Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue I, 2013 | Page 28

MEGA “My biggest accomplishment would be the 28-year marriage (and still going) to my wife and business partner, Maureen. Actually, I would say that is more Maureen’s accomplishment, as I can be a bear at times.” PERSONAL First job: In 1985 I took an electrical engineering degree from Louisiana State University and became an associate product engineer for United Technologies Mostek in Carrollton, Texas. I was a product engineer in the manufacturing of semiconductors. Formative influences/events: Mainly, the philosophies of three different books have influenced me: The Bible, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. Key accomplishments: My biggest accomplishment would be the 28-year marriage (and still going) to my wife and business partner, Maureen. Actually, I would say that is more Maureen’s accomplishment, as I can be a bear at times. Biggest mistake: Growing too rapidly in the ’90s. In 1991, my father, Joe Grimaud, was called by the board of directors of Precision Tune to save it from financial ruin. He promoted me to president of GEI at the old age of 31. I was very ambitious in those days, with all the answers. I grew our operations broadly and rapidly, not realizing how thin I was spreading us. My father served the franchisor for four years and got it healthy, but after he left, Precision Tune Auto Care got into worse shape under a different CEO. Between problems that developed within our operations and the question as to whether or not Precision Tune would survive, we decided to close seven of our stores and focus on our core. This resulted in an enormous loss in 2000. Fortunately, we were strong enough to survive it. Had I been with any other company, the board of directors probably would have fired me. I told my father that my college education was expensive, but this would be the best education he ever paid for me. Smartest mistake: Our daughter, Marilyn. Let’s just say she was a wonderful surprise. One of the happiest days of my life when she was born. Decision I wish I could do over: There are many, but related to the “biggest mistake” fiasco above, I would say I wish I hadn’t pushed us into Central Pennsylvania in 1994. We’re no longer there. Work week: As needed. How do you spend a typical day? I manage my day by doing what is urgent and important first, and then what is important if there is time. In doing this, on any given day I may be found on the phone with key associates, on the computer (as I am now), in a meeting or on my way to one, or visiting Precision Tune Auto Care stores. Because the territory is so large, Maureen and I travel constantly. The miracles of technology have allowed me to bring my office with me, which may be at one of our homes, in a hotel, or at a coffee shop with Internet access. (I was so excited when Starbucks finally offered free 26 Multi-Unit Franchisee Is s ue I, 2013 Internet a few years ago.) Favorite fun activities: Traveling with Maureen, downhill skiing, speaking French, playing jazz on the piano or bluegrass music on the banjo, playing chess (I’m president of the South Carolina Chess Association). Exercise/workout: Three hours a week at the gym, spent between weights, cardio, and stretching. Note that I was inspired to do this by Stephen Covey’s The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People, which states that you need to be balanced in all dimensions and areas of life: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Favorite tech toys: My iPhone. Also my MacBook Pro. I am a longtime Apple fanatic. I purchased the original Macintosh computer (128K of RAM) in 1984 after reading an article in Byte magazine. It cost about $2,400 along with a printer, and that was in ’80s dollars. That was about 10 percent of my salary, and I took out a loan from the credit union. I am amazed at how much better the computers are today, and for the same amount of money in today’s dollars you get a much better Mac and you carry it around in your briefcase. This is the result of American innovation and entrepreneurship. What are you reading? This is how I exercise the “mental dimension” of the Seven Habits. I read constantly, both fiction and nonfiction. My goal this year (2012) is to read 80 books, though I’ve only read 61 so far, so I’m a bit behind. I am concurrently reading. Fiction: Catching Fire by Susan Collins, the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy. I don’t consider this serious fiction, and am mainly reading it so I can discuss it with others who have read it; Don Juan by Molière in his original French; and The Secret Lives of People in Love by Simon Van Booy (this I would consider serious fiction). Nonfiction: Confronting Reality: Doing What Matters To Get Things Right by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan, who co-authored Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done, which I recommend all business managers and executives read; and The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything by Stephen M.R. Covey. Do you have a favorite quote? Mark 12:28–31, The Bible, New International Version: “One of