Don’t Be Afraid to Try
These top-tier sales pros, techs and rookies offer inspiration and encouragement, reminding industry professionals to stay true to their craft.
Words by Rosa Sophia
Ron Venable, Traffic Jams Motorsports, Buford, Ga.
With two years of industry experience, Brentan Adams currently serves as sales manager at Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security. This past year, he said, he made the mistake of trying to make customer-supplied parts work. “While my intention was to help, it ultimately created more work for my installation team and pushed out completion times,” he said. “I learned that this approach, though well-meaning, can cause more problems than it solves.” Now, he added, he makes sure to clearly communicate what a vehicle needs versus what a customer might already have. “Setting proper expectations ensures a smooth workflow and a better customer experience.”
Adams said he wants to improve his ability to slow down and complete a project fully before moving on to the next. He said he has a tendency to move quickly for customers and the team, but as a result, he sometimes misses small details. “When that happens, my team has to carry the extra burden. Becoming more methodical will make me a better leader and a more reliable part of the workflow.”
He added that he most enjoys seeing people’s dreams come true. “Our industry is all about turning imagination into reality. As a salesperson, I’m on the front line ensuring every detail is captured accurately so my installation team can execute flawlessly. Without their skill and dedication, none of this would be possible.”
He advised others to listen to their team members and coworkers. “Write things down so you don’t forget. When a customer walks in excited about what they want for their vehicle, don’t let their budget intimidate you. They’re not spending your money,” he said, adding, “Meet them at their energy level, understand their vision and help them achieve the build they’ve been dreaming about.”
Joshua King, NVS Audio, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Joshua King works as an installer at NVS Audio in Daytona Beach, Fla. He has been in the industry for about two years. “My biggest mistake this year was not setting deadlines for goals I wanted to achieve. I kept telling myself I would do it tomorrow or next week, and that date didn’t come until months later. I learned that time is very precious and valuable. Wasting time left me with some regrets.” King wants to work on “being okay with being uncomfortable” by getting into new things like drawing in CAD, learning how to program a CNC and being able to use a 3D printer. “I see myself working on bigger projects in the future.”
His favorite aspect of his work is seeing the customer’s reaction to a completed build. “It’s a great feeling to be able to give someone the sound they envisioned or just simply surpassing their expectations, especially when other shops have failed them,” he said.
He advised others in the industry to never quit. “If you’re truly passionate about this, don’t ever give up.”
Meghan Watson, Vernon’s Signature Audio, Lubbock, Texas
At Vernon’s Signature Audio, Meghan Watson handles a variety of tasks, though she works primarily as a technician. “My job is to make sure we are functioning up to par, and when we fall short, [I help to] implement new organizational skills for task management or quality control to ensure it doesn’t happen again.” She’s been in the industry for two years.
“I love to attack my weaknesses,” she said, adding that she’s been working on her abilities as a salesperson and trying to overcome her urge to sell out of her own pocket. “I dug deep in my psyche and I asked myself why I felt this way when some customers feel indifferent about the cost.” Watson discovered helpful advice in the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. “It helps you to understand financial literacy. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it.”
She has also learned a lot from Kevin Hallinan’s classes at KnowledgeFest. His presentations helped her to see these flaws in herself and work through them with more confidence: “When he says to tell yourself every day, ‘I am worth’ a certain amount, I thought of a number I thought was ridiculous and I soon realized [I only saw it that way] because I [decided] it was. His techniques work. Utilizing those tools changed my life.”
Watson is determined to improve in all areas of her work. “This year, I want to focus on diagnostics. Being able to properly diagnose is such a valuable skill. It takes experience and exposure to unseen problems to be able to find issues with pinpoint accuracy.” She said she often recalls tips and tricks learned from other technicians, as well as through MECP, but added that she has much more to learn.
“I want to fine-tune these skills and educate customers in the process. I want to be able to do this better, no matter what the car’s issue is,” she said, adding that she wants the customer to feel comfortable and confident in her ability to help them solve the problem that led them to the store in the first place.
“My advice is to open your mind and don’t be discouraged by challenges. Take them in stride and use them as a lesson,” she said, extending a special invitation and encouraging women to get involved, adding, “Your detail orientated minds and sensitive ears are an absolute asset to this industry.”
When it comes to working with the team at VSA, Watson said she can always turn to someone else for help or to answer a question. “I am grateful and appreciative for the strong internal connection we all have to the common goal that is our mission and philosophy. This environment only makes the losses speed bumps along the way, and the wins even bigger.”
“Sometimes we criticize the new technicians, and then they don’t want to ask questions. I was that person before I started working at Five Star. Then, I met Dean Beyett, and he told me to ask questions [because] that’s how you learn. When younger technicians see that even experienced professionals are still learning, it encourages them to do the same.” – Fernando Lopez, Five Star Car Audio, Clearwater, Fla.
