In a normal year, our team would be getting ready to tell you the story of the education we had lined up for you at the upcoming conference and expo. We would be explaining how the sessions, workshops and keynote presentations we had selected would help you and your team solve problems and find new opportunity in your business in the year ahead.
But, as you well know, this is not a normal year, no matter how you define normal.
I recently learned a new acronym that seems to describe the current state of marine retailing: VUCA, which stands for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity. The acronym has an interesting history that goes back to the U.S. Army War College and their attempt in the late 80’s to help their students understand and navigate the post-Cold War world. The reason I bring it up here is this: The VUCA of the world you – and we at MRAA – are operating in means that we can no longer work with trainers and educators to develop education for you in March that will help you overcome obstacles and take advantage of changing market conditions in December and throughout the following year. The obstacles and market conditions your dealership experienced in March are very different than those you’re experiencing today. And in this VUCA world we’re living in, we can expect more change between now and Dealer Week in December, and certainly, more change again in 2021.
At the MRAA, we’re here to help you navigate this VUCA world. Now. At Dealer Week 2020. And at every waypoint in-between. To be sure it is timely, relevant and impactful, we’ll be spreading the development of our educational line-up for Dealer Week 2020 throughout the weeks and months leading up to the event. This will allow us to deliver the training and insight you’ll need in December to care for the changing needs of your customers, to help your employees adapt to the evolution taking place in your business, and to ensure your dealership is prepared to thrive no matter what’s in store for you in 2021. Whether you’re a leader in dealership sales, service, marketing, finance and insurance, or the entire marine business, we’ll be there with the most knowledgeable experts this December to guide you through what’s now and what’s next. In fact, you can be sure three of our industry’s best dealership trainers will be with us as Dealer Week Education Hosts. Stay tuned for that announcement.