Megan Bush Del Pizzo - VP of Tom Bush Dealership

Megan Bush Del Pizzo is the vice president of the Tom Bush Family of Dealerships in Jacksonville, Florida. A full-time working mother and a fourth-generation dealer, she has been instrumental to the company’s success, leveraging her expertise, passion, and knowledge to drive the business forward every day. We unpack her journey growing up in the family business, attending UF undergrad and achieving her MBA at UC Boulder, career post college and the decision leading up to working in the family business. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtU9TuQaN3c

Brian Harbin: My name is Brian Harbin. Welcome to today's episode of the Grit.org podcast! 

Today we have Megan DelPizzo. Megan, welcome to the studio!

Megan Bush: Thanks for having me!

Brian Harbin: Absolutely. So tell you guys a little bit about Megan. She's the vice president at Tom Busch Family of Dealerships selling Mazdas, Volkswagens, BMWs, and Minis. Fourth-generation car dealership, and she's a fourth-generation car dealer. Got her undergrad at University of Florida, an MBA from the University of Colorado in Boulder. She's been a 40 Under 40 honoree multiple times, heavily involved in giving back in the community between Habitat for Humanity, Junior League, lots of breast cancer charities, and she's married to Matt and has two daughters that are 8 and 5. 

So before we roll into our first question, Megan, I want to give a shout out to today's sponsor, escrow.com. With over $7 billion in protected transactions, escrow.com is the world's most secure online payment method. From automobiles to electronics to business sales and more, escrow.com makes it easy to confidently conduct business online. Visit escrow.com today to learn more about how you can achieve trust, security, and certainty with every transaction. 

So Megan, we like to start beginning with that, you know, just growing up in Jacksonville, just any early principles that were instilled by parents, grandparents, siblings, any habits or character qualities that you felt like you formed early on?

Megan Bush: So I grew up here in Jacksonville and very lucky to have my grandparents here as well as my parents, of course. And my dad was working in our family business when I was growing up, and one thing he said to me was that you can come join the family business, but you have to bring something to the table. So whatever that means to you. Go out into the world and bring something. You're not just going to be a dealer kid who just comes and works for me with nothing to add to the dealership. 

So I'm glad he did that because it really pushed me to go get a job outside of our family business and prove to myself that I can do it without the family business, but also that's really where I want to be.

Brian Harbin: I love that! I'm actually writing that down— bring something to the table— because it kind of puts it back on you to find out, hey, what am I good at? And then how can I add value to what's existing? And so what was your first job or interest growing up? I don't know if it was sports first and then started working or tell us about kind of that first interest.

Megan Bush: Yeah, I always played sports. I think it's just a great thing for kids to do, whether you want to be a professional athlete someday or you just want to learn about being a good teammate and get your body moving. I think it's wonderful. I've put both my girls in sports and they found different ones that they like, maybe not what I played growing up, but I love that. They're getting their bodies moving and learning about the team.

Brian Harbin: What was that first sport for you?

Megan Bush: I played soccer all growing up. I played basketball and other sports as well, but soccer was the one I really stuck with and I played in high school. And then in college, I played just with friends for fun.

Brian Harbin: And so what do you feel like you learned? What did soccer teach you about life and yourself?

Megan Bush: Yeah, keep trying. I like everything about grit. And I think that that's one thing that sports really teaches you is to keep digging in and trying even when you aren't successful. Keep going, get better. And just have some great teammates that have been lifelong friends from that experience as well.

Brian Harbin: And so were you more offense or defensive-minded?

Megan Bush: I played midfield, so a little bit of both, back and forth. I ran a lot.

Brian Harbin: A lot of running. Exactly. And so what about your first job? I guess whether it was high school, college, or— tell us about that.

Megan Bush: I had a lot of jobs in high school, which was great. I was a lifeguard at Adventure Landing and at a pool, a country club pool as well. But my first job after I graduated from college was in advertising sales. Which was great. I got to meet so many business owners around Jacksonville and really learn their motivations and what drives them and help them with their marketing problems. 

So I didn't just sell them advertising. There were restaurant owners I was helping consult with their menu and trying different items and fence companies that I'd help them look at their website. And it taught me a lot about business and taught me a lot about our local business economy in Jacksonville.

