Digital Dealer - November 2017 - 14

O WN E R S H I P

Continued from pg. 13

does not improve, your
children will never be able
to achieve agreement.
Both Cindy and Alex
openly resent Susan and
will not agree to impose
restrictions upon themselves. My guess is that
Susan will be so frustrated she will either quit or
agree to split up what you
want held together for the
betterment of the entire
family."
Marge pondered my
explanation a moment.
"OK, I get it. My three kids
couldn't agree on what
time to eat lunch therefore
I need to impose rules
as to how they work out
their disagreement. This
could work if we are not
around to let them off the
hook," she concluded with
a smile.
"If they don't want to
play by the rules, no one
will force them to be an
owner. They will just be
bought out. Trust me, Cindy and Alex will get over
the disappointment that
they cannot do as they
please and Susan will
be profoundly thankful.
Doc and I are going to
visit with Susan and Alex
this afternoon and we'll
plan to see you tomorrow
morning at breakfast to
discuss their reaction to
the suggested rules of
engagement and Alex's
development issues. I
recommend we do not
discuss this with Cindy
until she demonstrates
she can whip the prescription meds."
We proceeded up the
street to the dealership
where Susan worked.
We had a great meeting with an impressive
14

NOVEMBER 2017

Successor Candidate who
had recently completed
the NCM-Rawls Dealer
Executive Program and
was hungry for anything to
advance her knowledge.
She was very grateful that
we were suggesting a
shareholder's agreement.
Her biggest concern was
how she would get along
with her brother and sister
who she contended were
both experts in excuses.
After our visit with
Susan we continued to
their third store where
Alex contended he was
the GM. Doc and I found

"Do not waste your time,"
he asserted with visible
frustration, "Neither! "As
I explained, I don't want
someone in here telling
me what to do and I am
no good at school. And if
the Ole Man doesn't like
it, I'll buy them out of this
store; I've got backers
with money."
Doc and I knew Alex
was very stubborn but his
intolerant response put us
both back in our chairs.
After a long awkward
pause, Doc apparently
was ready to tango with
the bully! "Alex, do you

MY THREE KIDS
COULDN'T AGREE ON
WHAT TIME TO EAT
LUNCH THEREFORE
I NEED TO IMPOSE
RULES AS TO HOW
THEY WORK OUT THEIR
DISAGREEMENT."
their oldest child where
we left him, behind his
desk shopping online
for fly fishing equipment.
"James, how's it going?" I
asked as he greeted us.
Based upon our prior
phone calls he knew
the agenda. After a few
more awkward pleasantries, Doc got to the
point. "Before we discuss
suggested documentation,
to follow up on our phone
conversation, which
option do you prefer,
engaging a management
coach or enrolling in the
NCM-Rawls Executive
Program? Your sister says
it is a terrific program."
Alex was an emotional bully so he had no
stomach for patty-cake.

D I G I TA L D E A L E R . C O M

really think the manufacturer will approve you as a
dealer? You will not let the
factory rep in your office,
you cannot read a statement, you are nowhere
close to market effective
and you are earning
1.25 net to sales! Dude, I
have seen optimism but
your assumption that you
would be approved as a
dealer takes the cake! In
the world Loyd and I work
in, your dealer app would
be classified as a bad
joke." After a short pause,
Doc continued in a softer
tone, "Don't you understand that we are trying
to help you? Who is to
say your Dad will sell
this store to someone
who has no interest in

improvement?"
Alex's face had been
growing progressively
more red. It was becoming apparent that we had
pushed him over the
edge. Putting both hands
on his desk and indignantly extending his head over
the desk he asserted,
"My dad has said that this
store will be mine! You
have no right to challenge
my dad's plan or disrespect my management
ability. I don't have to listen to your ridicule! I think
the two of you should get
your succession planning mumbo-jumbo out
of my office." Both Doc
and I were frozen with
shock regarding what he
had heard. After a very
awkward pause he stood
up and continued, "If you
don't leave, I will."
Disoriented by the tantrum, Doc and I abided by
his ultimatum and humbly
retreated to our hotel.
While Doc medicated his
pride with a couple glasses of Merlot we discussed
our meeting with Marge
and Bill the next morning.
Refreshed by an
evening of rest we
greeted Marge and Bill
for breakfast at the local
'deep-fry.' "How was your
afternoon?" inquired the
ever-talkative Bill.
"It had its high and low
points," I responded. "Susan was a delight. She is
a very impressive young
lady. She has a very
promising future."
"That's nice of you to say
Loyd. If Susan was the high
point, I assume Alex was
the low."
"Well, I must admit, he
was quite the challenge.
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