

But as with the last time, Lackey was determined.

This time there were two businesses in play: the dealership in Weatherford and another in Hurst. He worked his way back up the ladder, and it took Lackey three more years to build up to another opportunity to buy the business.
#Freedom powersports full
In business, those who run from the deafening noise never reach their full potential, while those who turn and face the fear thrive. But often, running toward those challenges and conflicts is the best (or only) way to grow and meet our goals. Likewise, humans sometimes have an instinctive desire to shy away from pursuits that look and sound scary. The roar doesn't represent the real danger. If gazelles knew to run toward the frightening sound, they would have a better chance of survival. In the animal kingdom, the lion's job is to roar and send prey scattering away from the startling noise - right into the path of the waiting lionesses, the true hunters. But the real danger lies with the smaller, quieter lionesses. Lions - with their intimidating teeth and deafening roars - are designed to provoke fear. Sometimes the safest place to be is the one that feels the scariest. Do I give up the fight and do something else, or do I run toward the roar? Not only did he lose the sale, but he also lost his position as a manager and was kicked back to the selling floor. So, Lackey had to go back to the drawing board. "I met with the owner and his wife, and they had already sold the business 30 days before," Lackey says. He was about to be a business owner for the first time. It took him about five months to get the loan in order from the bank, but when he got the call his loan was approved, his excitement soared.

The process to get funding was long, but Lackey figured he was doing all the right things. The owners were considering selling Lackey wanted to buy. "I can sell very instinctively," Lackey says.Īfter a few years, Lackey realized he wanted more, and his entrepreneurial sixth sense kicked in. Lackey was a natural salesperson, and he quickly rose to become the dealership's top asset on the floor. Lackey began his career working the sales floor of a powersports dealership in Weatherford, selling items like motorcycles and ATVs. The Fort Worth-based company is now up to more than 300 employees and can hardly contain its rapid growth.īut the story of how Lackey got to that point is full of the sort of crushing lows that will be familiar to any entrepreneur. 1 dealer in the nation by Powersports Business, the industry's leading publication.

In 2017, Freedom Powersports was named the No. He rose from a frontline salesperson to the CEO of Freedom Powersports, with multiple locations in several states. Today, Lackey is one of North Texas" premier success stories. Kimball Ave.Kevin Lackey's road to success with Freedom Powersports was paved with what felt like defeat after defeat.
