Big Time Advertising founder and CEO Terry MacCauley acknowledged the first month of 2025 is just about in the books already. Perhaps your dealership has had a great start to the year. Or maybe your operation has endured a colder month than the near foot of snow that fell in New Orleans last week.

MacCauley shared a variety of recommendations to help dealers of all stripes hold their upward trajectories or reverse their sagging performance.

“With January winding down, February 1 marks a fresh opportunity to turn strategies into real momentum. After the hustle of year-end pushes and the holiday season, your team, especially your sales managers, might still be feeling the weight of the grind,” MacCauley wrote in a recent industry message.

“Great leaders know that motivation starts at the top. By energizing your sales managers with clear incentives and supporting your sales team with recognition, streamlined processes, and meaningful bonuses, you can create the momentum needed for a record-breaking February and beyond,” he continued.

MacCauley began by suggesting that whatever positive developments happen in January, the dealership should celebrate.

“Sales teams and managers thrive on recognition,” MacCauley said. “Starting the month by acknowledging individual and team successes builds morale and sets a positive tone for February.”

While it might be a cliché, MacCauley emphasized why it’s important for dealerships to work smarter, not harder.

“Take this time to evaluate and improve workflows, so your team and managers are better prepared to hit February’s goals,” he said. “Streamlined processes make life easier for everyone and ensure more time is spent on closing deals, not fighting inefficiencies.”

With the first day of February coming on a Saturday — sometimes the busiest day at a dealership — MacCauley closed his message with this thought.

“February 1 isn’t just another day — it’s an opportunity to reset, refocus, and set the tone for the rest of the year. By celebrating wins, refining workflows, motivating sales reps, and introducing quarterly bonuses for managers, you’re investing in a culture of success from the ground up,” he said.

For more ideas to keep your store personnel motivated and other dealership strategies, visit Big Time Advertising online at https://www.gowithbigtime.com.