"Just thirty more seconds! You can do anything for thirty seconds!" Shouted Rick Ivone, fitness expert/drill sergeant at the opening of the 3rd Annual Automotive Boot Camp in Las Vegas in May, as he ran through a myriad of exercise routines.  At this point, I was beginning to realize that this exercise program was going to get serious.  And, it did get serious.  90 heart-thumping minutes later, 75 normally well-dressed and coiffed, but now thoroughly sweaty and smelly people, emerged from the ballroom of the Monte Carlo Hotel with orders to shower and return in 20 minutes for a healthy breakfast.  Somehow, we all did, even us ladies. 

That adrenaline session put everyone in a great mood to learn.  At breakfast, those who hadn’t completed the exercise regimen were visibly envious of the esprit de corps among those who had.  Promises were made that people would join the group the following day. 

Will Cross, the diabetic-turned-mountain-climber, had addressed the crowd the night before about his three attempts to climb to the crest of Mr. Everest.  Of course, he did ultimately reach the top, but it took a great deal of planning and training.  He talked about his objectives, his training, mistakes he made and course corrections he took.  It was very inspiring.  Somehow, that combination of his reflection on his personal resolve with the physical exercise created a powerful environment for learning. 

Over the next two and a half days, Brian Pasch and his team assaulted the audience with a wide variety of educational sessions.  You could choose to learn about mobile technology from Glen Garvin, inventory merchandising from George Nenni, CRM template creation techniques from Marc McGurren, the importance of location-based mobile apps from Eric Miltsch, fundamental sales management techniques from Jim Ziegler…and on and on.  Every component of digital marketing was inspected, researched, and discussed.  From a learning standpoint, there was something for everyone, from basic to sophisticated.  And, by the end of the event, my head hurt.  So many intelligent people sharing valuable insights.

Carrie Hemphill, the organizer of the event, and managing partner of First Class Educators, made sure that the attendees were well rested, fed and watered in between the intense learning sessions.  It made for a very nice combination of networking and learning – probably the best networking set-up for dealers that I’ve ever seen.  As a sponsor, we were pleased to see the conversations blossoming between dealers.  When that type of learning and sharing occurs, regardless of what transpires in the seminars, you realize that the event is a success. 

As exhausted as I was at the end of this physical and mental Boot Camp, I realized that I wanted more.  I definitely learned a lot from this event about the industry and myself.  Brian, sign me up for the next Boot Camp!  

-Jen Sanford