Brian Harbin: And because you went to undergrad at University of Florida, did you know that you wanted to do business or advertising or sales, or what was kind of your intent?

Megan Bush: Yeah, I didn't know what I wanted to do, so I talked to my dad a lot about it, and he was really pushing me towards business. Of course, he's like, you can do anything with a business degree. You can work in any kind of business, and they're just great principles to know in life. 

So I ended up studying marketing within the business school and just really loved that. I love the psychology portion of it. I loved, you know, thinking about what appeals to people and really, really enjoyed my time in University of Florida.

Brian Harbin: And yeah, so our oldest is turning 18, and, and we've been doing all the college applications and finally got them all in. And so, it's exciting for that chapter, I know. But, you know, looking back over your college experience, what do you feel like you learned about yourself or what you wanted to do?

Megan Bush: I think just being on my own, living in another city. You know, I lived in Jacksonville my whole life. I grew up in the same house. I lived there for my whole life. And just to get out and experience life, make mistakes on your own is such a great experience. To do it in college in like a safe place, try different majors, learn, meet new friends, kind of live in different places, figure out what you're looking at, for a roommate. All those things are important. And I met my husband in college too, which is real sweet.

Brian Harbin: Okay, University of Florida.

Megan Bush: Yeah.

Brian Harbin: And so, you've got a couple siblings as well. Tell us where you are and—

Megan Bush: Yeah, I have a little brother. He's 2 and a half years younger than me. And we've worked together now for 12 years at the dealership. He also went to the University of Florida, but he didn't go there until after I graduated. 

So, he started at University of Miami and transferred to Florida because he saw what a great experience I was having there. And he got into the business a little before I did, so he was very encouraging and said, "It's great. You need to, you need to come work here when you're ready." And so you go to the University of Florida.

Brian Harbin: Did you do advertising sales before you got your MBA?

Megan Bush: I did. Yeah, I sold radio and print advertising.

Brian Harbin: Okay. And then how did you figure out, okay, I need to get an MBA? Was that just something you knew you would eventually need for the business or….?

Megan Bush: Yeah, I felt like after I had that experience consulting with business owners, I was like, oh, there's some stuff from undergrad that I'd like to go back over and really advance my learning before I go work at the dealership. So, I thought that was the perfect opportunity. Let's go live somewhere else, go to Colorado, go experience that out over there, and then come back and work for my family.

Brian Harbin: Yeah. So, I mean, sure, Colorado was a big change, but just wanted something different and, you know, being living in the cold for a couple of years.

Megan Bush: Yeah, it was wonderful living in snow, figuring out what it's like to drive in the snow. And I got a lot of days on the ski slopes as well. So, that was lovely.

Brian Harbin: Yeah. And so then when you came back, is that when you started with the family business, or what happened right after getting your MBA?

Megan Bush: As soon as I graduated, I moved back and started working for the family. My first job was really working with our advertising because that was my background, and that was really— goes back to what my dad always said, is you need to bring something to the table. So I was able to help with our marketing efforts right away and contribute something while I was learning the business and what the car business is all about.

Brian Harbin: So the first time you were technically working with the business was after you were— you didn't really do much before?

Megan Bush: I did in high school. I filed or I answered phones when our receptionist was on vacation. I had a lot of small odd jobs around the stores, which really gave me a taste for what it was like. I could hear what was going on and kind of understand how the business works and meet people. We have a lot of really long-term employees that have been with us 20, 30 years. We have two very special people hitting their 40th anniversary next summer, and we're excited about that. But, you know, people that worked with my grandfather and people I got to meet when I was a teenager still working there. And I think that's really special and what makes our company culture so special.

Brian Harbin: It really is. You know, I'd mentioned before this that our family had a family business back in Atlanta in the pie business. And I'll never forget, I mean, I was probably only 6, 7 years old, but they would have these big company parties. And I remember they were just such a fun, unique thing to be a part of. 

And so, you know, to see that and then know these people that are basically these family-type members that are part of this you know, what you guys have built. And so what do you feel like? And I think when you came in for— so this was doing online sales with the cars, you're advertising the dealership in Jacksonville with your first job. What was that looking like?

