Mickey & Miller's Cowboys Hour, Episode 10

Holy Sean Lee!  It happened again.  While the Cowboys have yet to formally announce it, the Cowboys linebacker appears to be done for the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee Tuesday in OTA's.  

Yeah. 

What does this mean for the Cowboys defense in 2014?  Is it time for Dallas to cut its losses and move on from a player who embodies everything you WANT the Cowboys to stand for yet just can't stay healthy? 

Mickey Spagnola & I discuss that, take your questions and more THIS Friday, May 30 at 11am CST. 

You can join us by clicking here or simply watching in the box below. 

Cowboys DL Tyrone Crawford is Ready to Play

At least three times a week, I am asked about Cowboys defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford.  To many Cowboys fans, he represents two things: the future of the Cowboys as well as a bittersweet reminder of an injury-plagued defense that was the worst in franchise history in 2013.

Remember, Crawford tore his achilles tendon on the first day of training camp in 2013.  Since then he has been rehabbing, watching game film, working out, studying more game film and repeating that cycle almost daily.

Add to it that the Cowboys lost DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher to free agency and he understands that there is an expectation placed upon him.

"Yeah, I definitely feel a lot of pressure.  Those are definitely big shoes to fill," he told me.  "I'm ready in any situation to get put in the game whenever its needed and whatever position that could be at."

As for what position he expects to play, that's also in question.  Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli has made it clear he could play end or tackle but Crawford has a preference.

"Preferably, defensive end," he admitted.  "But if it's defensive tackle I can get down there and play fast."

The Tyrone Crawford TwitterView

Watch the entire interview in which he shares how his rehabbing is coming along and the one question he's sick and tired of getting asked.  The answer will shock you.

You can also watch interviews with Morris Claiborne, Bruce Carter and more on my YouTube channel.

You Want Draft Numbers? We Got Numbers

The Cowboys have 11 picks, two of the first 50 picks in this year's draft with the first three coming as 16, 47 & 78.

Our broadcast location tonight on Cowboys Draft Live

Here's a rundown of some other interesting numbers as it relates to the Cowboys and the NFL Draft:

• Dallas has picked in the first round 12 times since 2000. 
• The Cowboys have made 61 draft-day trades since 1989. 
• Over the last 53 drafts, the Cowboys have selected a player in the first round at every position except kicker and punter.  
• The Cowboys have selected 28 defensive players in the first round and 22 offensive players over the years. 
• In the Cowboys 54-year draft history, the Cowboys have selected offensive linemen more than than any other position, drafting 139 of them.  Linebackers and defensive backs are next with 102 and 100 picks, respectively.
• The Cowboys have drafted players from 208 different colleges with the University of Tennessee offering the most draft choices with 18. UCLA (16), Arizona State (15) and Florida (14) are next. 

Want more draft coverage.  Join us for Cowboys Draft Live.  Here are the details.

Join Us For Mickey & Miller's Cowboys Hour on Monday

The Cowboys begin offseason workouts on Monday.  Find out who is at the Ranch, who has been working out there for the past few months and how some of the players have been spending their offseason.

Those are just a few things Mickey Spagnola and I will discuss in our upcoming Google+ Cowboys chat.

It's Mickey & Miller's Cowboys Hour live from the Dallas Cowboys TV studio at Valley Ranch.

You never know who will drop by!

You can watch by clicking this link or simply logging watching in the video box on this page.

Professional Inspiration from Skin Authority CEO Celeste Hilling

Whether by force or by choice, stories of career reinvention intrigue me.  It takes balls moxie for someone to leave a career that is comfortable and stable in pursuit of something unknown yet fulfilling.  To emerge on the other side with a new and successful venture is an accomplishment both inspiring and worthy of sharing. 

Celeste Hilling and her daughter, Kiki

Fifty-five year old Celeste Hilling's career is one such story.  It is a lesson in perseverance, research, diligent work and checking your ego at the door. 

"You get a plan, you get a game plan and you put that plan out there," Celeste told me from her home base in San Diego.  "It's trial and error with a lot of roadblocks along the way."

The Backstory
Celeste made a career change in her 40's.  I joke that while most people are looking for the exit sign, she was starting an entirely new endeavor in a new industry.  She was the President of Compaq's Consumer Software Business Unit and the VP of Compaq's Consumer Division where she managed 42 countries and 14,000 people. Hilling left the high-tech world to work in the luxury spa industry where she was the President and CEO of the Day Spa Group for Steiner Leisure Ltd.  

