As the owner and operator of S&K Buick GMC in Springfield, Illinois, Jeffrey P. Kallister directs all phases of operation, including the sale and maintenance of new and used trucks and SUVs. A member of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Jeffrey P. Kallister was honored with a Buick Mark of Excellence Award in 2020 for his achievements as a small business owner. Recently, Mr. Kallister increased his professional knowledge by earning a certificate from the National Auto Dealers Association Academy. He also holds a BS in radio, television, and digital communication from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. Previously, he graduated from Dunlap High School in Peoria, where he competed in several sports and was active in the Future Business Leaders of America. Mr. Kallister leveraged his communication degree as a production assistant and logger for Mark Burnett Productions in Los Angeles. He traveled between studios for the reality television company, logging them into a database for use in post-production. In his spare time, Mr. Kallister coaches his son’s junior football league team. He also enjoying hunting and golf.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I wake up at 5 AM and say the serenity prayer, have a good workout, eat breakfast and get ready for work. I arrive at work at 7:30 AM and work until 4:00 PM. I make my day productive by interacting with my department heads and making decisions to run the day-to-day operations of the business.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I discuss them with a friend or colleague, and then put them into action.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Following sports. I love the trends of my sports teams.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Trying to have constant communication.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Have more patience and learn to be a patient person.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
How to raise a child.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I constantly try to communicate and recommend everyone do the same.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Take a step back, breathe, and try to reset or reassess.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Be aggressive. Don’t sit back and wait for business to show up, go out and create business for yourself.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Being an excellent salesperson. I overcame this by training and listening to the people who were good at it. Taking advice and observing others helped me be better.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Invest your money in property and land. God is not making any more of it.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
My digital calendar. I use it daily to make sure I am organized and don’t miss any meetings or calls.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I read a book called The Power of Positive Thinking. It has a great message and makes me believe in the power of positive thinking.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I always watch Forrest Gump any time it’s on. It’s my favorite movie because he had a disadvantage but lived a great life. Married the woman of his dreams, had a son, was war hero, professional athlete, and was a successful business owner.
Key learnings
- Establish good core values and create a day with lots of production and positivity.
- Try to incorporate a great work environment with constant communication and good work ethics.
- Learn from your failures to improve your business and your life.
- Building strong relationships and foundations are key to both our personal lives and careers.