A couple of years ago I published a little book, a fable, called The Shibumi Strategy, about a down-sized sales manager, Andy Harmon, forced to take a job in a car dealership in order to avoid disrupting his family. Andy was able to create a breakthrough in how people bought cars in his little part of the world. The story was based on an amalgam of true stories, and Andy was a composite character based on real people. Among other things, it was my way of showing how you can create meaningful change in the most constrained circumstances.

Now’s it’s your turn to demonstrate your creativity and ingenuity in doing the exact same thing. Can you rethink and reinvent the automotive experience? If you think you can, I invite you to join me in Santa Monica, California, at the Edmunds.com Hackamotive event February 26-28, 2013. I’ll be emceeing the event, which is shaping up to be a great time. Tackling a serious challenge, with cash prizes on the line–who wouldn’t want to give it a go?

Hackomotive is a 2-day challenge that focuses on reimagining the car shopping experience by bringing together consumers, dealers, manufacturers, designers and technologists to shatter the status quo. Car buying is the second biggest purchase behind a home for most consumers and remains an unpleasant, anxiety-filled experience that has changed little even with the benefit of online resources. By bringing together the right mix of thought leaders and change agents, we believe we can reinvent the car buying experience from the ground up. A panel of judges will then evaluate the proposed solutions to determine the winners.

We’ll begin the evening of February 26 with a reception dinner, then start fresh February 27, with prizes awarded the afternoon of February 28. We’ll feed you and give to space to create–you decide how much sleep you need (or don’t need) to change the world.

If you think you have what it takes, apply today! If you know others who might like to be considered, send them to the site today: HACKOMOTIVE. Here’s a quick video that introduces what we’re trying to achieve.