Steering the direction of the car sales industry
After matriculating in 2017, Darren Diergaardt knew that his heart belonged to the automotive industry, and for the past six months, he has confidently taken up the position as the sales manager at Hyundai Motors after only being in the industry for a year and a half.
“After completing grade 12, I quickly entered the workforce. I began with various odd jobs, always knowing that my passion was anything related to vehicles,” Diergaardt said.
He said in his new position, he continues to learn daily and overcome numerous obstacles, driven by his hunger to grow and improve.
Resilience
Being a sales manager in the car sales industry entails managing the vehicle brand and staff, which Diergaardt said is not always an easy task.
“It requires resilience, as you must continually ensure that your team meets expectations with excellence,” the sales manager said.
Diergaardt noted that this involves developing ideas and strategies to enhance the brand's image and boost sales, all while keeping your staff in a positive mental state.
This takes a great deal of creativity and marketing, but it is always a team effort, he said.
“We strive for excellence, but we also prioritise good vibes and having fun along the way."
Stepping stones
According to Diergaardt, he would not necessarily describe the obstacles he has faced in his career as challenges, but rather as stepping stones.
He said the biggest stepping stone he has faced so far was learning to run an entire store and manage a team, which seemed like a daunting task at first, but he came out on top and a little wiser.
With all the daily stepping stones that Diergaardt faces at times, there is one thing that keeps him motivated to make a success out of his career and that is the profound sense of fulfilment that accompanies the attainment of goals and the realisation of dreams.
“The mere knowledge that I possess the potential to transform these aspirations into reality is what truly inspires me,” he said.
Destiny
Diergaardt said skills such as patience, creativity, consistency, and, most importantly, passion will take a person far in the industry and beyond.
When asked what his future in the automotive industry looks like, the sales manager said:
“I am a firm believer in the notion that what is destined to occur will inevitably unfold and that everything else transpires for a purpose, with God possessing perfect knowledge of what must happen and the direction in which one is headed.”
He said he hopes that through dedication and hard work, he will one day ascend to the position of dealer principal.
He concluded by saying to the aspiring youth that they should discover what they are genuinely passionate about and pursue it with unwavering confidence and steadfast consistency, for such dedication inevitably leads to success and profound self-fulfilment.
“After completing grade 12, I quickly entered the workforce. I began with various odd jobs, always knowing that my passion was anything related to vehicles,” Diergaardt said.
He said in his new position, he continues to learn daily and overcome numerous obstacles, driven by his hunger to grow and improve.
Resilience
Being a sales manager in the car sales industry entails managing the vehicle brand and staff, which Diergaardt said is not always an easy task.
“It requires resilience, as you must continually ensure that your team meets expectations with excellence,” the sales manager said.
Diergaardt noted that this involves developing ideas and strategies to enhance the brand's image and boost sales, all while keeping your staff in a positive mental state.
This takes a great deal of creativity and marketing, but it is always a team effort, he said.
“We strive for excellence, but we also prioritise good vibes and having fun along the way."
Stepping stones
According to Diergaardt, he would not necessarily describe the obstacles he has faced in his career as challenges, but rather as stepping stones.
He said the biggest stepping stone he has faced so far was learning to run an entire store and manage a team, which seemed like a daunting task at first, but he came out on top and a little wiser.
With all the daily stepping stones that Diergaardt faces at times, there is one thing that keeps him motivated to make a success out of his career and that is the profound sense of fulfilment that accompanies the attainment of goals and the realisation of dreams.
“The mere knowledge that I possess the potential to transform these aspirations into reality is what truly inspires me,” he said.
Destiny
Diergaardt said skills such as patience, creativity, consistency, and, most importantly, passion will take a person far in the industry and beyond.
When asked what his future in the automotive industry looks like, the sales manager said:
“I am a firm believer in the notion that what is destined to occur will inevitably unfold and that everything else transpires for a purpose, with God possessing perfect knowledge of what must happen and the direction in which one is headed.”
He said he hopes that through dedication and hard work, he will one day ascend to the position of dealer principal.
He concluded by saying to the aspiring youth that they should discover what they are genuinely passionate about and pursue it with unwavering confidence and steadfast consistency, for such dedication inevitably leads to success and profound self-fulfilment.
