NBA Legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson delivered an inspirational message on winning to AAPEX 2023 attendees, sharing insights and advice that guided him during his basketball career and later as a businessman working primarily in urban communities.
“My brand and I started on the basketball court … I was all about winning at an early age,” said Johnson. He recounted his high school basketball journey in Lansing, Mich., that with hard work and practice, turned a team with a losing culture for 40 years into winners.
He spoke about his NBA days of competing against Larry Bird, saying, “All of us here have competitors. They make you better and guess what, you make them better.”
After a highly successful 12-year NBA career, Johnson knew he wanted to be a businessman. He turned to mentors to help him better understand business and learn what resonated best in urban communities. He invested in movie theaters and built 125 Starbucks in 40 different markets across America. “You have to understand your customer base and overdeliver to them. Then they become your brand ambassadors,” said Johnson. “When you treat your customer well, they’re going to tell 100 people. They’re going to tell everybody their car is running well because you took care of them.”
In the same way Johnson reinvented himself, he encouraged audience members to be prepared to reinvent themselves when facing change. He also suggested inspiring young people to join the industry, and to reach back and give back to help others achieve their goals.
Johnson shared how to cultivate a winning mindset even when facing difficult situations. His advice: “Move on very fast – if someone didn’t do the job, next time let’s do it better. Don’t dwell, life keeps moving. Understand what you don’t know, do your research and hire the best of the best.”
The keynote address by Johnson took place on Oct. 31 and was preceded by a presentation on the automotive aftermarket by Paul McCarthy, president and CEO, MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, and Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. Their message focused on Right to Repair, one of the most critical challenges facing the automotive aftermarket, and how it is vital to ensuring a prosperous future for the industry. For information, visit repairact.com.
AAPEX 2023 opened Tuesday, Oct. 31 and will run through Thursday, Nov. 2, at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas.
About AAPEX
AAPEX unites the more than $1.8 trillion global automotive aftermarket industry and historically draws approximately 2,500 exhibiting companies from around the globe that display innovative products, services and technologies that keep the world’s 1.5 billion vehicles on the road. AAPEX provides advanced technical and business management training for professionals to maintain excellence and take their businesses to the next level. Industry buyers include automotive service and repair professionals, auto parts retailers, independent warehouse distributors, program groups, service chains, automotive dealers, fleet buyers and engine builders.
AAPEX was recently honored by Trade Show Executive (TSE) as one of the 50 fastest-growing trade shows in 2022. The event also made TSE’s list of the top U.S. trade shows in 2021
