We were lucky to catch up with Justin Cole recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Justin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

This question could be answered in so many ways as success is subjective. In business, I believe the best type of success comes from the combination of integrity, tenacity, and thoughtful strategy.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

I was born with what I call the Car Bug (an ingrained love for cool vehicles). That led me to start my first business at 12 so I could buy my first car ASAP. We did lawnmowing/landscaping work. I ended up buying that car, a 1968 Mustang fastback, at 14 and have since bought and or sold over a thousand vehicles. I secured a multimillion-dollar loan while in college to open my first dealership. I then went to work for the big box stores to learn more about the corporate side of the car business. After five years of making my way through the ranks at companies like Berkshire Hathaway Automotive, I opened Accelerate Auto Group, which is a full-service car dealership. I then added Don’t Trade It In (it specializes in buying vehicles directly from the public) and Accelerate Auto Repair, which offers repair, customization, paint/body, and restoration services to retail clients. FAST.CARS is the latest addition to the family and will launch soon. It’s going to be the best and fastest way to buy a vehicle in person or online nationwide.

Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?

I’ve spent ten years of my life as a full-time entrepreneur. I unknowingly opened my first car dealership at the worst possible time, right before the Great Recession began. We fought for over three years through the recession, and the near-death moments felt endless. Unfortunately, they didn’t end there. Our ultra-aggressive growth strategy with my current businesses has generated many close calls. However, it’s amazing what can happen in the final minutes of the final hours when there’s no plan b.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

I ran into a guy at a car show who owned a very rare, one-of-one prototype car that wasn’t finished when the manufacturer went out of business. I knew it would be worth well over $1,000,000 when it was finished. I ended up trading him several vehicles, a diamond ring, and some cash for the car. I then had to find a way to get it in front of as many car guys/gals as possible, so I could hopefully have it sold before my team and I finished it.

I put it on eBay with a $5,000,000 buy-it-now price. That amount was for the completed car that would be finished in the buyer’s choice of interior/exterior colors. The ad went viral, our phones were ringing off the hook, and emails about the car were pouring in. The best call we got was from the New York Times. They ended up publishing a Sunday Auto Section cover story on it. I was told back then (2009) that that kind of coverage/space in the New York Times would sell for around $1,000,000. I paid $0.

Contact Info:

• Website: accelerateautogroup.com, accelerateautorepair.com, fast.cars, donttradeitin.com
• Linkedin: www.justinjcole.com