- From Austin, Texas, veteran automotive leader Mark Stephen McCollum outlines a practical system to help professionals refocus and lead with intention.
Austin, Texas, 12th February 2026, ZEX PR WIRE, At 37, a general manager at a busy dealership in the Midwest felt like he was drowning. Sales numbers were steady, but staff morale was low, customer complaints were rising, and he was clocking 70-hour weeks. Every day felt like putting out fires, and despite outward success, he felt like he was failing.
One morning, he blocked off an hour with no phone, no meetings, and no interruptions. He wrote down what felt broken and what needed to change. That pause became the start of a complete turnaround. Six months later, turnover had dropped, his team was re-engaged, and he’d regained control—not just of the business, but of his role in it.
This isn’t just one person’s story. It’s a pattern across industries.
The Widespread Cost of Always Being “On”
Industry data reveals a troubling trend:
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42 percent of dealership employees leave within their first year
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61 percent of professionals in the automotive space report experiencing burnout
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Teams with high engagement show 21 percent greater profitability
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Over 70 percent of managers have never received formal leadership training
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Only 32 percent of leaders reflect weekly on what’s actually working
Mark Stephen McCollum, former Market President at AutoNation and current CEO of Automotive IntelliQence, has seen it from both sides.
“I thought if I worked 14 hours a day, I was leading well,” says McCollum. “But the best decisions I ever made came when I paused, asked questions, and let others step up.”
A Framework for Regaining Focus and Leading with Clarity
McCollum shares a simple but effective five-phase framework that any professional can use to recalibrate and lead more effectively—without waiting for a crisis.
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Pause Intentionally
Set aside one hour without devices or distractions. Ask yourself: What’s working? What’s not? Where am I stuck? -
Ask, Don’t Assume
Talk to your team. Ask open questions like: What’s slowing us down? What do you need from me? What’s unclear? -
Prioritise the Essential
Identify the one thing that only you can do this week. Delegate or defer the rest. -
Make One Visible Win
Choose one problem you can fix quickly and clearly. Involve your team and communicate the result. -
Review Weekly
Set a weekly time—Friday mornings, for example—to review progress, make adjustments, and stay intentional.
Quick Wins to Start With:
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Write a handwritten thank-you note to someone on your team
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Spend ten minutes talking with three frontline staff about what’s frustrating them
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Cancel a low-value meeting and replace it with a one-on-one conversation
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Ask someone new for an idea to improve how you operate
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Say, “I don’t have the answer, but let’s figure it out together” at least once
Red Flags That Shouldn’t Be Ignored:
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You haven’t had a meaningful conversation with your team in over a week
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People are leaving, but the only concern is this month’s numbers
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You find yourself solving the same issue repeatedly
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Your team hesitates to share feedback or raise concerns
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You feel drained at the start of the week, not just the end
“When you make a mistake—own it,” McCollum says. “That’s how you earn trust. Success doesn’t come from titles. It comes from the value you create.”
Start This Week
You don’t need to wait for a promotion or a clean slate to improve how you lead. Start with one hour this week. Use this framework to shift from reacting to leading—one clear step at a time.
About Mark Stephen McCollum
Mark Stephen McCollum is a veteran automotive executive with over 35 years of experience in the industry. He previously served as Market President at AutoNation, overseeing 22 franchises and more than $1.5 billion in annual revenue. Today, he is the founder and CEO of Automotive IntelliQence, a software company helping dealers make smarter, people-first decisions. Based in Austin, Texas, McCollum is known for his steady leadership style and commitment to mentoring the next generation of industry leaders.
