Just ahead of the July 4th holiday weekend, Brian Benstock (Partner/GM at Paragon Honda and Acura) joined us for an episode of Daily Dealer Live, where he broke down what he believes is the largest threat to the auto retail industry.
His take: Bad leadership—not tariffs, not rates, not EV disruption—is what puts stores most at risk.
That’s why he’s focused on building teams that win and making sure no one coasts.
For Benstock, that starts with mentoring like it matters. Because in his mind, leaders need to take the growth of their people personally.
“I take the responsibility very seriously, when somebody sends their young child, their son, their daughter to us at Paragon,” Benstock told Daily Dealer Live hosts Sam D'Arc and Yossi Levi. “I look at it that way, that somebody sent me their son or their daughter and said, ‘Here, I’ve taken them this far, please do what you can to take them to the next level.’”
It’s a mindset he hopes other leaders apply to the people working with their kids, too.
“I would want them to take very good care of their career in the early stages and to show them the way,” he said. “I certainly wouldn’t want somebody to be easy and make everything simple for them, because they’re not going to learn anything.”
Beyond that: Benstock said being a solid leader means setting a high bar and not lowering it just to make things easier. Because in his view, doing that holds people back from what they’re capable of.
And that’s where the American Dream comes in. (Happy Fourth of July…)
As Benstock explained: The path to success in this business is still wide open, but only if leaders step up and help their people see what’s possible.
He even pointed to real examples, like the receptionist who decided she wanted more, stepped up, and earned $17,000 in her first month selling cars.
“That’s the American dream. And I asked her, ‘What’s the best part about making a little bit of money?’ And her answer was moving. She said she could help pay her mom’s bills. And to that I say, wow, to have an impact and to be able to make an impact is something that we’re blessed with,” he said.
Between the lines: Benstock’s message is a wake-up call. If your people aren’t growing, your leadership might be the reason why.
For context: Benstock started out washing cars, and over time, built a team that reflects what happens when leadership opens doors.
His people come from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences, but they have one thing in common: they’re given a real shot to succeed.
“If I can do it, you can do it, they can do it, and we can do it together,” he added.
Bottom line: Boots-on-the-ground tactics move metal and bring in buyers. But Benstock argues it’s leadership that sets the ceiling. And that the stores really winning are building teams the right way, creating real opportunity, and helping people climb the ladder, not coast on it.
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