Ken Hearn’s Post

"The key to performance?" I was lucky enough to attend the 14th Monaco Historic Grand Prix last weekend with my eldest son. For someone of my vintage, it was great to see the cars that I remembered as a kid when I first started watching F1 and I had most of them as Scalextric models too (if anyone remembers car driving toys pre PlayStation/Xbox) However, the one thing that struck me over the weekend was how some of the cars that were truly uncompetitive in their heyday were incredibly competitive on the historic circuit. You have to believe that not a lot has changed with the cars themselves. Most of them (apart from safety tweaks) would be pretty much the same spec as they were back in the day. So what was the difference? Put quite simply, the power of the Team! The people driving, managing, maintaining, repairing, transporting and tweaking the cars are doing so in a way that is collaborative with clear targets in mind. I would also be so bold as to say they have tons of ambition and desire too and the Culture they have created within their work environments is extremely positive! To put it in an IT context, I worked in 2 different companies that were of a comparable size and had almost identical IT infrastructure. However in one of them the creation of a positive Culture was actively managed and encouraged. Leaders were encouraged to focus on Culture and this drove productivity upwards and customer satisfaction was in the high 90's. In the other one the creation of a positive Culture was totally ignored. Leaders were given impossible goals and no support, and and this drove productivity down and customer satisfaction was in the low 70's. But remember, the technical environments were almost identical - the only things different were the people running them. So take a leaf out of the historic racers book. Cultivate a positive culture and you'll start winning (maybe sooner than you think!) Given that Culture drives how work gets done, it's a no brainer really. Go team! #Motivation #WhatInspiresMe #GettingThingsDone #Teamwork

As we say at Ford, be curious! The auto industry has had many influencers and Ed Welburn's contribution is also a historic one. Being the first in anything is challenging Ed worked on over 500 car projects while at GM. Iconic models like the Corvette, Camaro, and even the president's car the Beast. Let's learn about this legendary car designer overcoming many career roadblocks to become GM and the industry's first and only Black Global Design executive.  Go Positively Speaking Up, Go Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, Go Always Deliver, Go Outpace the Competition, Go, Ford, Go Engineering, Go EV Revolution, Go Customer Experience, Go Design and Software Teams, Go UAW, Go Strategy Team, Go Auto, Go All Industries! #innovationliveshere #aheadofthecurve #diversityandinclusion #careabouteachother #opportunities #strategy #manufacturing #EVs #Blueovalcity #professionalism #deliver #innovationneversleeps #changingthegame #relentleespursuitofperfection #newageautomotivehistory

What I learned by accidentally giving away someone's Porsche... It's the Summer of 2009. I arrive in Baton Rouge, LA to attend LSU. I get a job as a valet driver for a hotel downtown. This role doesn't come with a ton of formal training...the key system, how to write a tag, where and when you park what cars where. That was about it. My co-workers were from all walks...some had been in the valet game for years, some more transitory, and the rest were young people trying to make a buck. I learned so many lessons from this 3 month stint but one experience sticks out. _____ We sometimes had an event at the hotel and offered short-term valet. This was an intense burst of activity and absolute windfall. Picture a line of 20+ cars down the block waiting to be parked while 2-4 of us ran as fast as we could. The cycle would repeat a few hours later after the event. It's my first event rush during Day 3 on the job. I'm doing everything I can to keep up with greeting people, driving carefully, and running back down the garage ramps as fast as I could to get back for the next one. Event lets out and people start flowing to the valet stand. I get a tag, grab keys, and run. It was always fun to "get lucky" with a luxury vehicle. In this case a Porsche Cayenne. I hop in and realize it was in Standard...you know with the small paddles behind the wheel...and I didn't know how to switch to Auto...or how to properly drive the thing in Standard. But time was wasting! I could run back and tell someone I couldn't drive the car(non-starter for my 18 y/o brain) or try to figure it out. Fast forward after what felt like a lifetime and I'm screaming around the corner...at 5 MPH in first gear. I get to the curb, likely looking flustered and only focused on not ruining the car. I hand over the keys, guy gets in, and drives away. I breathe a huge sigh of relief. Until I turn around and look at the valet stand... 𝙏𝙪𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣! 𝗣.𝗦. - This job is actually one of the main reasons I ended up in commercial real estate a decade later. More on that in another post. Fly ELIFIN® #sales #cre #realestate

Here's an example of an OEM not just sitting on their bums and wondering what they can do about the new challenges, but actually reinventing themselves in the eyes of the customer. Well done Ford New Zealand! #automotiveindustry #automotivesales #customerservice

