"I used to measure my life in units sold and market share. Today, I measure it in breaths, sunsets, and the speed of observation."

Jerry M. Herrin Jr. spent three decades in the high-octane world of the automotive industry. He began his career at sixteen, bagging groceries in Warner Robins, Georgia, where he learned that a hand-starched shirt and a crisp tie were the price of admission to a life of honest work.

He eventually traded the grocery aisles for the "Shark Tank" of the car business, rising from a nineteen-year-old salesperson to the General Manager of a major dealership and later a Vice President in the corporate financial services sector. A recipient of the prestigious Toyota President’s Award, Jerry was known as a "fixer"—the leader you called when the numbers were down and the pressure was up.

The Serving of "Turnip Greens"

In late 2019, Jerry’s "fixer" mentality was put to the ultimate test. What started as a nagging backache ended in a cold exam room with a Stage 4 Renal Cell Carcinoma diagnosis. The statistics gave him single-digit odds of survival.

For the next two and a half years, Jerry moved from the glass office to "The Chair" in the infusion center. It was a season of "Turnip Greens"—bitter, tough, and hard to swallow. But it was in that struggle that the "Old Jerry" was broken down so that a man of iron and grace could be built in his place.

Jerry’s Mission

Jerry didn’t just survive cancer; he was transformed by it.

Today, Jerry is a passionate advocate for Servant Leadership. He has transformed his mindset from "the King" to "the Kingmaker," teaching leaders in the automotive world and beyond that true authority isn't found in a title—it's found in the ability to lead with empathy, build cultures of trust, and find the "Grace in the Gaps."

His memoir, Turnip Greens & Grace, is more than a cancer story. It is a roadmap for high-performers who are tired of surviving on grit alone and are ready to discover the strength that only comes through surrender.

Life at 15 MPH

Jerry lives in Georgia with his wife, Stephanie—his "General" and partner in every battle—and their two sons, Bradley and Dawson.

When he isn’t writing or speaking to leadership teams, you can find him on the back of a golf cart at sunset, enjoying the "speed of observation" and grateful for the 7th year he was never supposed to see.