After building Tactical Fleet into the largest, national pre-owned exotic car dealership, Chris Barta founded Design Auto – an online marketplace built exclusively for cars priced over $100k.

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Guest Resources

Design Auto Instagram – Follow Design Auto on Instagram.

Design Auto Tiktok – Follow Design Auto on TikTok.

Chris Barta Instagram – Connect with Chris on Instagram.

Chris Barta Tiktok – Connect with Chris on Tiktok.

3 Value Bombs

1. Long-term success comes from relentless follow-up, genuine relationships, and never judging a prospect by appearances.

2. Disruption starts with making an industry experience fresh, fun, and brand-focused, even in something as traditional as used car sales.

3. Transitioning from brick-and-mortar to SaaS requires patience, adaptability, and leveraging your network to build massive early buzz.

Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

[5:27] – Chris shares a story of going from a beat-up pickup to a Bentley sale.

Seemingly low-prospect customer led to a multi-hundred-thousand-dollar deal with an oil & gas billionaire.
Lesson: never judge a book by its cover and follow up persistently.

[8:16] – A timeout to thank our sponsors!

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[10:48] – Chris tells the challenges of going from dealership success to tech innovation.

Not being a developer means relying on others to execute your vision.
SaaS timelines are slower compared to fast-moving car sales.

[12:09] – Chris talks about building buzz for Design Auto.

Leveraging influencer partnerships, merch, and social media for viral reach.
Example: cinematic launch video reposted by celebrities and industry figures.

[15:32] – Chris talks about playing the long game.

Stay focused and avoid chasing every new idea.
SaaS allows for faster pivots compared to brick-and-mortar.
Aggressive patience: wait for the right time, but move fast when the moment comes.

[17:57] – Chris gives his one key takeaway.

Figure out your thing, do it really well, and tune out the noise.
Say yes when you can, build relationships, and deliver with excellence.

[20:16] – Call to action.

Design Auto Instagram – Follow Design Auto on Instagram.
Design Auto Tiktok – Follow Design Auto on TikTok.
Chris Barta Instagram – Connect with Chris on Instagram.
Chris Barta Tiktok – Connect with Chris on Tiktok.

[21:47] – Thank you to our Sponsors!

HighLevel: The ultimate all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs, marketers, coaches, and agencies! Learn more at HighLevelFire.com!
Freedom Circle: A powerful community of entrepreneurs led by JLD! Are you ready to go from idea to income in 90-days? Visit Freedom-Circle.com to learn more.

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