While I was waiting to be inducted into the service during the Korean War, I took a temporary job with a neighborhood business in the automotive aftermarket industry. not counting my time in the service, it's 46 years later, and I'm still with the same company. The only difference is now I own Tilden for Brakes Car Care Center franchise.
After working for the company for many years, I was given the opportunity to invest in it as well. People often ask me how I knew investing in the company was a smart desigion. They are curious as to how I was able to make a judgement that would turn out to be one of the best moves I could have possibly made. If you are in a similar situation, maybe my story and advice will help you find your answer.
My answer is directly related to the automotive aftermarket industry, as wellas the reputation and history of the company for wich I worked. But for whatever industry you are considering, certain factors remain the same. Before investing in abusiness, some of us are fortunate enough to consider taking a job in that particular industry first.
When considering a job in any industry, we usually put some serious thought into some specific areas. For example, what kind of |
future will I have with this company, if indeed there is on?
Where will the company and/or the industry be in, say, five years or 10 years?Will I be happy working in this industry for a long time to come? Is the lind of the kind of work and the kind of company with which I will be proud to be affiliated? What kind of hours will I have to put into the job to do it well? You get the idea.
Tilden has just recently started franchising to the public. In fact, Tilden is 75 years old this year, and up until last year the only franchisees Tilden had were former employees. I was one of them. It was only those of us who worked for the company that were given the opportunity to invest in the Tilden name. so as employees, we found ourselves considerind those very things that you may be considering now.
The automotive industry was a lot different back then, but it had its similarrities, too. The use of cars was changing from leisure to necessity.
While once cars were just used for sanday driving, now they were being used for business, too. Isaw that it was an industry that was going to grow, and I wanted a job in which I could grow, too. This was a major consideration.
I suspected there was a future for cars. Little did I know, nor did any of us, |
really,that the automotive industry was going to change so drastically and in so many fascinating and excisting ways. Consider, fo example, the technological advances in car systems. From suspension system to ignition systems to all computerised system, there doesn't seem to be an end to it. To me, the change has been like man going from living in caves to flying through space.Instinctively, I saw there was room for the automotive industry to grow. Do you see that in the industry where you are now?
When deciding if you will be happy working in a specific industry and/or for a specific company day in and day out, you have to learn what it will take to make you happy. For me, it was pride in the company I worked for and pride in a job well done. I visualized myself in the owner's position, not just as an employee.
If someone was going to pay me money for something my employees or I did for them, were they going to be satisfied with the final product? When I left the job at night, was I going to be happy with myself for the quality of the work I did? Was I going to be proud of the reputation my business developed as a direct result of the work my company performed? In essence, what I am suggesting is that you ask yourself, "Am I proud |
