The One Account
Last week I was heading to get a massage from my sister and I received a text from a friend to give him a call. The sun was shining, and the music was turned up, and I decided to return the call. What I found out though, was a dear friend of ours had passed away. I had just spoken to him the week prior. When I hung up the phone I began to recall hundreds of images and conversations we had over the years.
His name was Ben Bishop. I met Ben over 28 years ago when I called on him for advertising. Ben was the General Manager of a Chevrolet dealership in Cincinnati called Joseph Chevrolet. The automotive industry is a vital account for radio stations. I must admit, I didn’t know much about the automotive industry at the time, so I hoped to make a connection during our first meeting. I walk in and ask to see Ben; whose office was the first door on the left. Ben greeted me with a smile and asked me to sit down. During that hour we got to know one another and discussed current events. I left our first meeting not knowing much more about the automotive industry, but I did gain an understanding that it’s often more important to share and engage with clients than it is to sell to them.
Throughout my career, Ben became a client, mentor, and friend. He took the time to teach me about the automotive industry – how to create a profitable dealership through sales and service. He would reiterate that it’s all about the customers and the people; people make the difference. We would discuss what stocks we purchased, sports, and family. He was my adviser when I needed input or feedback on something going on in my life. He was a man of incredible integrity, loyalty, and respect.
I never thought Ben would retire, but he did when he met the love of his life, Sally. The next ten years were spent traveling and making new connections. We stayed in touch, and my mom and I would often meet Ben and Sally for lunch when they were in town. We would laugh and share stories, and I would call and touch base with Ben to see how he was doing in between visits. His life was complete with Sally, who has southern charm and class. I was so grateful to get to know her.
At the celebration of his life, I met others whom Ben touched as deeply as me. The room was filled with pictures of Ben’s journey through life. One unique soul that connected all of us and will be missed, but never forgotten.
Ben was the one account that I was fortunate to call on, and it gave me more than I could have ever imagined! I will miss our phone calls, but when looking for guidance I will ask myself, “What would Ben do?”