While working in the spa industry, she saw a need in the market for skincare products rooted in science that offer real health benefits.  Skin Authority was born.  The thing that I like about Skin Authority is that it's not just about products.  The company believes that healthy, beautiful skin isn't solely the result of topical treatments (which certainly help...look what they did for my neck).  Skin Authority embraces a multi-pronged approach to beauty, understanding the importance of a quality diet and an overall healthy lifestyle as it relates to beauty.  That's something I appreciate.

Skin Authority Wrinkle Reversing Serum

Doing Homework
"When I resigned from Compaq, I didn't jump right into a business," she said.

"It was really about doing homework, going out and talking to people in the industry, everyone from Dr. Murad to Dr. Perricone, people who ran spas, asking 'If you were starting your business today what would you do differently?"

Her advice to someone who is considering a career change? 

"Really do that homework to educate yourself to determine where the real opportunity is," she suggests.

Check that Ego at the Door
Don't be afraid to learn where that opportunity lies, even if it might lead to awkward moments.

"It was tough because you go from doing something like being one of the first female officers of a high tech company to working the front desk of a 1,900 square foot spa in La Jolla," she admits. 

"I actually had an ex-Compaq employee who came in and looked at me like, 'Oh what a fall from grace!'  I thought 'No, I'm building a multimillion dollar company' but nobody looks at it that way," she notes.  

"At the end of the day, those are things you need to do to be successful.  You have to be willing to take a few steps back to educate yourself so that you can be effective and be a leader that understands where the marketplace is." 

Don't Fear Failure

As with any new venture or experience there will be failure.  I am learning this myself and it was nice to hear Celeste reinforce what I believe: failure is an opportunity but be smart about it. 

"When you're building a new model some things work and some things don't," Celeste says pragmatically. 

"When a part of the plan fails it doesn't mean that the plan isn't worth it.  I think you just have to have that fuel, that passion and that self-belief.  But also, you don't want to be ignorant when you fail.  You want to reevaluate." 

"Yes, I cried with my husband 'What did we do?' because you feel responsible for your money and your family." 

"You have so many dynamics that go into a successful business.  One is your people.  That's always a challenge in that you have amazing people but they rely on you to keep them pumped up and fired up as you're building a business.  That's energy you have to have to not only fuel yourself when you hit those bumps but fuel everyone following."  

And what about when that inevitable self-doubt creeps up? 

"You have to know your own voice," she says.  "If it hadn't been done before people will tell you it can't be done.  You just have to step out and be bold and make it happen."

The Takeaway

In this era of women seemingly hating other women in the workplace (trust me...I can tell you ALL about that), I believe it's important to celebrate success stories.  I hope you can glean some inspiration from her story like I did.

To learn about her beauty secrets, check out TheBestBeautySecrets.com.

The Dallas Cowboys TwitterView with Gavin Escobar and Jeff Heath

Like any rookies, Gavin Escobar and Jeff Heath had quite the learning curve their first season in the NFL with the Cowboys last year.  Find out what that was AND why Heath could have a future as a TV producer in our Dallas Cowboys TwitterView.

Have a question for a player you would like to see featured in an upcoming Cowboys TwitterView?  Leave a note in the comments section.

This particular story was shot at iFly in Frisco after our first-ever attempt at indoor skydiving.  Read my review of iFly here.

Exhale Spa's Core Fusion Cardio Barre Class Review

exhale spa co-founder Elisabeth Halfpapp, center

What is Core Fusion Cardio Barre? 

The cardio portion of Core Fusion Cardio Barre

It is a one-hour strengthening and fat-burning class that sculpts your muscles and gets your heart rate up. It was created for the busy person who wants to get a full body toning and cardiovascular workout simultaneously.

The class begins with 30 minutes of exhale's signature plank runs and other heart-pumping moves followed by a short recovery period.  After the cardio session comes full-body toning moves with light weights, as well as your own body weight.  The toning portion incorporates yoga moves and has dance influences.

Friends, it's a workout.  There were moments during the hour-long class that my legs were shaking, my heart was racing and I was praying for strength.  Those are all good things, though.   It has helped me rediscover tiny muscles I didn't know I had.  The feeling you get from working those minuscule muscles is uniquely different than lifting heavy weights.  It's an overall sense of having worked, in a good way.

