have a normal website, buy leads from third party providers and sell just as many vehicles, without the big expense.

Technology is great, I love it. But nothing will take the place of hard work and excellent skills.
 
I have to share that the military started figuring this out some years back... back in my younger days as a Naval Aviator, they were always preaching "situational awareness" as there were 14 things to think about and do at the same time while flying, and "multi-tasking" was the norm. The younger generation coming into the service today has done much better in this situation and - believe it or not - the multi-tasking they learned while playing video games, using their cell phones, etc - has prepared them well... Don't underestimate these folks!
 
I grew up playing keyboards. Not piano, keyboards. I wanted to play 2 or 3 or 4 heck as many as I could get behind at once. Horns on one, cello on another, organ, electric piano, and of course the Mini Moog.(now I am dating myself bad) I work much better under pressure, doing several things at once I think, because of the years of trying to play an orchestra electronically. I too, am addicted to this stuff but my 14 year old son and 16 year old daughter can do everything I am doing with an i-pod headset on, texting with one hand and writing a report in the other while surfing myspace. Their brain grows expotentially and at first I was worried
that they would have some nervous tics or disorder from the overload.
They get straight A's, sing in Chorus and play basketball too. In my opinion, they are fine but it makes me tired.
Kim Clouse
 
Alex's post makes me think about having an Apple II in first grade and where it has gone since then. I am 30 and I have always enjoyed the evolution of technology. Like I enjoyed Oregon Trail then and COD4 now. People who are not productive do not keep their jobs. People who understand the role of tech in their work and personal lives, and use it wisely, will be successful now and in the future. They are already out there, leading a brave new world of multi-taskers right now. I hate doing one thing at once, how boring!
 
“doing a lot” and “being productive” are not necessarily the same.

This is so true. Some days I feel like I'm doing a million things at a time but not being very productive. But usually I'm helping other people be productive, so I guess that counts!
 
Alex’s post makes me think about having an Apple II in first grade and where it has gone since then. I am 30 and I have always enjoyed the evolution of technology. Like I enjoyed Oregon Trail then and COD4 now. People who are not productive do not keep their jobs. People who understand the role of tech in their work and personal lives, and use it wisely, will be successful now and in the future.