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To Innovate or Procrastinate ⎯ That is the Question

It may sound like heresy, but Henry Ford was a procrastinator.

“I need a faster horse.” That was the consumer mantra when the early automobile market was still elite. People didn’t realize that cars were the answer and would soon be ubiquitous. So, when Ford introduced the Model T in 1908, the first gas-powered automobile widely available in the U.S., he thought he had reached his goal of building the “universal car.” 

This achievement required Ford to adapt the moving assembly line to manufacture his vehicles – arguably his greatest innovation – and to focus on that, he froze the design of the Model T. The new process was wildly successful, increasing delivery from 10,000 cars in 1908 to over 900,000 in 1920.

Ford offered affordable products to a larger segment of the population than had ever been available before. The cars were easy to drive and of good quality. Ford was sitting on a gold mine, and he was satisfied with that. Critics, as well as many of his own salesmen, urged him to diversify his product line. But Ford thought the only improvements needed were those made to defects, not style. Emphasizing his well-known perspective that his cars should be “any color so long as it is black,” he said ⎯

“It is strange how, just as soon as an article becomes successful, somebody starts to think that it would be more successful if only it were different. There is a tendency to keep monkeying with styles and to spoil a good thing by changing it.”

Ford, one of the world’s greatest innovators, had stopped innovating.

At the peak of Ford’s market domination, General Motors began producing cars for distinct market segments. Ford’s fortunes began to slip. And by 1927 when Ford brought the Model A to market, its market share had fallen from about 65% to nearly 15%, and it was losing $20 on each car it produced. Ford’s failure was simply his refusal to continuously innovate.

Modern technology is replete with similar examples – Blockbuster’s death by Netflix, Circuit City’s fall to Best Buy, Compaq’s loss to HP, Monster.com’s tumble to LinkedIn, all the old department stores consumed by Amazon…to name but a few. Another procrastinating giant drops to an innovating competitor every day.

A disproportionate number of successful-in-the-moment companies doing all the right things – making penny-perfect payments, maintaining their status quo – want to live off the legacy of their current businesses. Those are The Procrastinators. Others are always innovating and looking for the next sizzle – the next big thing – The Innovators.

Which are you? Are you satisfied? Are you comfortable? Are you looking to upgrade? Are you leading the pack? Are you chasing the tail? Are you worried it’s too late that you missed your chance?

In 1927 when Ford introduced the Model A, it was offered in four colors (no black) with a long list of useful performance improvements over the Model T. It was produced for five years during the Great Depression, with sales of over $4.3 million (roughly $74 million in today’s dollars). The Model A, Henry Ford’s last-ditch response to innovation demands he was reluctant to make, saved the business and secured its place in automotive history.

It seems clear: If you don’t keep innovating, you’ll almost certainly be left behind. Many of the mighty have fallen and not lived to tell the tale. Be like Henry Ford. Don’t procrastinate, innovate.

 

Written By: Aaron Bickart

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https://offerlogix.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/To-Innovate-Or-Procrastinate.png 778 2048 Sara Willi http://offerlogix.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OfferLogix-logo-large.png Sara Willi2023-06-02 14:28:142024-12-10 09:35:52To Innovate or Procrastinate ⎯ That is the Question

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Jon Gregory

Business Development Director

Jon is the Business Development Director for OfferLogix, a position he took after working as the Director of Sales and Marketing/National Accounts for the previous nine years. In his previous role, Jon was responsible for driving revenue growth by identifying and cultivating new business opportunities and expanding brand presence. He has a strong track record in the automotive space, having spent 18 years working for one of the largest DMS (Dealer Management System) providers.

Jon’s expertise lies in building solid relationships with customers, vendors, and cross-functional teams in sales and marketing. He has experience leading teams, managing partnerships, and aligning business goals to achieve success. Jon is known for his collaborative approach and his ability to work effectively as a team player.

Outside of work, Jon values his faith, family, and friends, which he refers to as the “3 F’s.” He has a supportive wife named Jill and two accomplished daughters named Taylor and Payton. In his leisure time, Jon enjoys playing golf and pickleball, and he is a passionate soccer fan, particularly of the Austin FC team.

Aaron Bickart

Executive Vice President / General Manager

Aaron Bickart is a recognized senior leader, entrepreneur, and award-winning sales and marketing professional with over 30 years of success in the multibillion-dollar automotive industry. Most recently, Aaron took over as Executive Vice President and General Manager of OfferLogix, the pioneer in lease and loan payment advertising for car dealers, OEMs, and online portals. Over the last year, Aaron spearheaded GTM strategy, website development, SEM, social media, and new product development. During this time, Aaron simultaneously drove significant revenue and performance of Team Velocity, a high growth marketing and advertising company.

Throughout his progressive career, Aaron served in vital leadership roles, including Executive Vice President of Sales Operations and Senior Vice President of Sales (Team Velocity), Director of Sales and Dealer Operations, Automotive Business Consultant, and CRM Sales Specialist for The Reynolds and Reynolds Company. Aaron holds a significant track record of cultivating and maintaining productive partnerships with Cox Automotive, Data Aggravators, and Nexstar and helped assist in creating major OEM endorsements with Honda, General Motors, and FCA. Aaron is a well-known innovator, motivator, and changemaker reputed across the automotive industry by Tier 1/2/3, OEM, and Top 100 Dealer Group connections. He possesses an advanced technical mindset and history of devising and implementing cutting-edge solutions that drive business success during economic downturns and uncertain futures.

As a family man, health enthusiast, and foodie, Aaron enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids, working out, trying new restaurants, and living by his favorite saying, “live your dream.”

Paul Appelbaum

VP, Business Development

Paul is the VP of Business Development for OfferLogix. Prior to joining OfferLogix, Paul spent the previous 8 years working in Sales and Business Development for a Digital Marketing and Technology provider in the Automotive space where he managed large partnerships and agencies. Paul successfully maintained and grew the relationships over the years and was considered a key team player in the successful growth of the business. Paul is the consummate professional and often found talking and negotiating with C level partners and vendors. His professional experience and unparalleled commitment to his customers make him an invaluable asset to OfferLogix. Prior to the Automotive space Paul spent 15 years on Wall Street where he held Senior Managing Director positions in Equity Trading, Institutional Trading and Investment Banking. One of Paul’s fondest memories was organizing and Co-Chairing the annual Spring Wall Street Charity Fund golf tournament which raised in excess of over $1 million over a 15-year period.

Paul loves spending most of his spare time with his family, living a healthy lifestyle and golfing with good friends. Over the years Paul has been very active in charitable organizations and his local community.

Paul earned his BA in International Affairs with a concentration in Economics from The George Washington University.

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