The Evening Drive

The Evening Drive with Special Guest Jon Blakely

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What’s up, everybody — welcome back to The Evening Drive.

In this episode, Evan Walters and Sam Cox sit down with special guest John Blakely — a high-level dealership leader running multiple stores and leading teams to #1 performance in their market.

This conversation goes deep into what’s actually working right now in the car business — not theory, not fluff — but real, in-the-trenches leadership and execution.

🔥 Inside this episode:

  • Why relationships still beat technology (even in the AI era)
  • The truth about consistent process vs. perfect process
  • How to implement accountability without killing culture
  • The real role of AI in dealerships today (and where people get it wrong)
  • What it takes to go from the floor to running multiple stores
  • How top leaders maintain the underdog mentality — even at #1
  • The biggest frustration (and opportunity) in today’s used car market
  • Why building your personal brand outside the dealership is non-negotiable

    • 💡 One of the biggest takeaways:

    Success isn’t about motivation — it’s about discipline, consistency, and showing up when it’s hard.

    Whether you’re in automotive, sales, leadership, or just trying to level up in life — this episode is packed with real talk, real strategies, and real perspective.

    👉 Hit play, take notes, and as always…

    Win the day.

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    The Evening DriveBy theeveningdrive