Live from ASOTU CON 2026, Michael Cirillo sits down with Frank Ziede for a conversation that spans professional dance, automotive retail, emotional intelligence, and the foundations of human connection. Frank shares his unconventional journey from performing and choreographing for artists like Celine Dion and Usher to becoming a trainer, facilitator, author, and advocate for deeper customer relationships in automotive retail.

The discussion centers on a simple but often overlooked idea: most dealerships spend too much time analyzing the final moments of a sale and not enough time evaluating the first few minutes of customer interaction. Frank explains why trust, hospitality, intention, and genuine curiosity create the foundation for stronger customer relationships, better experiences, and ultimately better business outcomes. Along the way, he shares practical examples of personalization, emotional intelligence, and the small details that turn transactions into lasting loyalty.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 Intro

0:11 Meet Frank Ziede

0:33 From Professional Dance to Automotive Training

1:19 Discovering Automotive Through Auto Shows

2:00 The Connection Between Art and Leadership

3:33 Why Most Teams Focus on the Wrong Part of the Sale

4:12 Building a Strong Foundation of Trust

4:44 Emotional Intelligence in Automotive Retail

6:02 What the First Five Minutes Should Feel Like

7:03 Intent, Authenticity, and Human Connection

8:06 Showing Up for Customers in Meaningful Ways

8:46 Collecting the Dots to Connect the Dots

9:43 The Details Customers Never Forget

11:09 Why Generic Customer Experiences Fall Short

11:23 How to Connect With Frank Ziede

Connect with Frank Ziede at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ftz001/

Learn more about Frank at https://www.ftzinc.com/