Your first week selling cars will test you. Here's what I learned the hard way so you don't have to.

1. The first "no" isn't really a no.

Most green peas hear "I'm just looking" and walk away. That's not a rejection — it's a reflex. The customer doesn't know you yet. Your job is to make them comfortable enough to tell you what they actually want.

2. Product knowledge alone won't save you.

You can memorize every trim level of every model on the lot. Doesn't matter if you can't read the customer. Are they a researcher? An impulse buyer? Buying for their teenager? Adjust your approach.

3. Your desk manager is not your enemy.

New salespeople treat the desk like the principal's office. Wrong. The desk is there to help you close. Bring them a solid deal with the right info and watch how fast things move.

4. Follow-up is where the money actually is.

Most of your coworkers will never call a customer back. That's your advantage. A simple next-day text — "Hey, wanted to make sure you found what you were looking for" — has closed more deals than any pitch ever written.

5. Your attitude on slow days defines your career.

Every dealership has dead days. The top earners use that time to prospect, study inventory, and work their CRM. The rest sit in the break room complaining. Choose wisely.

I put everything I know into the Car Sales Mastery e-book — 19 bucks, no fluff, just the real game. If you're new to the lot or stuck in a rut, it's the fastest shortcut I can give you.