While you may be veteran to the business, it's always nice to get a fresh perspective on, and follow, what others are doing with their business. 

This month's cover story subject and racing enthusiast, Cornwell dealer Ben Aurich, started with a clean slate less than a year ago when he began running his route in February 2015. Always having a competitive drive, he has succeeded in his first year of business by becoming one of the top 50 Cornwell dealers in his first year alone. Now, 2016 will mark his first full calendar year as a distributor. There may be some new tricks and tips you can pick up from him. 

New technologies

It was widely reported at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas that car companies took a front seat (pun intended) to introducing vehicle technologies that run the gamut of telematics capabilities such as Ford's new FordPass (think: OnStar) to the electric-vehicle powerhouse FFZERO1 from Faraday Future, which offers a purported 1,000 horsepower and three-second zero to 60 mph acceleration. 

If you need a talking point with customers, get educated on what's happening in the industry. Technology is always a hot-button topic. And think it's far off from showing up in shops? The North American International Auto Show in Detroit says otherwise, where features like backup cameras and collision avoidance systems have become standard on many higher-end makes and models. Have you heard that the 2017 Mercedes E-Class offers an optional Driving Assistance package, with automatic acceleration, braking and lane changing? Or that Volvo plans to include semi-autonomous features standard on it's 2017 S90 models?

When you educate yourself on up-and-coming vehicle features, not only do you have a talking point for customer conversations, you are also privy to new technologies that will require different updated tools for servicing these vehicles (albeit, a few years) in the future. 

New section

Also new this year, we've introduced a section to Professional Distributor called "Show me your truck." Readers have consistently asked to see more truck photos. This section features photos and details on different truck designs and layouts, useful product displays and more to help spur ideas on what you can do to change up your truck. This month, we feature California-based independent distributor Don Cowden. If you'd like to be considered for this section, send an email with a couple photos of your truck to [email protected]. 

At the beginning of each new year, you're at the starting line all over again. While it's important to look back to the past to learn from your mistakes and accomplishments, starting over means you have a clean slate.

So what kind of new resolutions have you set for yourself and your business?