A to-be-remembered keynote at the Dealership Minds Summit challenges frustrated managers to act now by instilling critical thought via getting those who want to avoid the difficult to step up and into it.

Before launching two revolutionary ag tech companies, Gregg Sauder was a struggling farmer who became an inventor out of necessity. He was never satisfied with the way equipment ran and always thought there was room for improvement.

In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy begins her journey in chaos. A tornado lifts her from the familiar and drops her into a strange world where nothing works the way she expects. This is the same emotional moment every leader experiences when promoted from an individual contributor to a leadership role. 

In my view, this settlement represents neither a defeat nor a complete victory for either side. Instead, it marks the beginning of a new chapter in how manufacturers, dealers, independent repair providers and equipment owners will work together in the years ahead.

According to reports, big companies like Ford and philanthropies are stepping up to boost programs to get more people into the trades — a boost to the tune of $400 million. 

If you ask most dealers what business they’re in, they’ll point to the equipment lined up on the lot. But that’s not really what customers are buying.