The class ends with a solid stretch, something many of us sacrifice for the sake of time.

"The really important part is stretching at the end," exhale co-founder Elisabeth Halfpapp told me.  "We work really intense and we want to have the strength and flexibility component as well as the cardio and strengthening."

What's the Burn Factor? 

I know a lot of us are about the numbers.  How many calories do we torch in this class?

"We had Self magazine track the burn for us," Halfpapp told me after I took her class in December.  "On average it's 375 calories per hour, give a little bit, depending on body weight and your BMI (body mass index)."   

"What's amazing is that you're not only burning calories in class but because we're gaining muscle density, it (muscle density) needs more calories to function and you're burning more calories at rest." 

The Takeaway 

Cardio Fusion Cardio Barre is a challenge.  While I was completely spent after the class, I wasn't terribly sore the next day.  This class can transform your physique using your own body weight or lighter hand weights which can result in that lean, sinewy look.  Do it consistently and certain body parts will get that desired "lift"...no scalpel needed.

 

*Classes were offered on a complimentary basis for review purposes. The opinions are completely my own and based on my experience. For more information, please visit exhalespa.com.

People Your Age Are on Instagram?!?!? Yes, We Are.

"People your age are on Instagram?!?!?!" asked the 13-year in front of me.

"How old do you think I am?" I asked a bit too aggressively, fighting my reporter's urge to raise me voice another decibel.

"I'm just kidding," I awkwardly said trying to soften the exchange.

She couldn't imagine someone my age (ugh) taking selfies.  I would argue that my approach to Instagram goes beyond the selfie or picture of my latest manicure but a recent review of my profile might prove otherwise.

I digress.

People my age ARE on Instagram

I was speaking to a group of smart 8th graders at a local middle school for Career Day.  My focus was TV/Print/Radio/Web and the opportunities that the evolving media industry presents.

Some of the entrepreneurial teens were already making a career for themselves blogging, posting videos on YouTube and earning advertising revenue for their efforts.

Even more interesting was their social media habits. I asked the approximately 90 students about their social media consumption.  Across the board, they were on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

When I asked them about Facebook.  Crickets.

A small sample size, yes, but my informal poll reiterates what experts are finding in much more scientific studies. Twitter is a young person's game and Facebook is for people, um, my age.  

Facebook acknowledged as much in their recent earnings report that it was seeing a "decrease in daily users, specifically among teens."

A recent study from comScore illustrates this.

The numbers are even more interesting when you look at the mobile usage numbers. 

Twitter has a larger share of younger users up to the age of about 24.

Teens and young people are also going messenger app crazy.  Platforms like WhatsApp, KakaoTalk and WeChat are gaining ground.

Scared yet?

Why Should You and Your Business Care? 
You know you need to be in the social media game, right?  You know you need to be Tweeting about product launches, sharing news germane to your industry and more, right?  You understand that your social media efforts are, many times, the first line of communication with your target customer, yes?

Well now you gotta really be in the game to connect with those tweens, teens and young professionals.

Scared now?

Don't be.  First and foremost you need to be where your customers are.  What demographic does your business focus on and appeal to?  That needs to be your main focus.

Does your business cater to women 35 and older, then Facebook and LinkedIn might be better suited for your content marketing campaign.  Trying to connect with kids?  Get on Twitter.

Confused by where to go to reach your target audience?  Don't be.  The team at That Sports Girl Media can help. We know how to talk to people, we know where they hang out and we know how to create a message that resonates with them.

We also won't waste your time or money creating a campaign on a platform that your key consumer isn't using.

Contact That Sports Girl Media to find out how we can ease your communication pain so you can focus on your business.

How to Bring a Breaking News Approach to Your Business

Launching a new product or service?  Calling a press conference to announce a new corporate initiative?  Have a celebrity in town to promote your company?  Is your industry convention introducing groundbreaking innovations?

All of that is news.  As a part of your overall event marketing strategy you need to treat it like a breaking news situation on relevant social media platforms to raise awareness for your brand.  Live-Tweet the details of the innovation.  Post photos to Instagram of the celebrity talking to the media and demonstrating your product.

This gets your company, product or service in the cultural conversation which raises awareness for your brand and will ultimately have a positive impact on your bottom line.

In Action 
Let's launch a hypothetical product: a new iPad case, that has a built-in stylus which prevents you from losing the pesky pen.  Here's a crash course in treating it as a breaking news situation with your original content.

