I remember hearing about the triple threat when I was youngster learning basketball. For those unfamiliar with the term, it’s simply a position you should be in when you have the ball. You should be in an athletic position that lets you shoot, pass or dribble. Ideally, you want to read the defense and keep them guessing, wondering which of these three things — Shoot. Pass. Dribble. — you will do. Elite players can do them all effectively and efficiently.

Recently, I was reminded of this position off the basketball court. As an MRAA employee, being in an active position for success is crucial when we engage our dealer and partner members. It’s like applying the “triple threat” mindset beyond the basketball court.

I recently engaged in three very different, but equally valuable, interactions — reconnecting with a dealer, attending a partner press event and meeting with a MRAA Education Champion. Each moment reinforced how critical it is to stay engaged, listen and support our network. Just like in basketball, versatility and teamwork lead to progress.

Shoot

A few weeks back, I rang a dealer as part of a call campaign. The phone meeting was supposed to last around 30 minutes, but it went twice as long. While that may not be a great thing for either person’s busy schedule, especially on a Saturday morning, in this instance, the duration of the call was reinvigorating.

I reconnected with Jake Evans at Inland Boat Company, who’s membership had expired. We talked boating, from lifestyle to HR to marketing and more. He shared his wins, struggles and outlook for the future — for his business and the marine industry at large. For me, this was Jake and I passing the ball back and forth as we reconnected and had a meaningful conversation. In the end, once I hung up, my adrenaline flowed and I felt as though I nailed a game-winning shot. That’s because not only did Jake renew his membership, but also we left the door open for future conversations. Revisit this MRAA case study we did with Jake.

Pass

I recently hit the road in my reliable Toyota Tundra for Fargo, N.D. There, I spent time with Ross Solwold and his dedicated team at Vantage Resource Group, Inc. , one of the MRAA’s Education Champions. We enjoyed lunch, I toured the shop and discussed the current boating industry. This was all before our 1 p.m. meeting to introduce the MRAA, our mission and how Vantage, as a key education partner, could help contribute to dealer training, education and growth. This meeting required equal amounts of dribbling, passing and some future shot-taking. With their passion and talents, the shot(s) the Vantage team will take are sure to touch nothing but the bottom of the net.

Dribble

Last week, I was invited to a marine industry press event. Rushton Gregory Communications hosted it for Radian IoT (MRAA Standard Partner) and Northpoint Commercial Finance (MRAA Strategic Partner). This one felt more like I was a bench player watching the starting five execute play after play … passing, shooting, dribbling and scoring!

They achieved their objective of introducing the MRAA (me), trade media and others to an innovative pilot program to support marine supply chain management. It was a well-run event featuring crisp passes to several industry experts, who offered firsthand testimonials of how the new technology would benefit them. It gave me a better understanding of the businesses participating and the value of the product being showcased. Networking was an additional benefit. It seemed like the ball had been passed to me to dribble out the clock. Read that news here.

Alley-oop

I share this basketball analogy because, well, the NCAA Final Four is set (so it’s super timely), but also because these three interactions with our members rewarded me with conversation, camaraderie, insights and more industry knowledge. None of these conversations were really about selling. Instead, they were about human connection and helping boaters. It also left me hungry for future conversations with fellow recreational boating colleagues and continuing the MRAA mission.

• Dealers: Have a best practice that has helped your dealership and team win or stand out? Share it with me, so we can give you the credit AND help your peers and our industry overcome! I want to help you get a good shot and celebrate your success with others.
• Partners: MRAA Platinum Partner Members and above, you have the marine industry and insights and help dealers every day. Let’s pass each other the ball until we find our open shot. That’s how we build education (blogs, vlogs, infographics and more) together that dealers can use to improve their game.

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