Zippidy - Russ Darrow Group - President's Club 2022/2023

8 Straight Years! - I'm Humbled.

Since my first win in 2015 I have set out to break my own records year in and year out. I wanted to try and inspire the crowd with my speech about Mental Toughness. My life is no different than anyone of the attendees and I set out to make sure that message was heard. (Pictured from left to right; Mike Darrow & Michael Duda)

2023 President's Club - Mike Darrow and Michael Duda

Love Public Speaking! - Mental Toughness

Good evening, for those of you who do not know me, my name is Michael Duda. I am an 8 time President’s club winner in sales for Russ Darrow Kia Wauwatosa. I’m going off of the prepared speech to mention, the last time I was here… I was with Ahman Green, Hammering Hank Aaron (1934-2021), and Warren Spahn (1921-2003) for the Milwaukee Braves Association, for the Miller Park Project. It’s important to remember the ones before us. I spent 4 days in a dark room writing this speech like Aaron Rodgers. (Time for a few laughs)… just kidding. But I did spend some time thinking about how I have persevered over many of my own obstacles to get here. (Pictured from left to right; Michael Duda, Mike Darrow, Kevin Minley, and Kenady Minley)

Mental Toughness - Speech Continued

I want you to know that I have LOST important things to me in business and in life. I know most of us in this room have experience loss in our lives. What makes you the top people in your current business positions is exactly what makes me successful… MENTAL TOUGHNESS… when your put down, you have the capacity to get back up and be successful. Over and over again “The Darrow Difference” kept popping up in my head. I had imagined what it would have been like when Russ was fighting everyday to create “The Darrow Difference” and build this business. Russ shared a few thoughts with me in Madison after my speech… It will bring me to tears… It reminded me of a famous locker room speech performed by Al Pachino about inches in the 1999 film Any Given Sunday. (Pictured; Michael Duda)

Mental Toughness - Speech Continued

Life is a game of inches, the margin of error is so small between success & failure. The inches we need are all around us, every minute, every second of our lives. One half step one direction, one wrong turn, one poor choice…. Life can change in an instant. I really want you to google the movie and watch the speech for yourself, it’s very inspiring. I was also thinking about some of the decisions Mike Darrow has to make at corporate…. A serious game of inches everyday which has the potential to trickle down and effect each and everyone of us. I know I was breathing a sigh of relief when the Pandemic hit because I was not running this company, it was all on Mike’s shoulders. I know he cherishes this business and will fight for every inch. Mental Toughness

Mental Toughness - Speech Continued

Tonight is a celebration… for everyone in this room, because you all have that Mental Toughness to be one of the leaders in your areas of expertise, so I applaud you for that. After spending time trying to imagine what Russ was thinking when he was making the Darrow Difference… The Darrow difference means to me… it means Caring about the customer, making them feel like family, and spreading that positivity to the whole organization… this is what I came up with… I was thinking about my mother and father who were going to be here tonight but because of health issues, they could not make it. I’m sure they are very proud of their son. My mother worked for me for 10 years making a difference in my own company. My father worked as a professional engineer for many companies throughout the Milwaukee area including Harley-Davidson. They have successfully overcome their own game of inches. It’s really about never giving up and being a survivor. I wanted to personally thank them for molding me in their image. (Pictured; Michael Duda)

Mental Toughness - Speech Continued

It is important for me to remind you all here tonight that I personally have lost life’s game of inches many times… and I’m still here… Mental Toughness I want everyone here tonight to leave feeling empowered, grateful for what you have accomplished, feeling a bit lucky for everything you have in your life that is positive and ready to fight for every inch to serve our customers at the highest level.

As my Grandfather used to say; Your just a flicker in eternity, make your flicker count!

I Looking forward to Seeing You all Again Next Year!!!!!

(Pictured from left to right; Mike Darrow & Michael Duda)