Courtesy Target.com

Before the Event
A few days before the release, write a blog post "teasing" a new product launch.  Emphasize that it will solve one of mobile computing's biggest pains.  Share promotional posts with links back to the blog on all of your social media platforms.  This builds anticipation.

Your Facebook page will promote the news of the launch.  Your Twitter and Instagram feeds will ask "What's in this box and why will it change your iPad game?"  Both feeds will feature a photo with just a portion of the case, "teasing" your followers of what's to come.

At the Event
Twitter is the best vehicle during a breaking news situation and you should take advantage of that during your company's events.

Live-Tweet the news of the launch.  As it relates to our iPad case/stylus, you would Tweet the inspiration behind the product.  "54% of customers, including our CMO Gina Miller, complain of losing their stylus. #SaveYourStylus"  Tweet why this product will prevent that.  

Create a Twitter hashtag for your event incorporating the product name.  In this hypothetical case, #SaveYourStylus might work.  Create a giveaway offering the new case to a follower who uses #SaveYourStylus creatively in their Tweets.

Post gorgeous product photos to Instagram incorporating appropriate hashtags during the event.

After the Event
Produce a blog post, in the same vein as a news story detailing the Who, What, When, Where, Why & How of the event.  Include pictures.  Again, post to all the appropriate social media platforms.

The Takeaway
Social media is, more and more, becoming your first line of communication with new and existing customers.  You need an engaging content plan.  The thing is that it's not easy and it should not receive secondary treatment.

If you have a receptionist or busy account executive manning your Twitter feed or updating your company blog, your content plan won't receive the proper attention it deserves and will suffer in the process.

That Sports Girl Media is focused solely on raising your company's profile through original content.  We connect you with your core consumers, engage them in ways other content creators can't and share information with them that resonates and strengthens your brand.

We're news professionals. We know how to talk to people.  We also know how to use the news to help your business.  Contact That Sports Girl Media today to find out how we can ease your communication pain so you can focus on your business.

How to Use Social Media to Raise Awareness for Your Fundraiser and Organization

As more corporations realize that investing in original content and social media is a necessity rather than luxury, the same philosophy should apply to your fundraiser for your nonprofit organization.

Top Hat & Tails Dancing with the Stars 2009

Whether it's the Cattle Baron's Ball, DIFFA Dallas' Masquerade Ball, Paws in the City's Top Hat & Tails, Fort Worth's Cowtown Ball  or New York's legendary Met Gala, multimedia content and social media can be a gamechanger.

Why?  Because social media grows your nonprofit's profile not only in your community but also globally.  The right message and right campaign can resonate beyond the city in which an event takes place.  As your organization's profile grows, this can have a positive effect on your bottom line and fundraising effort.

How do you do this?  Produce content before, during and after the event and promote it to all relevant social media platforms as well as your organization's website.

Before the Event
Have a marquee auction item?  Detail how awesome it is via a blog post or Instagram video and promote it to social media platforms in the weeks leading up to the event.

Courtesy TACA-Arts.org

Take, for instance, The TACA Custom Auction Gala.  It is an amazing evening that celebrated its 48th year in September and always has wonderfully decadent auction items.  2013 was no different.

Among the items offered this year was a trip to Art Basel in Miami with a private guided tour by a famed art curator.  Following that was a trip to the Caribbean with a two-night stay at Rosewood's Little Dix Bay in British Virgin Gorda.

An experience like this is a priceless, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  In the days leading up to the event, a well-crafted blog post detailing the experience and thanking the sponsors generates buzz for the auction items and the event itself.  It also offers an additional mention to key big ticket sponsors.  That mention can be a part of your sponsorship package.

Incorporate this strategy for a number of premiere auction items to help build anticipation.  It not only raises awareness but it can potentially generate early bids online which helps your bottom line and fundraising efforts.

During the Event
People love live events.  That is why sporting events are so popular on Twitter and social media.  Games are a way for people to participate in a real-time conversation online.  The same principle applies to a fundraiser as people are rarely without their smartphones.  Incorporating Twitter and Instagram into your overall event strategy is a smart and cost-effective way to engage guests and potential supporters.

