"The Be-Back-Bus Never Comes Back"

After my freshman year of college, I had the good fortune of selling Chrysler / Plymouth automobiles at a local dealership in Jackson.  Unbelievably, this lasted for the entire summer prior to me returning to Mississippi State in the fall for my sophomore year.  I landed this job as a courtesy more than anything else due to the fact that my parents had just a few months prior purchased my 1991 Plymouth Laser there.

The New Car Sales Manager would often cite the phrase that I titled this blog post with, all the while believing there were never any second chances to make a sale.

I felt his approach wasn't best, therefore when I spoke to shoppers, I tried to remember to educate them firstly and hope that at some point in the (near) future, they might trust me enough to buy.  Too, I was an automobile aficionado which gave me plenty to draw on whilst answering questions about both the vehicles we were looking at as well as those they were likely comparing these vehicles to.  This also made for times when I knew our products simply weren't up to snuff to the competition, therefore I chose to not shy away from the truth.

Better to make a long-term connection built on trust than a short-term connection built on showmanship.  That's how I chose to sell cars.

Remember too, I was only 19 at the time, (very) nondescript, and not dependent on my sales commissions to put bread on the table to feed my family.  Therefore, laid back was not hard for Rob to be.

What I did find to my surprise was that the Be-Back-Bus did sometimes return, and usually when it did, they were sold.  These were delightful occasions because it confirmed that my approach did have merit with some, therefore it was obvious to me that I'd earned enough of the customer's trust for them to return and ask for Rob!

Each facilitator of a Metro Jackson Samson Society group is not unlike what I described my young self to be whilst selling automobiles decades ago.  Hence, they're in it for you, when you're ready to take up the mantle and lean into community.  You might wonder why there are 5 metro Jackson Samson Society groups.  The answer to that is each facilitator is distinct in his persona as well as each facility / venue.  Plus, each of us have been markedly matured by the Samson Society ministry and subsequently in turn felt lead to approach our home churches about hosting a local group.

I've also had the privilege of seeing men who've long been out of the Samson community make a decision to return.  Talk about an endorsement!  Perhaps you're one of those men who needs to reconsider walking alone within this world of woe prior to choosing to return to Samson Society.