...I would like to share a very special gift I received from my family at Mid America Motorworks.  This video, titled 35 & 60, covers so many special personal and business memories over the past 35 years of my involvement in the Corvette hobby, as well as showing my first car!

Enjoy the sights and music.

        

Once again, I'm on the subject of books.  My long time friend Shep Hyken recently published another book on customer focus, one of my favorite subjects.  His new book is titled: The Cult of the Customer, and I highly recommend reading it.

Years ago while in Dallas attending a leadership development program, I had the good fortune of meeting and flying home with Shep.  Since that fortuitous meeting, we have used his services repeatedly to assist in training the Mid America Motorworks Team on customer centered services.

Over the last ten plus years, Shep has assisted Mid America Motorworks in developing real world, big picture concepts of Creating Moments of Magic for our customers.  Even working on the concept of how to turn that Moment of Misery into that Moment of Magic.

Most likely, we have all had those Moments of Misery happen to us.  Reflect back to those awful times you have experienced when you had to return a product.  Think of the times you have been disappointed, and how you felt.  Think of the times that the return was really turned into a Moment of Magic.  Yeah, that's what Shep has helped our team understand.

I can highly recommend Shep's services and his ability to teach, entertain and take your company and company views of Customer Services to a new and higher level - How to Create those Moments of Magic.

You might also get a small view into our company on page 99 and 100!

        

A person's first Corvette is one of those GIGANTIC moments in many of our lives that is never forgotten. I remember the first sight of it; the first time I sat in it and drove it.  I remember many other firsts in the Marina Blue 1967 Convertible. It was my first Corvette; it was the motivator to start the Mid America Corvette Corvette Club here in Effingham.  My first NCCC event Corvette.  The Corvette that I owned when I joined NCRS in 1975. 

Without owning this Corvette, I would never have started Mid America Motorworks!  That car was my first shipping and receiving dock! 

Over the 35 years I have operated Mid America Motorworks and as I have bought, sold and collected over 300 Corvettes in my lifetime, I get one common question.  What year is your favorite Corvette?  Well, check out the picture below.  My First, My Favorite and the "prettiest" Corvette ever made!

        

Several years ago, Mid America Motorworks had hired an outside "resource' to put on a one day presentation about shows and displays. Our booking of the "resource" was done in response to a direct mail presentation and subsequent emails and phone conversations.

As the day unfolded, we got more than we bargained for in the presentation, and so did our speaker, Barry Siskind. Barry also got the all too common notice that his flight schedule had been altered by the airline and that he would not be able to catch an early evening flight back home to Ontario. "Ontario," I said. "Well, we just happen to be flying out tonight from Effingham to Mt. Tremblant, Canada for Michael and Blake to race formula cars. Can we take you home?" Silly question! He quickly replied, "Yes!"

On our way to Canada, our conversation ranged from the activities of the day, Mid America Motorworks business, Corvettes and finally, Barry's next project; a new book he was writing - a book on selling. As we chatted on the book’s content, Barry stated that maybe he would use part of my story in the book. "That would be cool," was my response.

Shortly thereafter we landed in Toronto, dropped Barry off, and flew on to Mt. Tremblant. Several years went by and one day I got a package in the mail with a book in it. Interesting. I did not order this book. What is it? A book with the title: Selling From the Inside Out, written by Barry Siskind.

Along with the book was a very kind letter reminding me of the trip to Toronto and his comments about his new book. Barry suggested that I check out pages 158-161. Sure enough, there was his version of my story. Pretty cool.

        

Watch an all new episode of One on One with Alex Ruggierie featuring Mike Yager.   Mike Yager began his business when as a young man he borrowed $500.00 to purchase some patches and T-shirts which he had planned to sell at a Corvette car show. The rest as they say is history. Today Mike is the largest supplier of Corvette and Volkswagon accessories and supplies. He employs a couple of hundred people and just opened his first office in China. I really enjoy Mike's contagious attitude. He really lights up a room with his smile. The thing is this guy is for real. Its not hype. He carries his passion with him and he loves his business as much as he loves life! I get a kick out of that.

I borrowed the above from Alex's web site and I thank him for his time.  Now if you have the time, just click the One on One link above and see both Alex and I in action.

        

Unknown to many, Effingham RailRoad Company was started in 1999.  It began as a dream of local entrepreneur  Jack Schultz, to attract additional industry to our hometown, Effingham.  Ten years later that dream is a successful reality.  The company has relationships with both CSX and CN railways and has invested over $39 million in infrastructure and public warehousing buildings.