Megan Bush: Yeah, I kind of just revamped our whole marketing efforts. So I developed budgets and bought all of our TV and radio advertising. I helped consult with Spectrum, our creative agency, on what the ads would look like. And really went from there. Tried to pick up different pieces of the business, learn a little bit about HR, learn a little bit about accounting while I was still doing something to contribute to the store. So I'm always learning. I keep, I'm keeping it going.

Brian Harbin: And in the car business, is most of it going to be TV and radio? Is that where most advertising is going to be?

Megan Bush: We use TV and radio to brand what makes us different as a car dealership. More and more of the family-owned dealerships are being bought by big publicly traded companies, and I think what we try to tell our story in that we're a family-owned business, we're local to Jacksonville, we care about this community, we care about how people get to and from work and to and from school, and we're there for you if your car has an issue or you need service. So we're not a big faceless corporation. We're your neighbors and your friends, and we're here to take care of you.

Brian Harbin: And I'm sure too, over the last, you know, 10 to 15 years, a lot of the online marketing looks a lot different as well. I mean, what have you kind of figured out about that space?

Megan Bush: 

Oh, it's amazing! I mean, all of our cars, of course, are listed online and people, you know, we ask, how did you hear about us? Well, the average person is shopping on 9 different websites before they even buy a car. So we need to make sure that we're in all of those places and we're speaking to them and then using our TV and radio to tell them what makes our car unique and different from everybody else that's listed online.

Brian Harbin: And I guess really is part of the idea from the advertising just to get them at the door, and then that's when your in-person, you know, sales rep would kind of take over and kind of establish that relationship.

Megan Bush: Yeah, I think the relationship is so important. It's a really big purchase for people. It's probably the second largest purchase they'll ever make after a home. And I think you need someone that you trust to help guide you through that process.

Brian Harbin: And what would you say, too, is kind of the mentality you want those salespeople to have when somebody walks in the door in terms of you know, to be memorable? Because like you said, there's 9 different, you know, competitors potentially looking for the same customer. I mean, what do you feel like kind of makes you guys different in that way, or what do you feel like you try and impress upon the salespeople to communicate?

Megan Bush: We're really a low-pressure dealership. Like, we're not, you have to buy this car today, you need to buy it or you can't get this deal. We really just see ourselves as guides in your journey to find the right car. So I think people like that. They don't want to be pressured on making a big decision like that, and we need someone who's an expert. Tell me everything I need to know about this car before I buy it. 

And I feel like our people really care. They care about what you're driving and your experience. And that really shows when you come to buy a car from us. We love hosting events at the dealership because people come in and they see what a nice atmosphere it is, what a nice environment we have. And they're like, oh, this is a safe place I can buy a car where I'm going to feel comfortable and I'm not going to feel pressured. Even if they're not in the market for a car on the day of the event, the memory of being there and what our experience and our culture is all about really helps drive people back when it is time to make the purchase.

Brian Harbin: Absolutely. And I think that's important just because once you buy the car, you're going to be going back to the dealership a lot of times for maintenance and questions. You want to feel like it's a, you know, it's not really, definitely not like a one-time purchase, right? You're going to be going back and this is, you know, you guys help them on their car journey now. And you guys have really specialized in kind of the core four of imports, right? So Mazda, Volkswagen, BMW, Mini. How do you— is it always been that way, you know, going back 4 generations, or how do you feel like you guys made that determination to go with those 4?

Megan Bush: Yeah, my great-grandfather sold cars before there were dealerships. He was selling cars door to door. We always say that he was the ultimate salesperson in our family. To be able to do that is incredible. And he opened a store in New Mexico. 

So when my grandfather got out of World War II, my great-grandfather helped him set up a business in the same town in New Mexico, and they were competing businesses which was great. They had domestic brands primarily, but the domestic brands really didn't treat their dealers like partners. They weren't, you know, these big giant corporations can really crush a small local dealership and they would do it again and again and just really didn't treat their dealer partners the same way as what the imports had to back in the old days. The imports were new to the U.S., so they knew they had to have a really good partnership with their dealers for them to be able to sell the vehicles. 

