Mike Furman - Success of a Salesman

By: James Wilder

Photo Credit: Mike Furman. National Corvette Specialist

If you want to crack the code of success in doing what you enjoy then I believe Mike Furman is a great example.

When I originally heard of Mike Furman I thought he was a concierge for people wanting specific exotic cars. I eventually got curious about this guy and I'm glad I did. What I found was a Corvette enthusiast with the heart of a servant.

First, here are some quick facts about Mike Furman.

• Mike's title is National Corvette Specialist.
• July 26, 2025 was Mike's 48th year of selling Corvettes.
• Mike Furman has delivered 6750+ corvettes.
• That's an average of 130.4 corvettes a year, which does not include the other cars he sells through the dealership.
• He's owned 25 Corvettes and 44 muscle cars.
• He works for Criswell Chevrolet in Baltimore, MD.

Why do people from all parts of the U.S. buy Corvettes from a dealership in Maryland? The answer is Mike Furman.

As I have researched this amazing man I have found several "keys" to his success. These "keys" can be used by anyone who wants serve others and do what they enjoy.

Here are eight ways Mike Furman excels at sales, serving, and life.

1. He Picked a Career He Enjoys

Mike Furman picked a career he enjoys and specialized in a product he believes in. Those are two extremely important choices that lay a foundation for success.

On July 26, 2025, Mike Furman started his 48th year of selling Chevrolet Corvettes. When you pick something and stick with it, you set yourself up for mastery.

Choosing a career you enjoy makes obtaining financial success easier and way more rewarding.

2. Mike Remains Humble and Grateful

"I don't know too many people that love what they do for work. I do, and I don't forget that fact." -Mike Furman

I found the above statement from one of Mike's social posts and it clearly reveals his gratitude for the blessings in his life. Opportunity is a blessing and Mike has made the most of his opportunities. Even after 48 years he remains humble and grateful. It's a life-long mindset and practice.

3. He Cares About His Customers

He goes out of his way to meet with past customers. For example, he goes to Corvettes at Carlisle every year (since 1982) and meets with as many customers as possible. No doubt he makes new friends and future customers also!

4. He Thinks Big

Most car salespeople sell within their region. That is sufficient to make a good living. However, Mike clearly has an expanded idea of what a region is. Why not sell to customers in Florida, or California, or Texas? Is it more challenging? It is. And that's why few people want to think big. I recently talked to a Chevrolet salesperson and they balked at the idea of shipping a Corvette to another city or even another state.

5. He Strives for Mastery

If you commit to something, you might as well commit to mastery.

Being a salesperson is a respectable career. But the title salesperson isn't limited by what is possible. Mike's official title is National Corvette Specialist. He's a salesperson who is a Corvette specialist at the national level. That's not just a fancy title. He has in-depth product knowledge. He has in-depth knowledge about factory orders from Chevrolet. He will not only sell you a Corvette, but he will sell you the Corvette you want, and he makes sure you get the Corvette you ordered. That is a specialist. That's someone you want on your side when you're making an expensive purchase.

6. He is Proactive

We've all heard the advice about being proactive. That's Habit 1 of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey.

One of the best examples of being proactive I've ever heard of is how Mike Furman started taking orders for the future C8 Corvette in 2014 (six years before it shipped in 2020)! This was a time when no one even knew the C8 would be a mid-engine Corvette. Absolutely mind blowing.

Be proactive. Sell future cars today.

7. He Communicates

Mike doesn't need to advertise. He communicates. He tells stories about his customers. He tells stories about his career and the people he's met along the way. He tells stories about Corvette history. He tells stories about how many Corvettes he has sold. He tells stories not to brag, but in a way where you want to wish him more success!

Mike is one of the best examples of how to market your service. He's not loud. He never says hey look at me. It's all about the customer. It's all about the product. That's what success is.

8. Servant After the Sale

One of Mike's customers was having a problem with his Corvette and his local Corvette dealer was taking a long time to resolve the issue. The customer gave Mike a call and asked if there's something else he should do, or someone he could call in order to get the situation taken care of. Mike made a call and got a part shipped overnight. When you take care of your customers, even after the sale, word gets out. Mike's reputation is stellar because he cares about his customers, before, during, and after the sale.

Finally

I'm actually shocked that Mike Furman hasn't written books about success. For every salesperson or for anyone who wants to be successful, Mike Furman demonstrates how it's done.

You could say, when it comes to Corvettes, Mike Furman delivers.

You can find Mike Furman on Instagram @corvette.furman