Courtesy DIFFADallas.org

Think about it.  Each year DIFFA's House of DIFFA Masquerade Ball offers some of the most over-the-top, fabulous fashions on the Dallas social calendar.  Posting photos to Instagram and Twitter of the red carpet arrivals and the runway fashions featuring the relevant fashion designer hashtags is a great way to put the event in the social media conversation.  If a designer like Marc Jacobs or Oscar de la Renta retweets or likes a photo with your organization's name in it, that is a huge boost for your nonprofit's profile.

Another example: share the story of an individual impacted by the organization.  I emceed the Nexus Westapher Kickoff in September.  I posted a photo of former Nexus patient, Toni Lambert, sharing her inspirational story to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  This was not planned and was simply something I did because I was moved by her testimonial.  It received numerous retweets on Twitter and more than 30 combined likes on Facebook and Instagram.

Why?  Because people love good news.

Social media promotion of Nexus Westapher Kickoff

Note what Charlene Taylor said on Facebook: "There is a Nexus by me on Motley across from Eastfield College and I often wonder about what that center does."

With one simple photo, promoted to three different social media platforms, we helped educate one person about the Nexus Recovery Center.  Could it make a tangible impact?  Perhaps.  The thing is that it put Nexus in the conversation as the event was happening creating multiple social media impressions.

After the Event
Many organizations do a good job wrapping up the event and announcing the amount of money it raised on their websites via a blog post.  I suggest organizations take it a step further and produce a compelling video that details how wonderful the event was, how lively the auctions got and the positive impact the gala continues to make in the community.

Video is a powerful tool that can show emotion in ways a blog post can't.

How Gina Miller and That Sports Girl Media Can Help
While organizations already incorporate content and social media into their overall fundraising and event efforts, many times, it's a secondary consideration manned by an overworked volunteer or assistant.

Gina Miller at House of DIFFA's 2013 gala

Having a focused content and social media strategy can raise awareness for your nonprofit which can ultimately have a tangible effect on its bottom line.  Having a professional implement a targeted social media and content plan can alleviate the pain of doing this and let you, your volunteers and staff members focus on their primary roles.

Gina Miller has experience hosting and emceeing multiple events.  Ranging from 5k's and panel discussions to black tie galas, Gina is passionate about engaging your guests.  By having Gina and her That Sports Girl Media team at your event, you can also benefit from their social media and original content expertise.  Gina has more than 30,000 personal followers on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.  That's a lot of exposure for your organization.

Contact Gina Miller and That Sports Girl Media to find out how they can take your event to the next level.

How to Stay Sane When Shopping for a New Car

If you Google "car buying tips for women", about 66 million results show up.  

A quick scan down the first page (let's be honest, who goes past the first page on Google anymore?) and you will see links to stories featuring the following titles: 

• "What a Woman Needs to Know When Buying a Car" - this one will get under your skin as author Fadra Nally notes, "Women are treated differently when buying a car."
• "Help for Women Car Shoppers"
• "A Woman's Guide to Scoring a Smokin' Car Deal"

You get the idea.  Getting a car is tough enough.  Even tougher for many of us women.  It's a frustrating and often overwhelming process.  

Beth Anne Underwood told me on Twitter: "They thought I was shopping with Daddy's money." 

Ouch.

Beth Anne didn't feel like she was taken seriously when she was shopping for a car.  That is something no one should experience. 

The experience is remarkably different from Beth Anne's for clients, both male and female, who got their cars through D&M Leasing.  

D&M Leasing client Holly Kyle with her new 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek

My own leasing experience was outstanding.  The thing is that my experience is the norm, not the exception. 

Thank you, Jared Smith, for restoring my faith in car guys! I felt like you really listened to what I needed and made it as stress-free as possible. I could not have asked for a better experience using D&M! When the hubs is ready for his new wheels, we'll definitely be giving you a call!  --Dee Hunt

That testimonial from client Dee Hunt sounds like hundred's of others you will find on D&M Leasing's Facebook page or Twitter feed. 

Getting a car is truly that easy.  D&M Leasing brings the car to you and makes the paperwork a snap. But don't make my word for it.  Read what other clients had to say via D&M Leasing's Facebook page:

Patricia Bossy-t Wright Bought two cars through D&M ... They will help restore your credit. Douglas Wright awesomeness wrapped in great personal service!

Kristin Pierson Payne My husband and I just bought a vehicle from D&M Leasing. This was the first time dealing with them and it was a great experience!! We definitely will be coming back and recommending all our friends too!!!!

