August used to be that last month of summer vacation when I was a kid. We'd take the train to Coney Island or just ride our bikes down Ocean Parkway to Manhattan Beach or Brighton.

I had a nutty friend that would ride his bike across six lanes of traffic on the Belt Parkway to save 20 minutes. Even then, there were just some risks I was never willing to take! 

Every time the rest of the guys and me showed up at Nathan's he'd be smiling with that smug look on his face and a hot dog in his hand.

Nowadays August is quite different. 

Kids here go back to school earlier than we did in NYC.

The heat seems to make everything slow down. The muggy weather, rain, makes everyone around me seem sleepy!

The news on the economy is gloom and doom as well and dealers across the USA are telling me how far down their sales have dropped since 2007 and 2006! 

That daring, reckless buddy of my youth comes to mind as a metaphor. 

He did get there much faster; but at what cost and risk?

The rest of us made it there, twenty minutes later.

Here's my advice:

• Stop worrying about your 2008 sales numbers compared to better economic days of the past.
• You may have specific gripes with your suppliers but ultimately the solution to your current situations looks back at you in that mirror every day!
• It doesn't hurt to ask or seek advice from your peers.
• The change you need begins with you and waiting for a hurricane is as risky as riding your bike across the highway.
  
  Just peddle faster, taking short cuts can have unforeseen consequences!

If you need assistance call me!

877-575-3456

Mike Feldman