Sorry Grandma, you were wrong.

“Honey why would you want to sell cars? That is a mans job.” ~my Grandma about 1996.

Jeez Grandma, thanks for the encouraging speech. After graduating from college in 1996 with a degree in finance I was determined to find a good job. I searched, interviewed, sent resumes and searched some more. After weeks, it finally came down to the sheer agony that the best job I could find was to keep waiting tables at Applebees. Like seriously, maybe these companies did not see on my resume that I had graduated from college?? Duh, of course that made me qualified and I should probably be making 6 figures too. Well, clearly nobody cared about that, they wanted “experience”. I had to finally accept that I had two choices; wait tables or give the old family business a whirl and try my hand at selling cars. I literally told my Dad that this job was so beneath me, but I would do it. He said I had to work for someone else, which only added to my agony and fear. But, I would try it. At least until I found something else.

About a week after I started at the car lot, I sold my first car to a woman and her teenage son. I’m sure she must have really wanted that car, because I had to have seemed like THE biggest moron she had ever talked to. It was like a $500 car. I still knew nothing, I stuttered all over myself and must have looked like a deer in the headlights the majority of the time. But…she bought the car and I had my first sale under my belt. I was scared at this point. What had I gotten myself into? I hated this job, and did not want to do it. Grandma was right.

I talked to my boss about my issues. He told me to go find 1 vehicle that I liked and learn all about it. He said if I knew it pretty well, it would be easier to sell. I spent the next 24 hours cramming every single drop of info about the F150 that I could fit into my recent college student head. And to my surprise, before long a husband & wife came in asking about F150’s! This was my chance!! I was so excited to share with somebody how cool this truck was! After about 45 minutes of me showing them this truck, maybe just out of sheer proximity of my energy, they decided they wanted it. I wrote it up, my boss told me how much it was, I ran back and forth about a thousand times with offers, like a complete idiot, but finally…they said yes! We had a deal. I was exhausted and excited and shocked all at once. I scurried around and got that paperwork turned into the Business Office as fast as I could, for fear they would change their mind. But they did not. They left my office that day in their new truck, just as excited as I was. At that moment, I was officially a CAR SALESWOMAN!! I was hooked. And…the rest is history. (herstory)

Just for the record, Grandma was wrong. And, so was I. That job turned into a lifelong career for me, and 22 years later I am partners with my Dad in his store. In fact, just this year I bought more stock and am now officially the President of the company! It has been the most rewarding, challenging, exciting and life changing careers I could have ever chosen. I promise you it has not been easy. I have overcome so many obstacles and stigmas over the years. But I am proud of my success, my story and my career and wouldn’t change it for anything. Sorry Grandma, selling cars is not just for boys.