I'm Still Standing

“You could never know what it's like - Your blood like winter freezes just like ice - And there's a cold lonely light that shines from you - You'll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use.” For those of you not as familiar, these are the beginning lyrics to a song by Elton John called I’m Still Standing. 

We got knocked down hard over the last 6 months or so. We started out with massive bushfires in Australia killing over one billion animals. The coronavirus outbreak happens. Trump gets impeached. Kobe Bryant dies in a helicopter crash. The global stock market crashes. Travel Bans. No more summer Olympics. Looting and riots break out. The United States launched Crew Dragon into outer space. There was talk of murder hornets and squirrels with flamethrowers that look like sharks. And Tiger King made us wonder what Carole Baskin did with her husband. Needless to say, as I sit here in my office in Boulder, Colorado, I am thinking that we are only halfway through this year and we sure have had a lot to process and digest, to say the least.

The good news is that the stock market is recovering along with the economy and with sales and businesses are opening back up, this should help ease the pain we have all experienced. The riots and looting have subsided. We are finding our way again as society and businesses are adapting to the new changes and guidance given by our leaders. 

If I never hear the term “in these tumultuous and uncertain times” again, I would be totally fine with that. The reality is, things have never been certain, they were simply easier or better due to circumstance. There are only two certainties, death and taxes. The idea that somehow things have suddenly changed and now everyone is panicked because were “unsure” about things just sheds light on a harsh truth – if it’s to be, it’s up to me. 

It all begins by holding yourself accountable. Being accountable to your position in the dealership, your family, your relationships. Sometimes this requires us to shift our focus on to the things we can control, like our activities and our attitude, and with whom we spend our time. Life is really not what happens to you, but how you respond to it. Also, monitoring self-talk is of huge importance. We must feed our mind healthy – positive input and allow ourselves to show grace to ourselves and those around us. This allows you to take a step back from an ego-driven focus and instead to appreciate the journey. The sunshine wouldn’t be as nice if we didn’t a nasty storm once in a while. At the end of the day, we are truly blessed. We are alive and we have opportunities all around us. This is the time to remember what you want to accomplish, what you need to accomplish. Tough times and setbacks are what differentiate successful people from failures. Even though it can be discouraging to see our routine, our paychecks, and our ability to connect with customers fluctuate, this is the time to push through and get laser-focused on what matters most. The second half of this year will be great – inventory is starting to break loose, rates are at all-time lows, there is a ton of pent up demand and people are going back to work. So, take a minute to assess your situation, be totally honest with yourself, make a few changes you know you need to make, and remember that even if you get knocked down – remember to get up. Look at yourself tonight in the mirror before you get into bed and say out loud, I’m Still Standing! Tomorrow is another chance to make progress on yourself and ultimately your productivity in your organization.