So my grandfather decided after my dad graduated from high school that he wanted a Volkswagen store and he wanted it in the South. And Volkswagen had an opportunity in Jacksonville. So he got the point here in 1970. He opened the store and we've had that store ever since. That's our corporate office is where our Volkswagen store is on Atlantic Boulevard.

Brian Harbin: Yes, that's 45 years or 55 years? 

Megan Bush: 55 years. 

Brian Harbin: Wow! That's incredible!

Megan Bush: Yeah.

Brian Harbin: And what would you say to— I know we talked a little bit about, you know, core values with the family business? Anything that you feel like has been really impressed upon, you know, not just the family but also all the employees? What do you feel like is trying, you know, is communicated through kind of y'all's core values?

Megan Bush: We really talk a lot about honesty and like the levels of honesty. So it's not just speaking the truth all the time, it's doing what you say you're gonna do. We give an example of, you know, if we have a lot valet who maybe accidentally hits a car but nobody sees it, does he put the car back or does he come and tell someone, "Hey, I made a mistake." And we try to create a culture of psychological safety where someone's able to come and say, "Hey, I made a mistake. I bumped this car." No big deal. You're not going to lose your job over this. Accidents happen to everybody. But we need to know about those things. And that kind of honesty is really, really important to us. 

So we talk about honesty in our dealings with each other, but also our customers as well. We need to be a place that you can trust when you come to buy a car. And we really do have that reputation. It's something that we work really, really hard on.

Brian Harbin: What would you say, looking back, has been your favorite story that kind of encapsulates why you do what you do and why you're passionate about, you know, y'all's business and, and what you provide, the service you provide to customers?

Megan Bush: I just really think about the old days of my grandfather starting this business and just being so resilient and scrappy. And, you know, times were not— times were pretty tough when he first started the store. And, you know, they tell stories about my grandfather running calculator tape back through the machine on the reverse side so that he could save money and not have to be buying printer tape all the time. 

And he was— he would just do everything he could to be successful. And I feel like he worked so hard, so that my brother and I are now in this business. And it just has a great reputation. And just, we have taken care of so many families in Jacksonville that it's such a point of pride for my brother and I to continue that legacy. It's just amazing the hard work that he put in so that we could continue what he did.

Brian Harbin: Yeah, I love that! And so you worked in the advertising side and then tell us about kind of your journey through the family business. So what did you do after the advertising?

Megan Bush: The dealership is so interesting because it's like a lot of mini businesses within one business. You've got service and parts, you have sales, new car sales, used car sales. We have a detail department, we have a body shop. So no matter where a car is in its life cycle, we're taking care of it in one way or another. So there's just a lot of different pieces, moving pieces at a dealership. 

So I just try to pick up different things as I go on. So something that's interesting to me, or I see a business problem, I look at the problem and say, can I help come up with a solution for this? Let me put the right people together to solve it. And that really teaches you the business as you go through. It's so interesting.

Brian Harbin: And so with, you know, you're basically kind of, like you said, overseeing a lot of different aspects, a lot of different businesses. So are there certain metrics that you look at to see what you're going to focus on, like the numbers, or is it more so checking in with certain people to kind of get a feel from them? Is it, you know, or a combination of both, would you say?

Megan Bush: I definitely say a little bit of both. The numbers really point you, or the KPIs point you in the direction that you need to go. But they aren't the, they aren't the problem. The problem is something underlying that leads to those numbers. So I think it's our business is all about relationships and people and getting people together and talking. We have 360 employees, so it takes a lot of coordination to get that many people working working in the same direction at the same time.

Brian Harbin: And what would you say you have learned about working with people in terms of any communication skills that you feel like are super important with what you do, whether it's empathy and understanding where they're coming from or problem solving, or what do you feel like on the people side you've learned and developed over the years?

Megan Bush: Yeah, I think empathy is such an important piece of that. You never know what someone's coming to work with that day. Maybe they had a rough morning at home, or maybe they're having the best day of their lives. I think it's really important to listen and really understand where someone is coming from people want to be heard. And I feel like one of the most important pieces of our entire business is who we hire. What kind of people are we hiring into our business? Like your business talks about resilience, and we're looking for people that really are going to stick through it and work hard every day.

