"Tires Changing The World" by Katharine Mieszkowski, Fast Company, October 1999, By Mary Krentz

If you have ever shopped at Tires Plus, you would probably agree that there is something special about the way they do business. In the past, I thought the tire business appeared to be a no brainer. Sell cheap tires! After my husband and I had a bad experience with a tire dealer, we soon realized there is much more to it than selling cheap tires. After spending considerable time looking for a trustworthy tire dealer, we found Tires Plus. The nearest Tires Plus location is 38 miles away; nevertheless, getting good service is worth the commute. A representative greets each "guest" (as customers are referred to at Tires Plus) almost immediately upon entering the showroom. You can't help but notice how clean, bright and spacious the store is. A courtesy phone, free coffee, magazines, television and toys for children are available to ensure the waiting time is enjoyable for all customers.

Tom Gegax, head coach of Team Tire Plus Inc., has spent 23 years changing the tire business. His unique business model is based upon embracing the customers and the employees as "whole people." Their motto is quoted in the company's Web site (www.tiresplus.com): "Changing the World One Tire at a Time."

Before Gegax could change his company, he had to change himself. Within a six-month period, he was faced with several devastating life circumstances. He got divorced, learned he had cancer and realized that his business was in trouble. Gegax explains, "It was my three-ring wake-up call." As a result, he began to alter his physical, mental and spiritual well-being. This transformation was chronicled in the book he wrote, "Winning in the Game of Life: Self-Coaching Secrets for Success" (Harmony Books, 1999).

The training center for Teams Tires Plus Inc. is located outside of Minneapolis. Tom Gegax considers himself the "head coach" and his new employees the "teammates." "Balancing Your Personal Tires," is the title of one of the courses on work-life balance offered to employees. Gegax believes this type of training is essential for all sales people. He explains, "If you're not caring about people, if you're in a bad mood, it may not have anything to do with work. What you eat, or how much you sleep may affect your mood. And all that affects how you sell."

I feel it is important that all employers offer their employees training on balancing work and family. This is especially true in the Extension Service. Anyone who has worked in the Extension Service knows the high demands of the job, which result in a lot of time away from family. I shared this concept with several co-workers in Extension. They also could see value in addressing this need through offering staff development within the organization. One colleague explained, "We often teach the public about the dynamics of balancing work and family, however we as employees don't practice it!" In addition, the people I shared this article with loved the uniformity regarding how every Tires Plus employee hears the same message about how people should be treated. My colleagues liked the way Tires Plus refers to customers as guests. It makes the assumption they will come visit again in the future and be a repeat customer. The next time you visit a store, take note of your experience. Do you think the employees received proper training?

-- Anonymous, March 08, 2000