Linear extension is a favorite pastime of all companies and their managers. And I understand them, because this is the basis of positioning: it is difficult to change consciousness after the buyer has made a decision for himself. This equally applies to the decision that linear extension is the only right way, when the brand is already at its best. When a company decides to release a new product and instead of creating a new name for the new product, the company decides to release it under an already known brand. But the main problem is that the more products are released under one brand, the more the brand and name itself are blurred, which the client no longer associates with a particular product. In fact, companies kill themselves by blurring their positioning in the minds of customers by releasing different products under one brand. For example, the Ford company, what is Ford to you?! Nothing, it's just a car and what sounds in your head when you hear Mercedes?! Volvo?! That's what automatically sounds in your head, this is positioning, which cannot be blurred by linear extension.

I was fortunate enough recently to be invited to the home of Mercedes Benz Racing by the wonderful coach Fiona Ross.   Not only was it much fun to race cars around the track, it was great to meet so many interesting people. But what did I learn?   💡 The stories we tell ourselves can prevent us from seeing the available opportunities. When we share our plans, goals and challenges, other people can help us see things our blindspots. It proved to me the value of having a coach/mentor who can help you see blindspots/opportunities as and when they arrive.   💡 I was reminded of the joy and importance of being present. As soon as I got in the driving seat I became totally focused on the job at hand - our ability to learn new skills, problem solve, and see opportunities, all increase when in a state of being present.   💡 You have to let go of outcomes. Like most of us, I am guilty from time to time of entering into a conversation/situation looking to achieve a specific outcome. A more authentic approach would be to enter the space with no preconceived ideas other than to be present and go with the flow, remembering that the best input you can give is to help someone else, not simply meet your own needs.   💡 Personal integrity should not be underestimated. It's about having an agreement with yourself about how you want to show up/live your life and then your actions/decisions/words determine whether you are living in integrity or not. The suggestion was that we should not make commitments without careful consideration. We are all guilty of agreeing to things which either we don't keep or are not in line with our core values.   💡 Committing to your goals. It was interesting to participate in a discussion about deciding whether you are ‘on the pitch or in the stands’. We concluded that you are either 100% committed or not at all – there are no half-measures.   It was a fun day and further proof that a change in environment can present hugely valuable insights.   #inspiration #grablife

Life has a way of throwing unexpected challenges our way. Recently, my trusty 2010 Jeep Liberty decided it was time for us to part ways. With two blown head gaskets and a repair bill higher than its worth, I had to make the tough decision to let it go. Timing wasn't ideal, but sometimes we don't get to choose when things happen. So, I embraced the situation, said goodbye to my old friend and welcomed "Maz" -- my new 2018 Jeep Compass. It's not red. It's actually "spitfire orange," and it's a stick shift (brings back high school/early college memories). This experience reinforced my new motto: "Breathe in, Breathe out, Move on." It's a reminder that we can't control everything that happens to us, but we can control how we respond. By staying calm, accepting the present and moving forward, we can navigate through any challenge life throws our way. Here's to embracing change and finding new beginnings! #marketingninja #changeisgood #embracethenow #breatheinbreatheoutmoveon #staycalm #newcar #wednesdaywisdom

💭 The future has always belonged to those who dared exit the conventional boundaries. 🌟 5 Star explores Boss Partners' strategies for conquering competitive markets and daring to venture into uncharted horizons. 💡 Discover how innovative campaigns like the Porsche giveaway set new standards for success and profitability: https://lnkd.in/eYi82ng3 Ready to break free from the competition? 🚀

🚗 Second Day at Audi North Austin 🚗 Today marked my second day on the job, and while I didn't close any sales, it was an incredibly valuable experience! I learned more about the vehicles, took them for test drives, and got to know my amazing co-workers better. The team environment here is fantastic—everyone genuinely wants to see you succeed. 🌟 I greeted my first customers today, and despite my initial hesitation, they gave positive feedback to my manager. Their kind words were a confidence boost I really needed. Key Takeaways: Honesty and Humility: Be upfront about what you know and don't know. People appreciate honesty and a willingness to learn. Team Support: A supportive team environment makes all the difference. Push Past Hesitation: Sometimes you need to move forward, even when you're unsure. You never know what you're capable of until you try. Thankful for the opportunity to grow and learn, and grateful to God for keeping me calm under pressure. 🙏 #NewBeginnings #AudiNorthAustin #LearningAndGrowing #SalesJourney #Grateful

#Feedback is the breakfast of #champions We have often heard this. While we get feedback regularly—lets #reflect back and see what has been the best feedback you have ever received and who gave it to you? Do share in #comments.