September 18, 2022

Linda Cohen, the founder of Linda Cohen Consulting, is a professional keynote speaker known as the Kindness Catalyst. A consultant since 2012, Linda has a blog on her website (https://lindacohenconsulting.com). She has written two books; 1,000 Mitzvahs in 2011 and The Economy of Kindness in 2021.

Kindness is a soft skill. Since kindness can be hard to teach, measure or master, many people dismiss it as a nonessential nicety that won’t make or break your business. They value other capitalist-oriented skills more, such as ambition, grit, and skill.

Employees feel better about their employment when they know their employer cares. Employee benefits can generate this goodwill, but only if employees know and understand their benefits. In a company where employee benefits are generous and wide-ranging, benefits education is the key to keeping a satisfied employee.

Richard J. Bachrodt, second-generation family leader of Rockford’s Lou Bachrodt Auto Mall, died peacefully on September 2 after a long illness. He was surrounded by his family, who will continue his dedication to family, friendships, community, and the family business.

Like many dealerships across Illinois, Lou Bachrodt Auto Mall in Rockford is experiencing an unusual time in the auto business. Pandemic-related staffing shortages and inventory gaps have presented challenges for everyone. But this 70-year-old, third-generation company — which includes Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, VW, and BMW dealerships — has pivoted its efforts toward two things it can control: supporting the greater community and retaining employees.

With the transition to new, tougher-to-meet, and confusing tax credits for electric vehicles (EV), it can be a head-scratcher waiting for more guidance from automakers and the federal government. President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law August 16, 2022, triggering a shift from the old $7,500 EV tax credit to a new, more complicated one designed to incentivize domestic EV production, reduce reliance on foreign supply chains, and prevent wealthy buyers from getting a discount.

Written OEM communications — such as monthly or quarterly performance notices that assert or reveal alleged deficiencies, or other OEM communications that set forth any particular concern of the OEM or allege problems of the dealership under its sales and service (franchise) agreement (such as performance, facility or brand image compliance, vehicle ordering processes, capitalization) — should not be “filed” in the “circular bin.”

In today’s business nomenclature, it is so common that we refer to ourselves or someone as a process-oriented person. I think it’s kind of assumed that we all know what that means. It’s a person who operates with a plan. A set of steps to success. They are viewed as structured, well thought out and with tremendous resolve and follow through.

Vince Lombardi was arguably the greatest football coach of all time. Known for his tireless work ethic and exacting standards, he led the Green Bay Packers to five championships in nine seasons as head coach, and he did it in a very different environment from professional sports today. His Packers won the first two Super Bowls, and the trophy given to every subsequent Super Bowl winner afterward bears his name. In 15 seasons as an NFL assistant and head coach, Lombardi’s teams never had a losing season — ever. Leadership like this should be appreciated, regardless of which team’s colors you wear.

Although the state legislature is not in session, there is still plenty going on with our state association.

On August 30, IADA and our NADA Director, Jamie Auffenberg Jr., Auffenberg Auto Group, O’Fallon, hosted an inaugural President’s Club Members’ Appreciation Day and National Dealer Issues Update.