Brian Harbin: And what would you say, I guess, would be— because I, you know, I'm sure so much has changed over the last 20 years with, you know, like you said, car dealerships. I don't feel like we're as all-inclusive as they are now. Like you said, there's all these different aspects to the I guess, what are some of the challenges that, you know, car businesses face these days? Is it just the sheer amount of options that people have? Is it trying to, you know, figure out which brand is the best fit for them? Or what do you feel like are some of the challenges that, you know, the car dealership in general faces?

Megan Bush: What we're seeing a lot now is cars last a whole lot longer than they used to. The average car on the road now is 12 years old, which is the longest the American fleet has ever been on the road. But that's great. That's a testament to how well we make cars nowadays. So while we're always very focused on selling more cars to people. Servicing those cars afterwards has been just a huge shift in our industry. A lot of business is done by independent third parties, you know, a Midas or a Meineke doing oil changes for people, but they're not— they're more— they have like a broad expertise. They can work on any car, but they don't have a very deep expertise on any individual vehicle. 

And that's why our factory-trained technicians that use factory parts are really the best option for people to service their vehicle. Because we know everything about that car. We're going to make sure that it's fixed right, that we understand what has gone wrong with it or what could go wrong with it. And we're maintaining it the way that it should be.

Brian Harbin: Which is interesting too, because if so much of it is service, it's like, you know, it's not just the sales, which is really, I guess, like a one-time, you know, payment from a client unless they're getting it leased over a period of time. But the service aspect, now you're pretty much building you know, continual income stream with through service. So I'm sure that adds another element to the revenue opportunities as well.

Megan Bush: Absolutely. One thing we always say is sales sells the first car, but service sells the second. So if you have a bad service experience, you're probably not going to buy another car from those people. But if you have an excellent service experience, then you probably will. And so that's another opportunity for us. Maybe we didn't sell you the car, but we can service it for you. And when you experience how great our service department then you're going to want to buy a car from us.

Brian Harbin: And what would you say is kind of the vision for which you guys are looking to move towards, whether it's continuing to expand or help the ones that you're working with grow? I know you guys mentioned you're part of another organization that partners with other car dealerships, and you kind of work together with each other in tandem, which is fantastic. I didn't even know organizations like that existed. So where do you feel like the focus is moving forward for you?

Megan Bush: My brother and I really talked a lot about growth and what we want to see in growth. And we feel like what's so special about our business is that it's all based here in Jacksonville and we want to grow, but really only in this market. We've had lots of opportunities to purchase stores in other places, but what makes our place so special is that Brian and I know everybody's name. We know, you know, how long they've worked for us. We have this great culture that would be really tough to replicate if we had stores in other places. 

So we're looking for opportunities in this market to grow. And the auto business is just such a fantastic business to be in. I think anytime there is an opportunity, stores get bought up very, very quickly. Lots of people want to, want to be in our business. So, you know, we're always looking at opportunities and seeing how we can do it, but we want to be very careful about how we do it.

Brian Harbin: Yeah, strategic. Because again, once you start expanding other places, well, it's like more travel, more training, more hiring, and versus growing what you have here. And I know you've got two girls. What's kind of your mentality on and, you know, encouraging them but also wanting them to potentially work in the family business? Or is your mentality like, hey, just go out and do whatever you want to do? Or, you know, because I can relate to that in terms of having started something. You want the kids to carry it on, but you want them to want it for themselves. So what's kind of your mentality with that with your girls? I know they're, they're still young yet at 5 and 9, but…. 

Megan Bush: Yeah, they're real sweet. Actually, my youngest came to the dealership with me— or my oldest came to the dealership with me for her whole first year of life. We had a nanny come to the store, and she had a nursery right next to my office, so could be with her all the time. 

And my dad would just love coming to work when she was there because he got to see his granddaughter. And my crazy Uncle Brian would come in and play with her as well. So she got a taste of it from a really, really early age. We always joke that she learned how to walk in our showroom. My second daughter was born right before COVID. So she made it a week in our store before COVID started. And I was like, this is not the safest place for my daughter to be for this year. So we did have to transition her to, to our house instead of at the dealership. 

