The Man Behind the Sale

My Inspiration

Writing a book has been a long-time goal of mine. My God-given Vision is, and has been, to Teach Men Godly Principled Truths. I always assumed this meant it would come to pass in a ministry capacity, never did I think it would be to help car dealership personnel. But the car business is my so called “mission field” therefore this makes perfect sense. God has a unique way of preparing us to do something that needs to be done, even when we’re oblivious to what He is doing. God is always at work.

In recent years I’ve become disgusted with the “quality” of Sales Training because every time I listen to a Sales Trainer, they either convince their audience they have all the answers or they’re teaching an old “technique” with a new spin. The message is delivered with a “matter of fact” attitude which displays confidence and stimulates the audience, but rarely does the technique or message meet the real needs of this industry.

My inspiration for writing this book is to address what Sales Training lacks, and that is to help the Sales Professional begin working on, and improving, the quality of themselves, instead of just focusing on sales philosophies and techniques. Over the years, I’ve met several Christians in the car business and (sadly) you wouldn’t know they were Christian; I was once one of them. If you’re a Christian and you adopt philosophies that are not from God and perform them without God, your results are a product of the World System. God is above this World System, and as His child, so are you; but only if you learn, accept and operate according to His standards.

I’ve spent nearly 4 decades in, and around, the car business and have experienced both lean times and abundance. I have followed my own path chasing after my own desires and ended up “wondering around in the desert”. When I learned to submit everything to God and trust in Him, everything has been more rewarding. That said, success is not measured by wealth alone, but other blessings such as: peace, joy, a great marriage, etc. As a believer in Christ, I know how easy it is to drift off course. Money is a survival requirement; therefore, earning money is very important, but it can become the god we serve if not careful. It’s easy to be baited by the glamour of money and get caught in the trap of “making money”; I’ve been there I know. The Bible warns us that we are carried away to temptation by our own desires:

James 1:14 (AMP) But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions).

We’re so bombarded with the “stuff message” it’s easy to lose focus on what matters most. This can be the beginning of the end if you’re not aware. Money is not evil, it’s the love of money that steers a heart wrong.

1 Timothy 6:10 (AMP) For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute [mental] pangs.

When not careful, you can become consumed by your own lusts, or desires. The temptation that leads many astray is the excitement of what can be gained with money. Therefore, money can be the temptation and when lust for money drives your actions, your heart is not in the right place.

Another “slippery slope” associated with money is the driving force of profit. I’m not saying earning a profit is unethical or even evil, however the “desire for profit” (love of money) is, and there is a faint line between the two. When one deserts his moral statutes to earn a profit, the motive becomes twisted and he can find himself swimming downstream with all the other dead fish. Working in the car business while trying to adhere to biblical standards is not always easy; it’s doable though. But there’s not a lot of specific instruction as to how to do it. This book is my attempt (my contribution) to help fill that void and to help you operate in moral excellence.

You may find yourself “lost” at times and that’s okay. Being lost doesn’t mean it’s all over and there’s no hope. There is Hope! It doesn’t matter how far off the path you’ve strayed, God is always merciful and abundant in grace, but you must take the first step and come back to the Father. Remember the son who was starving and realized he had sinned against his dad? When he made up his mind to come home, his dad felt compassion for him and ran out and embraced him. He welcomed him and treated him as royalty.

Luke 15:20-24 (AMP) So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently]. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son [I no longer deserve to be recognized as a son of yours]! But the father said to his bond servants, bring quickly the best robe (the festive robe of honor) and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet. And bring out that [wheat-]fattened calf and kill it; and let us revel and feast and be happy and make merry, Because this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to revel and feast and make merry.

So, if you have “strayed” just accept personal responsibility for your sin, ask God to forgive you (repent) and move on. “Onward and Upward”!