Meet Daryl Killian

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Daryl Killian a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Daryl , thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

I owe my work ethic to the lessons my parents instilled in me from a young age. Growing up, I always wanted the latest and greatest toys and clothes. While my parents made sure all my needs—and most of my wants—were met, my dad had a firm rule: I needed to have “skin in the game.” Anytime I expressed a desire for something, they would counter with a plan for how I could contribute toward making it happen.

When my brother and I were still pre-teens, my dad introduced us to entrepreneurship. He helped us start a recycling initiative by collecting old newspapers from our neighbors. This was the 1980s, so newspapers were in every household. We created flyers (which our dad printed at his office) and distributed them in the neighborhood, offering to recycle their old papers. All they had to do was leave the bundles on their doorsteps on Saturday mornings. Once we collected enough papers to fill the bed of my dad’s pickup truck, he’d take us to the recycling center where we earned money based on the weight of the papers. That income funded our “wants,” as my parents liked to call them.

By my teenage years, I had my sights set on something bigger: my first car. Using the same enterprising mindset, I began mowing lawns for neighbors to save extra cash. It was surprisingly lucrative. My parents rewarded my initiative by buying me the exact car I wanted—a Honda Prelude—but the deal came with a condition: I was responsible for paying the insurance. That experience taught me not only how to work toward a goal but also how to manage the responsibilities that come with achieving it.

Later, I transitioned to working at the local Sizzler restaurant to earn a steady paycheck, especially since lawn care income dried up in the winter months. From the age of 16, I’ve always been either a W-2 or 1099 worker, and that foundation of hard work and accountability has shaped my entire career.

In short, my parents didn’t just provide for us—they taught us the value of earning. Even though they had the means to give us whatever we wanted, they made sure we learned the satisfaction and responsibility that comes from working for it ourselves. Those lessons have stayed with me to this day.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

During my senior year of high school, I was fortunate to participate in a vocational office training program through Atlanta Public Schools. With most of my graduation requirements completed, I jumped at the chance to gain real-world experience. As a lifelong car enthusiast, I reached out to Ed Hardnett of Hardnett Pontiac, a local dealership owner in Metro Atlanta. He welcomed me like family and exposed me to every aspect of the dealership. From shadowing him in high-level meetings with manufacturers and vendors to working in various departments, I gained invaluable insights into the automotive business—lessons I still draw upon today.

After high school, I enrolled at Morehouse College in Atlanta as an English major. To support myself and feed my passion, I sold cars at Baranco Pontiac, GMC, and Subaru after school and on weekends. The automotive bug bit me hard, and I stayed in the business even after college. In the early ’90s, I transitioned to Baranco Acura, first in car sales and later in the service department by 1995. As I progressed in my career, I was placed in a management training role at Baranco’s newly acquired Mercedes-Benz dealership in 2005.

However, life pulled me in a new direction when my son began playing football on Saturdays. I didn’t want to miss those moments, so I left the car business for a few years to help a friend run his mortgage company. When the housing market collapsed in 2007, my son was older, and I returned to the automotive industry—this time in wholesale. Coordinating used vehicle sales between local dealerships and auto auctions added yet another layer of knowledge to my understanding of the industry.

Years later, an unexpected opportunity came my way: hosting a radio show in Atlanta to educate consumers about the vehicle ownership experience. This role combined my passion for cars with a platform to inform and engage. Along with hosting the show, I also sell advertising to support the broadcast. Over the past 12 years, this career has allowed me to travel the country, gaining exclusive access to new vehicles before they hit the market. I attend major auto shows, meet with industry leaders—including engineers, designers, and CEOs—and share my findings with my audience and social media followers.

Today, my focus is on delivering the latest automotive news, trends, and insights. I like to say I share “what’s new, what’s hot, and what’s not” in the automotive industry. Whether it’s through radio, social media, or live events, I’m passionate about connecting with audiences and providing valuable, engaging content about the ever-evolving world of cars.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Throughout my journey, three qualities have been particularly impactful: accountability, the ability to truly listen to comprehend rather than just respond, and the understanding that everyone I meet knows something I don’t. These qualities have shaped not only my career but also my approach to life.

One of the most profound lessons I’ve learned is that the more you give, the more you receive in return. What’s equally important to understand, though, is that what you receive may not always come from the sources you expect. The universe has a remarkable way of balancing things out.

For those just starting out, my advice is simple but powerful: first, find a way to generate income doing something that genuinely interests you. Once you’re on that path, seek out successful people in your field and ask them to mentor you. Absorb everything you can from them and take the time to learn the foundational aspects of the industry before trying to revolutionize or improve it. Becoming an expert in the basics is a crucial step toward meaningful innovation.

Additionally, remember that to become a great leader, you must first learn how to be an excellent follower. Leadership is built on understanding, humility, and the ability to work well with others.

Finally, I’ll leave you with advice I once received from Juanita Baranco, which has stuck with me over the years: “Good is the biggest enemy of Great.” Never settle for “good enough” in your efforts, because doing so will hinder your growth and prevent you from reaching your full potential. Strive for greatness in everything you

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I’m looking to connect with young people, especially college students in need of an internship, who have a good a understanding of social media and their algorithms. I believe that social media is the most powerful resource to reach the most people with the least amount of waste. I’m interested in collaborating with you to expand my reach and scope so that I can educate more people on their automotive journey. If you’re interested in collaborating, please contact me. I can be reached through my channels – @Auto_N_sider on IG or via email at cbsautonsider@gmail.com

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
From Burnout to Balance: The Role of Self-Care

Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your