But I think just I would like to have a very similar philosophy to what my dad had of like, if you can, you are welcome to come in the business and we would love to have you in it, but you have to bring something to the table and you got to want it. I'm not going to push anybody to do something they don't want to do because you have to have that drive and passion for it. It's a fun business, but it's a tough business and it requires a lot of hours and a lot of work. 

And if that's something they want to do, it would just be an absolute joy for me to have my daughters working for me. I always joke, maybe you'll be selling flying cars. I don't know.

Brian Harbin: Exactly. And so I was going to ask, was that something that— did you always kind of know that you were going always going to work in the family business, or was there a point in time you were like, I definitely didn't want to do it, and then what changed your mind, or what did that look like for you?

Megan Bush: Oh, I always knew I wanted to work there, but I really wanted to follow in my dad's footsteps. He's my hero. So he didn't want to work for his dad right out of college either. He went and had his own career and came to work for his dad in his late 30s after he'd done a bunch of other things. And that seemed to be a really good blueprint to follow of like, go, go do your own thing and prove that you can do it yourself and then come here when you're ready. And it was a great solution for me.

Brian Harbin: And you mentioned your dad being your hero. Anything specific, or, you know, obviously you've learned a ton from your dad over the years, but what do you feel like, you know, would classify him as a hero for you?

Megan Bush: He's just… he's brilliant. He's so, so smart, and he is very thoughtful, and he doesn't say a lot, but when he says it… it's very, very impactful. As an extrovert and someone who loves to talk, I've learned a lot about just staying quiet and listening and then being very careful about how you choose your birds.

Brian Harbin: Interesting! And, and he's still running? How long has he run the business now?

Megan Bush: He's been— he started the store in 1987, so he's coming up on….

Brian Harbin: So ever since?

Megan Bush: Yeah, yeah, actually no, 1986, because next year is his 40th anniversary.

Brian Harbin: And you said you guys have a few employees that have been there the entire time with him as well?

Megan Bush: Yeah, it's incredible. My dad and our longtime COO Both started within a month of each other. This summer will be their anniversary. And employees all the time tell me stories about what it was like to work with my grandfather and stories about my dad in the early days. And it's very, very special to hear those kind of stories. And that's really what helps keep a culture going, is having these long-term employees that know what it was like back then and carry on the stories and the lessons that we've learned. It's really beautiful.

Brian Harbin: And I know you mentioned Matt is in construction. He's helped build a couple of the dealerships for you guys. And having two daughters, I guess what we always love asking parenting advice to— so having two girls, what's kind of y'all's mentality, or what are some core principles you're trying to instill in them?

Megan Bush: I think resilience is one of those things that we talk a lot about. Like, they're little, so they still have breakdowns sometimes, and, you know, we try to coach them through it of like, it's okay to have big feelings. Have those big feelings. Now let's move on. How are we going to solve the problem? Let's go fix it. It's okay to have that instant burst of emotion, but let's move through it. We really just teach them that they go to an IB World School, which I think has been a really interesting experience in that people are very different. Every person is different from another person, and we love and accept people in the way that they are and the way that they come to you. 

And you're not the only person on this planet. We have a very us-centric view of the world, but there's so many other countries and people living all over the place. And understanding that it's not all about you, there's a planet with a lot of other folks on it, I think has been a really cool lesson for them as we've been going through the school together and doing activities with them.

Brian Harbin: And, you know, having been their mom and being, you know, obviously a vice president and there's a whole business side of you as well. How do you want them to see you in that aspect?

Megan Bush: They always say, "Mom's the boss." And I'm like, "Well, we actually have a team of people together. So, every team needs some leaders and I get to be one of those." But, you know, I don't do it by myself and we're all a group working together. So, they know a lot of our employees too. They come up to the dealership and say hi to people and, you know, that they know that this is all of our dealership family and we all work together.

Brian Harbin: And I was curious too, when you guys bring people into the company, like, what's key advice that you give new people coming into the car business that want to, you know, make it their career? Like, what's advice you typically give them?

