It is my belief that we find our best people during tough economic times. When things are good, the so-called experts are everywhere flashing phony smiles and offering cheap advice.
So as we continue to struggle with every conceivable element related to the economy nowadays, there is a select group of people who deserve a salute considering their tenacity.
In particular, Saturn of St. George general manager Travis Bostwick and Mesquite casino mogul Randy Black come to mind as individuals who are struggling but refusing to give up at the same time.
In Bostwick, we have a 40- year-old native of St. George whose voice can be heard all over radio stations when so many others in his profession are throwing in the towel. During the Easter weekend, I must have heard him pitching his dealership no less than 10 times a day.
He is believable even though rumors out of General Motors have been dire to say the least. Even with a high level of bad public relations messages, Bostwick has been pushing full-speed ahead, telling anyone who will listen that he’s going to be here and his product remains a good purchase, especially with incentive plans that have been offered during the past few weeks.
Consistency is king in business nowadays. Bostwick probably isn’t selling as many cars as he was a couple of years ago, but his delivery is proof positive that he’s not taking down his tent.
Proof is Bostwick’s radio commercials during a time when so many automobile executives have cut or eliminated their advertising budgets. If you’re driving anywhere near Southern Utah, the Travis Bostwick messages illustrating his continued belief in Saturn are both convincing and effective.
Like Bostwick, Randy Black possesses an interesting pitch that never seems to die even when the television or radio commercials have subsided. The owner of the Casablanca, Oasis and Virgin River hotel casinos in Mesquite, Black is a tireless worker who has participated in a long line of competitive ventures ranging from real estate to home building and even off-road racing.
“You either win or you die.” A.J. Foyt and Richard Petty could not have said it any better. And while it’s been many years since he got all he could out of an off-road car, his philosophy remains the same, only with a different set of logistical challenges.
In both Bostwick and Black, you will find a couple of characters who face frightening double-jumps every day. They may apply the brake simply to slow down and regroup, but neither one of them will ever be seen getting out of the car and throwing their helmet in disgust.
They don’t know how to quit even when so many others around them are doing just that. They smile when things are good and they keep the faith when things are not so good.
The key to both Bostwick and Black is that they don’t go to the extreme in either situation. They keep telling the world that their products are available while also presenting incentives encouraging their customers to believe in their pitches.
In the meantime, I’ll gladly adopt Bostwick, Black and Rudy Ruettiger as my motivators since they’re true examples of individuals who refuse to give up. Bostwick and Black have competed in at least one element — automobiles — and Ruettiger once sold Cadillacs before vaulting his career as a motivational speaker.
Ruettiger made the Notre Dame football team even though he stands only 5-foot, 6-inches tall. To say he has drive is an understatement. Whether they’re driving it or selling it, competitive and successful people usually have some sort of a tie to the automobile.
No, it’s not easy right now, that’s for sure. But I have more respect for those who refuse to give up than I do for those who hunker down.
And if you have a group of worn-out souls looking for a boost, just remember that Bostwick, Black and Ruettiger have been successful simply because they refuse to take their foot off the gas even when they are facing a massive double jump.
Mike Henle is a Las Vegas-based freelance writer and author of “Through the Darkness: One Man’s Fight to Overcome Epilepsy.” He can be contacted via email at mhenle@aol.com or through his website www.mikehenle.com.
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