Last week I got a call that made me really feel the reason that I do what I do.
I was on my way home from work when a number with a Chicago suburban area code called. I moved to Michigan from Oak Park, IL just outside of Chicago so I recognized the area code. I answered the call in the manner that I do every time I answer the work cell number; “John Howell” expecting to tell some one that this is not the number for the Amazing Blue Cab Co. again. The guy on the other end of the phone said, “Mr Howell, you probably don’t remember me, but you changed my life. I bought a 2024 Corolla from you 2 years ago. I’m Deon (last name). I traded in a 2009 Corolla that was on it’s last legs and needed a lot of work for the 24 Corolla SE.” It started to come back to me, I vaguely remembered him but it was coming back to me. I asked him if everything was ok, if he was having car troubles. He assured me that all was good, better than good. He was calling because he had just gotten a promotion from the job he was starting when he bought the Corolla and wanted to reach out and let me know.
Every day we interact with people; some more surface level and brief, some more in depth. In in-depth interactions, certain topics are just bound to come up.
Who do you root for on a fall Saturday or Sunday afternoon (GO BEARS)? What do you do? When did you graduate? Where did you grow up? Why do you tell so many bad jokes? How long have you been here. Some of these what questions turn into more what or why questions.
As you begin to peel back the layers you notice the questions begin leaning more towards what or why. What was it like growing up there? What do you miss most about it? Why do you like THAT team? What got you interested in whatever field you chose to study or build a career in?
Why do you do what you do question is one that most of us never really think about all that often.
I have been asked many times why I sell cars. People assume I got stuck doing it, or assume I couldn’t do anything else (I mean it’s just car sales how hard can that be) or some out of this world claim; I’ve heard some doozies. I don’t usually think about it, I just do it. My usual answer is somewhere along the lines of “every day is different”, “I’m not just stuck in a cubicle” or “I meet and interact with new people every day”. These are the easy answers. The ones you don’t put much thought behind.
I don’t sell cars, well I do, but I solve transportation problems for people, tends to roll off the tongue better. I solve people’s puzzles. I need room for 3 car seats, I want to go camping in more remote places, I just got my first real job and need to find a reliable way to get there puzzles.
I try to stay in touch with my customers, and I don’t succeed as often as I’d like. I tell people I am not in sales, I’m in the relationship business. While it is impossible to make an individual connection with every person that sits with me, most of my customers return to shop with me. Many have followed me to each of the three Toyota stores I’ve worked at. I have families that have come to see me 3, 4,10 times over the past 10 years to once again solve the puzzle that they have in front of them.
So, it is the relationship that is the why. I really like helping people find the solution they needed and drive off into the sunset (figuratively) in a solution that they are happy with. It is a really good feeling to help someone out in there time or need, or want, and have them drive away happy. I enjoy the feeling of helping someone and possibly touching their lives in a very positive way.
We talked for about 15 minutes, and it made my week!