DealerKnows
Where Do I Start?
  • Services
    • Training
    • Consulting
    • Creative Video
    • CRM Accountability
    • CRM Analysis
    • Professional Speaking
    • Bundles
  • Products
    • TaskTeacher
    • PriceMatrix
    • Dealer Forensics
  • Clients
    • Results
    • Reviews
  • About
    • Joe Webb
    • Bill Playford
    • DK Team
    • Ask the Experts
  • Blog
  • Videos
    • Funny Videos
    • Educational Videos
    • Dealership Videos
    • Conference Videos
    • Make Me A Star
  • Contact Us
  • Services
    • Training
    • Consulting
    • Creative Video
    • CRM Accountability
    • CRM Analysis
    • Professional Speaking
    • Bundles
  • Products
    • TaskTeacher
    • PriceMatrix
    • Dealer Forensics
  • Clients
    • Results
    • Reviews
  • About
    • Joe Webb
    • Bill Playford
    • DK Team
    • Ask the Experts
  • Blog
  • Videos
    • Funny Videos
    • Educational Videos
    • Dealership Videos
    • Conference Videos
    • Make Me A Star
  • Contact Us
Where Do I Start?

3 Important Questions That Need Answering for 2023

Share With:

Panic decisions in business - Bill Playford, DealerKnows Training & Consulting
3 Important Questions That Need Answering for 2023
3 Important Questions That Need Answering for 2023
  • The impact of panic decisions in business last year
  • The struggles of the light truck industry in the era of “just in time”
  • The dangers of knee-jerk reactions in business: How to avoid failure
  • Simplifying success: The three questions every business decision-maker should answer
  • Why success needs to be intentional: The consequences of preventable failure

Just like everyone else throughout this December, I’m going to try to summarize 2022. Actually, I’ll summarize the last three years. Businesses are flailing around like fish out of water. 

The impact of panic decisions in business last year

In particular, the light truck business (no one buys cars anymore) just can’t get a solid footing. It’s a business that counts on inventory but has been thrust into a world of “just in time,” one that requires a passionate workforce, nimble and cross-functional management, and a whole host of other factors that rarely exist outside of lean mass production. It’s a giant octagonal peg brutally beaten into a triangular hole. 

The struggles of the light truck industry in the era of “just in time”

As I’ve been helping dealerships across North America try to navigate the seismic upheaval of their business model, it’s abundantly clear that PANIC has taken on a corporal form, has a user name and password, and resides in a corner cubicle at a dealership near you. Every week it feels like someone is just one step away from going full Donner Party on their processes, personnel, or vendor partners. These knee-jerk(y) reactions come with very little planning, direction for staff, or how the decision will impact the future. It’s the work equivalent of seeing a spider and hurling anything nearby to kill it, whether it be a vase, a lamp, or a small toddler. 

The dangers of knee-jerk reactions in business: How to avoid failure

While many respected academics, Six Sigma Blackbelts, and business personalities have five, ten, or fifteen-plus steps to business nirvana, I’ve found that too many objectives lead to just checking a box and not a permanent result. So, based on what I’ve learned from said experts, while at the same time watching many people I know and respect fail miserably, I’ve distilled it down to just three questions that business decision-makers should be answering BEFORE pursuing a new direction.

Simplifying success: The three questions every business decision-maker should answer

1. Why Does It Matter Now?

2. How is Success Measured?

3. Who is Responsible for the Success of the New Initiative?

Why success needs to be intentional: The consequences of preventable failure

While I’ll take the time to explain these three questions more in future posts, it cannot be emphasized enough that if these questions can’t be answered in the beginning, you will continue to fail in embarrassing and absolutely preventable ways. Turnover across all levels will continue to be high. Wasted spending will continue to haunt quarterly meetings. Animosity and territorialism will continue to fester across departments. And it’s possible that acne, alopecia, and feline leukemia may result (that might be an exaggeration). In other words, success needs to be intentional.  

Be sure to follow Bill Playford on LinkedIn.

Bill Playford • December 19, 2022 •

2 Responses to “3 Important Questions That Need Answering for 2023”

Tell Me About It

Click here to cancel reply.

  • Best Of
  • Most Read
  • sales questions - DealerKnows4 Basic Categories of Sales Questions You Need to Know
    By Joe Webb
    October 24, 2022
  • Screen door on a submarine - Accountability , DealerKnowsAccountability and the Management Screen Door
    By Bill Playford
    May 1, 2022
  • improv comedyHow Improv Comedy Builds Companies
    By Joe Webb
    July 2, 2019
  • sales managers10 Ways Sales Managers Fail
    By Joe Webb
    March 3, 2017
  • sales managementThe Manager Who Doesn’t: A Guide to Better Sales Management
    By Joe Webb
    June 2, 2016
  • sacred cowCan you Kill a Sacred Cow?
    By Joe Webb
    January 12, 2016
  • The LeftoversWhat Happens When They Disappear?
    By Bill Playford
    August 29, 2015
  • DealerKnows CurmudgeonsFamous Last Words: The Way We Have Always Done It
    By Bill Playford
    July 26, 2014

Categories

  • All About BDCs
  • Ask the Expert
  • Comic Strips
  • Competitive Edge
  • DealerKnows Data
  • DealerKnows Press
  • DealerKnows Testimonials
  • Digital Marketing
  • Digital Marketing Conferences
  • Gotta’ Share
  • Internet Strategy
  • Lead Management and Process
  • Leadership and Sales Management
  • Quotables
  • Sales Training
  • Small Business Consulting
  • Social Media and Reputation Management
  • Technology
  • Vendor Relations
  • Websites and Online Search

Search Posts

Sign Up for DealerKnews

There are craptastic newsletters, then there is DealerKnews. Get all of our posts without having to set up a RSS feed. Start getting a monthly megadose of geniusness. Its like steroids for your brain.

Latest from the Blog

Joe Webb Participating in a Women in Automotive Conference Panelby Joe WebbRead blog post

Contact us

We really, really, really want to talk to you.

Get In Touch with Us

Sign Up for DealerKnews

There are craptastic newsletters, then there is DealerKnews. Get all of our posts without having to set up a RSS feed. Start getting a monthly megadose of geniusness. It’s like steroids for your brain.

© 2025 DealerKnows | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use