Her Story
About Lauren
I've been in customer service my whole life, but sales is very different - I've been in car sales for about a year now, and it's been very educational. I sell Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and Kias here in Fort Myers. What I love most about my work is connecting and building relationships with people. Even though I'm talking to them a short time and helping them a short time, I still want to know everything about them that makes them want what we're talking about, and how I can cater best to them. Selling a car is already a difficult experience, so I ask myself: what am I going to do to make this experience the best for you and for me? I like to treat people like people. On the side, I'm also a dance teacher - I was a dancer my whole life, so I teach ages 2 to 5, ballet and tap. I break my day up into going to work, and that's my work, but then I also take the rest of my hours and manage the business of Lauren. I have to take care of myself, make sure my space is good, everything functional. When I'm teaching and filling up other people's cups, it is so important for me to fill out my own. I do a full-time job and a part-time job within 7 days a week, so keeping up with yourself is very important.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lauren
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to God, the Lord, Jesus. I have tried on my own to manage success and grow myself, and it does not work. Lauren is not very good at managing herself, so I gave it to God, and I've been successful ever since. Praise the Lord. I've learned that when God gives you a vision, He didn't give you the budget - He has the funds, you have the vision, so go build it.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received is that you're not late. There's not this train that you're going to miss when you're trying to find your profession. I'm in my twenties, and I'm just getting in the second quarter of my degree, but there's no train that we're going to miss. There's no time limit. Everyone's different, and it's very important to embrace your own journey and timeline.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
There is no ceiling. You can shoot for the moon and land among the sun, so aim high, think high. When God gives you a vision, He didn't give you the budget - He has the funds, you have the vision, so go build it. Don't limit yourself or think small.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Right now in Florida, we're going through seasonal changes, so I don't have a lot of customers coming in - all the snowbirds left. This month was super awful in terms of volume. But we're going to get back because we just paid out for some marketing, getting our name out there. Right now, it's just endurance - this is a test of endurance. You've got to keep running, you've got to keep going even when things are slow.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In sales, even though I am selling something and it's not customer service where they need me, I like to connect and build relationships. Even though I'm talking to them a short time and helping them a short time, I still want to know everything about them that makes them want what we're talking about, and how I can cater best to them. Selling a car is already disgusting - I hate it - but what am I going to do to make this experience the best for you and for me? I like to treat people like people. That's where my values lie - in genuine human connection and making difficult experiences better for everyone involved.
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