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
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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