Thomas Edison, Rx Bar & Glue Guys

Dealers Leaders: What could your “Thomas Edison Motors” look like?

Today we’re spotlighting the relentless drive and creativity of Thomas Edison—the man who refused to give up after thousands of failed attempts to create the light bulb. Edison’s genius wasn’t just in invention, but in his unwavering persistence and his ability to stretch the limits of what was possible. His story holds powerful lessons for dealership leaders looking to inspire their teams and boost their sales strategies.

Biographical Subject: Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison’s story is one of perseverance and imagination. He famously said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Over his lifetime, Edison accumulated over 1,000 patents, revolutionizing industries and creating technology that changed the world. His journey to success wasn’t a straight line, and he faced more than his fair share of setbacks. Yet, he continued experimenting, learning from each failure until he got it right.

For dealership leaders, Edison’s approach is a perfect reminder that success often comes after numerous attempts and setbacks. Whether you’re trying to engage a difficult customer or dealing with a slow sales month, Edison’s story teaches us the importance of persistence and creativity in finding solutions that work.

Podcast 1: My First Million – Interview with Peter Rahal

In this My First Million episode, Peter Rahal, the founder of RXBAR, shares his journey from launching a small protein bar startup to selling it for $600 million. Rahal’s story echoes Edison’s in many ways—he wasn’t afraid to fail and kept repeating the process, improving his product, and refining his approach until he built something that truly resonated with customers. Like Edison, Rahal didn’t shy away from the grind. He trusted the process and made adjustments along the way.

Key Takeaway for Dealership Leaders: Rahal’s story underscores the importance of repetition and iteration. Just like he refined his product over time, dealership leaders and their teams need to constantly evolve their strategies. If a sales approach isn’t working, tweak it, improve it, and try again until you find what clicks with your customers.

Podcast 2: Glue Guys – Play Free Episode

In this Glue Guys episode, the hosts talk about the concept of “playing free” in sports and how athletes, when unburdened by overthinking or pressure, can perform at their highest potential. This idea of “playing free” is directly applicable to the dealership world. Sometimes, sales teams get bogged down by rigid processes or the fear of failure, which can limit their effectiveness. Edison was able to succeed because he didn’t fear failure—he embraced it, using each setback as a stepping stone.

Key Takeaway for Dealership Leaders: Encourage your team to “play free” by giving them room to experiment and make mistakes without the fear of immediate repercussions. Foster an environment where creativity and risk-taking are valued. Sometimes, a fresh approach to a sales pitch or customer engagement will unlock unexpected results.

Actionable Items for Dealership Leaders

1. Encourage Iteration: Just like Edison and Rahal, encourage your team to keep refining their approach to sales. Introduce a weekly brainstorming session where consultants can share what’s working and what’s not, and iterate on new techniques.

2. Give Your Team Freedom to Experiment: Like the idea of “playing free” from the Glue Guys, allow your team to take risks in how they engage with customers. Whether it’s trying a new approach to closing a sale or engaging customers through different channels, experimentation should be encouraged.

3. Focus on Long-Term Growth: Edison didn’t create the light bulb overnight, and Rahal didn’t build his protein bar empire in one go. Remind your team that long-term success often comes from small, incremental wins. Set up monthly check-ins where the focus is on learning from failures rather than just celebrating wins.

Thought-Provoking Questions

• Edison thrived in an environment where he could experiment and learn from failures. How are you creating a similar space for your team to take risks and learn?

• What small, iterative changes can you make in your dealership’s sales process that might lead to a big payoff in the long run?

• Are your team members feeling too constrained by current processes, and if so, how can you encourage them to “play free” and experiment with new approaches?

Three Inspiring Quotes for Car Sales Consultants, Managers, and Dealership Owners

1. “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” – Thomas Edison

2. “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier

3. “The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” – Henry Ford

Edison’s resilience and creativity in the face of repeated failure is a reminder to all of us that success doesn’t come without effort, experimentation, and sometimes, setbacks. For dealership leaders, this mindset can be transformative. Whether it’s refining your team’s sales approach, encouraging them to think more creatively, or simply allowing space for growth, Edison’s lessons remind us that persistence and imagination can light the way to success.

That’s it for this edition! Let’s channel some of Edison’s boundless energy and willingness to experiment in our dealerships this week.

Keep driving your success-

Dealers Leaders