These facilities, located near Mid America Motorworks south warehouse, in the Effingham Industrial Park, offer businesses many advantages to locating in our city.  From full electronic data interchange with car tracing capabilities, car storage, bulk transloading to neutral access and direct service to all of North America.  Centrally located at the Crossroads of I-70 and I-57 add to the efficiency of locating  here in Effingham.

Our community is a very dynamic, strategically located "gem".  We are blessed not only with a great location, high ethics workforce, but also a very entrepreneurial driven business environment.  If you or anyone you know is looking for an opportune business location, look to Effingham.

        

Former Beach Boys Musical Director soars with Eagle

Blogs are cool!  For those of you who enjoyed the Jan and Dean Show at Corvette Funfest this year, here's some "inside information".  I thought you might enjoy and or be able to go see Chris perform.

Chris Farmer, former musical director of The Beach Boys, is set to tour with Timothy B. Schmit, bassist/vocalist for the super group the Eagles. Farmer, who spent 12 years on the road with "America's Band" as their musical director, vocal arranger, and bassist, is looking forward to performing with one the finest vocalists is the music business.

Chris was the bass player and lead vocalist during the Corvette Funfest concert and was also the bass player when The Beach Boys were at Mid America Motorworks Corvette Funfest four years ago.

"I definitely have my work cut out for me in this situation," he says, referring to the multi-tasking duties in the group.  "Bass, keyboards, and the high harmony parts have been assigned to me. Timothy is a singer's singer, constantly fine tuning the vocals. It's going to be great fun to perform his original songs for his fans."

Farmer, who runs his own music company, Chris Farmer Music, and is a session vocalist in the Los Angeles, California area, also has his own corporate event group "The OC" Beach Band, which features current and former players and singers from the Brian Wilson band and The Beach Boys. He also is musical director of The Jan & Dean Show, featuring Dean Torrence.

It’s not often Timothy B. Schmit does his own tour, but the Eagles member has slotted a few solo concerts to showcase his first album in 8 years. Schmit’s album – Expando – lands in stores Oct. 20, 2009.  Although it’s a “solo” album, Schmit did get a little help from his friends, including Keb’ Mo’, Graham Nash, Kid Rock, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Garth Hudson, Van Dyke Parks, Dwight Yoakam and Benmont Tench of The Heartbreakers. He has appeared on a multitude of other artists' recordings including Steely Dan, Vince Gill, Dan Fogelberg, Clint Black, Crosby Stills & Nash, Bob Seger, Jimmy Buffett, Ringo Starr, Elton John, and Warren Zevon, as well as his contributions to Poco and the Eagles. Timothy has won three GRAMMY Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Eagles.

For tour updates, go to: timothybschmit.com.

        

Today's  technology benefits never cease to amaze me.  Last week, during Corvette Funfest, I did a live radio broadcast, from the middle of our Funfest Events property, on my cell phone, and was live on Bobby Likis Car Clinic Network worldwide. 

From that location on the Funfest fields on a cell phone, my voice and Bobby's was going worldwide, streaming live on the Internet, all the while, both Bobby and I were remotely located, the show went flawlessly.

Click here  for Mike's page on CarClinicNetwork.com

Bobby Likis is the only car-talk host on commercial radio named to the "Talkers 250," the list of the top 250 talk-show hosts in America.  His live broadcast from Corvette Funfest in 2002 was a great hit, and we look forward to the shows return next year. at Corvette Funfest 2010.

        

The September 29,2009 edition of the DetNew Joyrides column covered Mid America Motorworks 16th Annual Corvette Funfest.  Larry Edsall, journalist and blogger, covered this event for the Detroit News.

I had never had the opportunity to meet Larry prior to Corvette Funfest, and at the event, just limited time, but he sure captured lots of good "fun" feelings  of our event and related activities.  Be sure to also click on the"More Photos" icon for lots of additional Corvette Funfest photos. 

        

As I promised last week, here is a chance to see Corvette Funfest through the eyes of WSIU inFocus.  This film presentation was captured at Corvette Funfest 2008 and was episode #436, aired on WSIU this past Friday, September 25th.

You can also view the first episode on Mid America Motorworks , episode #435, posted here on September 22nd.

Thanks once again to the staff and students at WSIU inFocus for a job "well done".