Carman Dragone is a dedicated entrepreneur with decades of experience in the automotive industry. Carman started in the industry when he was very young. He started by helping his father run Mimi Dragone Incorporated, an independent used car dealership that was based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Carman eventually became the owner of that business and opened a second location.
Carman has also worked as a salesman in the automotive industry. As a salesman at the number one volume Chevrolet dealership in Connecticut, Carman averaged 23 or more sales per month. After finding success in sales, Carman was offered a position as the Used Car Director at Sullivan Automotive Group in Torrington, Connecticut. During his time there, Carman helped the group to increase gross profits by 36 percent. He also assisted with increasing volume sales by 43 percent.
Carman then went on to work as a sales manager for Blasius Chevrolet. During his time there, Carman assisted the organization with opening a new location in Boston, as well as in Middletown and Danbury.
Carman Dragone studied economics and automotive management at Northwood University. He has been a lifelong musician and served as the Director of the Trumbull High School marching band for 27 years. During his time as the marching band director, Carman led the team to win numerous titles, march in two Presidential Inauguration Parades, and two Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades. Carman’s service and dedication to his town has been honored several times by the Trumbull Board of Education.
Additionally, Carman Dragone is the founder and president of THSGEMB Alumni Incorporated. This organization is a nonprofit that exists to raise funds for members of the Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band. It also strives to preserve the history of the school’s marching band.
Carman Dragone is a businessman and entrepreneur at heart. He is currently running a new business from his home and focusing on time with his wife of 24 years and their three children.
Deciding If Entrepreneurship is Right For You
Entrepreneurship can seem appealing to anyone who loves the idea of being their own boss and earning unlimited potential income. While entrepreneurship is indeed a fantastic opportunity, the choice to dive in should be taken seriously. If you’re wondering if you have what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur, here are a few things Carman Dragone says you should consider.
Carman believes that the first question to ask yourself is, “How do you feel about risk?” As an entrepreneur, you will need to get accustomed to taking risks. You won’t have the security of a weekly paycheck. Working hard and clocking hours won’t ensure that you’ll get paid. You might work for years with very little return. If this possibility terrifies you, entrepreneurship might not be the right fit. If you’re comfortable with living with some risk and uncertainty, however, entrepreneurship might be perfect for you.
Carman Dragone also says it’s important to consider if you can handle multitasking. As an entrepreneur and business owner, you will often be juggling multiple projects at once. You will need to be a jack of all trades, especially in the beginning. As your business grows and you begin to hire a team, there will be less and less that must be done by you. Then you will have to learn to get comfortable delegating all of the tasks you have been handling since the beginning.
Another thing you should consider before becoming an entrepreneur is how you react to challenges. Do hard times paralyze you with fear, or do they make you want to rise up and work harder? If you enjoy a challenge and aren’t afraid of the problems that will come your way (and there will be many of them), you have the spirit of an entrepreneur.
Lastly, to be a successful entrepreneur, you must have a strong sense of purpose. If you don’t go into entrepreneurship with a strong sense of purpose, it’s unlikely that you will have the drive necessary to work through the risk and challenges that owning a business will present. You will need to work tirelessly and not allow yourself to make excuses. You won’t have a boss to answer to if you take a day off or if you stop working early. You need to be self-disciplined and driven from within. A strong sense of purpose will help you to do what’s necessary to succeed.
Carman Dragone believes that you shouldn’t become an entrepreneur if you’re only doing it to make money and be “free” from traditional work. Most people who start their own businesses with the hopes of becoming rich give up well before they ever reach financial freedom. But if you are someone who wants to make an impact, who isn’t afraid of working hard, taking risks, or facing challenges, you should go for it. Our country will always be in need of more entrepreneurs who are willing to face uncertainty to make a difference.
