The conversations I hear today about the car business aren’t much different than the ones we had 20 years ago.

Back then, dealers were complaining about their new car inventory and the factory allocation system. They are still complaining about new car inventory and the factory allocation system.

Odd as it may seem, we often put a lot of energy and wasted effort into trying to control the things we don’t have control over and miss a real opportunity to control the things we can.

I like to compare the car business to the coaching field. Coaches never have total control over the game, but they do have control over the things they do to prepare for the game. You can take control by preparing the team.

Great coaches study the game 24/7/365. If you don’t live, eat and sleep the car business, then you will never be able to control what you can control.

Successful coaches understand that to control the game they have to teach the game. They make an investment in time and resources to ensure the team understands the plan and how best to execute it.

Your mission as a coach is to create an ongoing environment that demonstrates you are committed to training and developing your staff at all levels. “Controlling what you can control.”

Dealing with the factory can be a love/hate relationship. That’s never going to change. Mostly it’s wasted conversation.

There are so many things that you can do today to control and improve your business. Talking about your new car allocation issues isn’t one of them.

That’s all I’m gonna say, Tommy Gibbs