Megan Bush: I think drive, because especially in sales, you're not going to make every sale, and you got to keep going even when you don't want to make another phone call to another customer or send another email. Mail. That drive, that persistence is really what makes you successful in our business. And we look for people with that, that drive or that passion for automotive. And we feel like we have a great team of those, of those folks. We talk a lot about having a very high warmth, high empathy culture, but also a high expectation culture. 

So people want to be around winners. So we want to develop teams that are a bunch of winners. But also, like, you can come to work if you've had a bad day, and it's okay if this month you didn't sell as many cars as you wanted to. We're still for you and we'll get you back on track and we'll keep going. So I think we try to create a culture of balance of both high empathy and high expectations.

Brian Harbin: And I'm always curious, too, with other executives, you know, obviously I'm sure a lot of your day-to-day in the business is stressful. You know, being a parent is stressful. How do you personally build in your own recovery mentally, physically, emotionally? How do you feel like you stay balanced as a person, you know, outside of work and family? What are things that kind of help keep you grounded? What do you think?

Megan Bush: I try to work out in the mornings before anyone gets up, so I have like a little bit of my time and do a little bit of meditation and yoga and do a little bit of workout before anyone in my house has even opened their eyes. 

And that way I can get myself centered and ready for the day. I get my workout out of the way, and I'm in a better space mentally to take care of everybody. I feel like a lot of my life is taking care of people, so I'm taking care of my kids and get them off to school, taking care of my husband, getting him off to work, work, going to work, and then solving problems there. It's really important that I have that time to myself in the morning before anybody else can interrupt that.

Brian Harbin: And how do you feel like you continue to push yourself, whether it's, you know, being up on industry articles, like just reading good, you know, business or personal books, you know, any type of learning that you do to, you know, stay on top and be your best every day?

Megan Bush: Yeah, I'm always trying to read things and learn new things. I recently started taking a class through UNF about AI because I know that it's going to impact everyone's business, but my business a lot in the future. And I just want to make sure that I understand as we're moving into the future how that's going to impact me. My brother and I recently joined a group through the National Auto Dealers Association called a 20 Group, and they pick 20 dealers from across the country and put us all together 3 times a year, and we run through financial statements line by line. And you can learn from other dealers, hear about how they're handling different struggles and different things that are happening, and we're all working with the same manufacturer and the same cars. 

So we understand each other's business and each other's struggles. And we're far enough away that we're not really competitors. So it's really fun to share secrets and ideas with those folks and learn how different people are doing it. Every car dealership is different. And figuring out how different people solve problems is really eye-opening and beautiful.

Brian Harbin: Absolutely. And you see, you know, just ideas for creativity and trying new things and figuring out what works for other people. And so the last question I want to ask you, we like to ask all of our guests about the GRIT Creed, which are 12 principles that we try and bake into to our camps and the things that we do to build grit in the next generation. So, of those 12 principles, which one do you think stood out the most to you and why?

Megan Bush: I really liked, "I will follow through with what I say, what I will do." I think that's like what we were talking about earlier of the levels of honesty. So, doing what you say you're going to do is just a really important piece of character of, "Are you going to do it? Can I expect that the things that you say that you're going to do actually get done?" And that's what we look for in employees. And that's what I'm trying to build in with my children.

Brian Harbin: I love that! And so for our listeners, anything else you want them to know about, you know, how to get in touch with you or just more about what you guys do? I know y'all do a lot of giving back in the community as well, but I guess any closing thoughts?

Megan Bush: No, just we would love to sell a car or service your car if you have a need. And, you know, we're your neighbors, so we're here to take care of any of your transportation related questions. So if you have questions about electric vehicles or new autonomous driving features, like, we want to be a resource to folks, and I'm happy to help with anything someone would need.

Brian Harbin: And you guys are at Regency and then also Orange Park?

Megan Bush: Yep, and online all the time.

Brian Harbin: Well, fantastic! Well, Megan, really appreciate you being on and learning about the car industry today. 

And that's a wrap for today's episode. Appreciate you guys tuning in! 

We'll see you next time! Thanks!

Megan Bush: Thank you!