A D&M Leasing Fan

Kristi Belden Darracq I have leased 5 cars through D&M Leasing. Call Keitha Munday....she's awesome!!

Tonya Cornelius Johnson I really like the relationship that we had with D&M Leasing our sale rep came to our home with a 2011 Cadillac SUV love it....I'm driving it now....this is a good avenue to go if you want to drive a luxury brand car....leasing is a better way too go!!!

Patti Koehler Hark Love love D&M Leasing. We love our new 2013 Chevy Impala! Raymond with D&M was amazing!!! 

Another D&M Leasing Fan

Delores' story is one of remarkable customer service.  That's what everyone receives when using D&M Leasing.  

Still unsure about the process?  Give D&M Leasing a look on Facebook.  They're transparent, quick to respond to any question you might have and are ready to take the pain out of the car buying process.  

*This article is brought to you by D&M Leasing. Please visit DMAutoLeasing.com for more information.

Secrets of Female Car Buyers From an Industry Pro

Lisa Carr was destined to be in the car leasing business. 

Say her name out loud.  Right now.  

Get it?  Lisa. Carr.  Yes, that's her real name.  

Granted, Carr isn't her maiden name but she has been married to her husband, Bill, for 30 years with whom she has two children, Kristin and Will.  She's been in the automobile industry for 33 years and is still going strong as the Director of Agent Development for D&M Leasing.

As she has grown in this industry, she's seen it evolve particularly as it relates to the buying power women have. 

Lisa Carr and Gina Miller

"I think women are getting in the driver's seat, so to speak," Carr told me one day at D&M Leasing's North Dallas office.  "In years past, women were in the passenger seat and giving their opinions.  Now they're making decisions." 

The facts back up her observation.  Women buy more than half of the new cars in the U.S. and influence up to 80% of all car purchases according to a Women-Drivers.com. 

What's interesting is the way women approach acquiring a car.  

"Women these days are not only thinking about where they are right now but they also have the vision to go 36-48 months down the road and wonder 'Where will I be at that point? What are my driving needs? How are they going to change?  Am I going to be in a flexible enough situation to move seamlessly to one situation in my life and then another?"

Think about it: a single woman gets married, has a kid and needs a bigger car or a stay-at-home mom's kids start school and that mom doesn't need the large mini-van.  The needs change.  Lisa believes women have the foresight to consider these things when looking for a car. 

"Females have a clear direction on the fact that what's happening in their life right now may not be happening in their life in 48 months." 

As Lisa was explaining this to me, I felt she like was describing me to a T.  I am always that "what-if" kind of person.  Perhaps more pessimistically put: I examine potential negative consequences.  It's the reporter in me.

There is a certain amount of moxie one must have when working in a competitive industry like the car leasing business. For inspiration Lisa turns to one of my favorites, Nolan Ryan.

She has two pictures of his more "infamous" moments over her desk: the shot of him pummeling Robin Ventura and a picture of a bloody Ryan taken just after Bo Jackson hit a line drive which nailed Ryan in the mouth.

"I think of those pictures a lot when I'm dealing with something," Lisa says smiling.  "I say bring it!" 

She's a woman after my own heart. 

Because I had to know...

Lisa is a self-professed car geek.  She loves everything about them.  I had to know what her absolute favorite one was to drive.  She answered without hesitation. 

"A 2005 Red Ford Thunderbird Convertible.  It was a surprise from my husband for our 25th wedding anniversary," she beamed. 

2005 Ford Thunderbird Convertible/Courtesy: TFLCar.com

Not a bad gift! 

*This article is brought to you by D&M Leasing. Please Visit DMAutoLeasing.com for more information.

Is Buying a Car Really Like Getting a Root Canal?

I recently read a story equating the car buying process to getting a root canal.  The only difference is that car salesman don’t give you laughing gas or novocaine to numb the pain.  They seem to inflict more of it.

As it relates to me, I am a car flipper.   I have never kept a car more than a few years.   I would buy a vehicle, get bored with it after two years and want to trade it in for a new one.  While I was never “upside down” in my car, I don’t think I made smart purchase decisions.

Friends consistently asked why I didn’t lease a car.  Frankly, I never thought leasing was an option.  I am someone who puts 15,000-plus miles on my car per year traipsing from Frisco to Arlington to Downtown Dallas to Fort Worth and beyond covering sports in DFW.  I thought I would get tripped up in the mileage game.