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My Greatest Mistake: Leo Johnson

President, Johnson Tractor Inc. (2012 Dealership of the Year)
By Mike Lessiter posted on December 24, 2016 | Posted in Best Practices, Manufacturer & Dealer Issues
“The fact that I’ve been in the same farm equipment dealership for 38 years may not equate to success as much as stamina. I’ve certainly had some measurable success over the years as well as some well-intended mistakes. Hindsight is 20/20, so looking back at the mistakes is easy.
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My Greatest Mistake: Keith Kreps

Executive Vice President, RDO Equipment, Fargo, N.D. (2010 Dealership of the Year)
By Mike Lessiter posted on December 24, 2016 | Posted in Best Practices, Operations & Finance
“My biggest failure occurred in the lead-up to the used equipment market crash in November 2013. Our used inventory turns slowed going into the fall of 2012, which raised questions as we forecasted for 2013. Despite what the data showed, I dismissed it as a timing issue; not a big problem.
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My ‘Greatest’ Mistake

8 farm equipment executives share their greatest mistakes and the lessons ‘forged in the fire’ that they carry with them today.
By Mike Lessiter posted on December 24, 2016 | Posted in Best Practices
That was an email I received from Johnson Tractor’s Leo Johnson (see p. 30) as we were preparing for this SHOWCASE special report. Said another way (by 19th century philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer), “Mostly it is loss which teaches us about the worth of things.”
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Lessiter

And Now for the Good News…

You’ve seen the stats — dissatisfied customers will tell 8-10 people all about their pain, while positive experiences are shared only with 2-3 others.
By Mike Lessiter posted on October 17, 2016
OK, as a bonus for enduring my rant, I promised you a good customer service story. Gonna give credit where it’s due.
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To the Point

The Death of Service Expectations

By Mike Lessiter posted on October 10, 2016
I can carp with the best of ‘em when it comes to lousy customer service. For most of my life, I’ve believed I’m entitled (yes, I used that word) to a decent experience when handing over a buck in exchange for a product or service. And when I don’t get it, man, do I see red. Just ask my wife.
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Lessiter
To the Point

A Dose of Perspective

By Mike Lessiter posted on September 5, 2016
Perspective often comes when and where you don’t expect it, including faraway lands. Our staff returned recently from our 3rd Annual National Strip-Tillage Conference in Bloomington, Ill., which drew a crowd of 351 from 22 states and 4 countries. Among the international attendees were two farm managers who traveled from Thailand to learn how to leap-frog their operation forward (farm practices in Thailand, they say, lag the U.S. by 50 years). The pair found us via Facebook, and reached out ahead of time so we could help them arrange on-farm visits ahead of the conference.
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Lessiter

To The Point: A Dose of Perspective

By Mike Lessiter posted on September 5, 2016
Perspective often comes when and where you don’t expect it, including faraway lands. Our staff returned recently from our 3rd Annual National Strip-Tillage Conference in Bloomington, Ill., which drew a crowd of 351 from 22 states and 4 countries. Among the international attendees were two farm managers who traveled from Thailand to learn how to leap-frog their operation forward (farm practices in Thailand, they say, lag the U.S. by 50 years). The pair found us via Facebook, and reached out ahead of time so we could help them arrange on-farm visits ahead of the conference.
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