Who is Leon The Link

WHO IS LEON THE LINK

'The Link' is a nick name I got in 1997.

When you think of a link, you think of something that holds other things together.
I got my nick name connecting people to their vehicle of choice.
I have found in the car business that no matter how many cars I have in inventory,
I always seem to lack the one my customer is looking for.

In 1997, my father and I decided to change that with a Used Car Locating Program.
You told us what you wanted and we went out and found it for you.
Since then, the Internet has exploded and diminished the need for our service, or did it?

This place is called Link'sLanding because it is where you can find me no matter who I work for.
During my thirty years in the field I have worked for fourteen automobile dealers & over five thousand customers.
Each time I accepted a position in a dealership, I did so with no plans to leave it.
You know what they say?
Stuff Happens.

Just because I lose a position in a dealership, does not mean I have to lose you, my customer.
Of course that decision is ultimately up to you.
That is another reason I occupy this space here on the web.
If and when you need me, I'll be there.

Do you want to know how I became a car salesman?

In 1971 a little boy stood at the door of his parent’s row house in the projects waving goodbye to his father as he
backed his car out of the driveway leaving for work. As that car disappeared down the street the little boy stood
there in a gaze. As he daydreamed about growing up, he imagined him self becoming just like his dad.

His father by profession was a car salesman.

Long before that boy knew anything about cars; he made a decision to be a car salesman by making the decision
to be like his dad. There is a saying, “Every father is a role model whether he wants the job or not.” That there is
ever so true because even though dad did not have a very active role that little boy's childhood, that boy grew up
to be just like his father. That boy is me.

Thirteen years later I walked on to a showroom floor dressed the part and looking like a million bucs.
I looked like a trained professional and had all the tools to do the job except for two; knowledge & experience.
The good news is, back then I was too dumb to know that I didn't know. The year was 1984.

That is where my CAReer in sales began.

Most children grow up aspiring to be astronauts, actors, doctors, lawyers, and such but I wanted to be a car
salesman. I did not set out to be a salesman for love of the business as much as I wanted to be close to my
father. He was a workaholic at the time and I thought that if I could be half as good as he, I might be able to gain
his affections. By the time I figured out that his obsession with work had nothing to do with me it was too late.
You know what they say, "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.”

I don't mind telling you that I got a whole lot more than I bargained for during my stay in the business but that is
another story for different day. Never the less I dare not complain because I asked for it and have learned to love it
(most of the time). There is another saying, "Want what you have and you will have what you want."

It has been over twenty years since I stepped up to my first customer shaking in my shoes not knowing what to
say and for as long as I live I will never forget that day. As I reached out to shake that customer's hand, my throat
was dry my palms were wet and my heart was pounding hard enough to make a sub-woofer jealous. Mr. Herd
greeted me warmly as he handed me his business card. I glanced down at the card and his title, "National Sales
Trainer". “Just great!” I thought to myself. My first customer was a professional sales trainer for a major
corporation. At first I thought the situation could be no worse, but in the end it could have been no better. That
guy turned out to be really understanding and has since found status as one of my all-time favorites. That is quite
a compliment considering I have sold & delivered several thousand vehicles since he purchased his. I am no longer
that scared rookie however there is one part of me that will never change. I was willing to serve.

Mr. Herd could see that, therefore he overlooked my lack of experience which was all over my face like left over jelly
from my breakfast toast. He could have but he did not request another salesperson. Instead, he was patient and
educated me when I should have been the one educating him. I got more than a sale that day; I got a dose of
character. There is yet another saying, "We only keep what we have by giving it away."
That only makes sense to those who have experienced it.
There is yet even another saying,
“You can get everything you want if you are willing to help enough other people to get what they want.”
Mr. Herd got what he wanted that day and so did I.
I do my best to see to it that all of my deals finish win / win.
Even though that is the end of this story, it marks the beginning of a CAReer

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