Many years ago in our church, the task of adjusting the thermostat fell to good ole Gary. People always complained about it being either too hot or too cold during the sermon. One Sunday he came up to me and said "I have found the perfect temperature setting. Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by the Solectrac.

We painted a pretty depressing picture in the last column. So how DID dealers survive the 1980s? They spun that working capital like crazy. Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by the Solectrac.

Today, every news show mentions the dreaded, impending “recession” — depending on one's definition of recession. There may be a recession, however, looking back, the ag economy in the 1980s was a depression. Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by the Solectrac.

"Now, repeat what I just said." These are the words my wife uses to end all our communications, especially the honey-do jobs and my trips to procure her needed supplies. This forces good communication, she states. Good communication is the key to success in marriage, relations with one's mother-in-law and, of course, in running an equipment dealership. Lack of -- or bad -- communication always leads to expensive events and teaching moments. Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by the Solectrac.

Anything I’ll be able to contribute will be the byproducts of an impressive volume of lessons learned. There are many daily mistakes in a long career from farming, corporate OEM experience and daily dealership dealings (they taught me alliteration at Murray State University) and of course, from my mother-in-law. You will get to know her well. Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by the Solectrac.

The busy season is in full swing. Tensions are running high. When things get busy, any inefficiencies at your dealership become glaringly obvious.

In the last two articles, we shared the business case for diversity and outlined three reasons why it matters. We talked about the changing growth dynamics in rural areas. Including the numerous financial and growth business benefits for your dealerships, and the driving force and the undeniable influence of the next generation of Millennial and Gen Z customers.