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Setting big goals sounds great — but what happens when the hard part hits? Nick Askew shows us how perseverance, creativity, and curiosity can bridge the gap between ambition and reality.

In this vibey and inspiring episode, the crew hangs out with Nick Askew of Space Auto — a man who seems to effortlessly blend tech, music, and entrepreneurial grit. After poking some fun at Nick’s musician-worthy name, the conversation quickly gets real. Nick opens up about a personal challenge he set for himself: recording a song every single day for a month. He reflects on the physical and emotional hurdles he faced and how that endurance translates to running a startup in today’s hyper-accelerated tech landscape. Nick’s insights about perseverance, adaptivity, and commitment make it clear: doing the hard things conditions you to thrive when the stakes are high.

The conversation takes a sharp, fascinating turn into the world of AI and its evolving role in automotive retail. Nick breaks down how we're living in the "baby stages" of AI, what practical steps dealers need to take today, and why curiosity beats waiting for a polished, plug-and-play solution. The team also riffs on how creative minds might have a unique edge when adapting to rapid technological changes. If you’re wondering how to stay relevant — or just stay standing — in the fast-moving future of retail and tech, this episode's your jam.

Timestamped Takeaways:

0:00 — Intro with Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier and Michael Cirillo

3:50 — Nick shares lessons from committing to record a new song daily for 30 days, emphasizing perseverance and adaptability

6:40 — Why doing hard things daily trains entrepreneurs to survive the inevitable grind of building anything new

10:00 — The real state of AI today: baby steps, not magic wands, and how breaking tasks into small agents creates real progress

14:54 — Practical advice for dealers: get curious, experiment with AI tools now, and learn how to be your own “data brain”

23:42 — Why automotive retail is uniquely positioned to lead in AI application — and how to think of your operations as a series of AI-powered agents

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