Sharing Experiences

Knowledge and communication in our industry can make a real difference

Not long ago, Autosphere columnist Mike Urban, contacted us regarding an email he received from Gilles Michaud, retired Vice President of Product Management and Market Development for Uni-Select. This followed on from Mike’s article entitled “The Owner’s Curse,” which Autosphere published and is featured in this issue of the magazine. We felt it would be good to share the correspondence from both Mike and Gilles, to illustrate how documenting and sharing experiences can have a significant impact on the lives and businesses of others. At Autosphere, our goal has always been to inform and inspire and we hope that, by continuing to look for the stories and issues that matter, we can continue to provide content that helps make a difference. I would like to say a big thank you to both Mike and Gilles for providing us an opportunity to share the below messaging with us – Ed.

First a little word from Mike himself…

I wanted to share something with all of you because it honestly made my day.

This morning, completely out of the blue, I received the email below from Gilles Michaud, the retired Vice President of Product Management & Market Development for Uni-Select Inc.

I’ve never met Gilles, so receiving a message like this from someone who spent so many years as a respected leader in the Canadian automotive aftermarket really caught me by surprise.

As I read through his email, it dawned on me that he wasn’t complimenting the writing itself. He was talking about the impact the articles are having on people in our industry.

The line that really struck me was when he said the articles help business owners realize they are not alone.

That has been my goal from the very beginning.

When Shirley Brown approached me about writing for Autosphere, I knew I didn’t want to write technical articles about repairing vehicles. There are already plenty of people who do that exceptionally well. I wanted to write about the human side of owning a business—the responsibility, the difficult decisions, the self-doubt, the pressure, and the lessons that don’t come from a service manual.

To know that someone of Gilles’ calibre read those articles and felt they were making a difference… I have to admit, that one hit me differently.

It also reminded me how many people have helped me get to this point.

Amy Lynn Urban, you’ve lived every one of these stories with me. You know better than anyone that every article comes from something we’ve experienced together.

Shirley, thank you for believing I had something worth saying and for giving me the opportunity to become an Autosphere columnist. None of this would have happened without you opening that door.

Brad Gosse, thank you for your friendship over the years and for helping me find my voice long before Autosphere. Your guidance while we worked together on You Auto Know gave me the confidence to tell stories instead of simply sharing information.

Kevin Allen and Geoff Berman, you’ve both challenged me to become a better business owner and leader. Many of the ideas I write about today were shaped through conversations we’ve had over the years.

Derek Elliott, thank you for everything you do at Urban Automotive. Having someone I trust to help lead the business allows me to step away for a few hours and put these thoughts onto paper. Those articles wouldn’t exist without your support.

I don’t often stop and reflect because I’m usually focused on the next project, the next article, or the next challenge. But this email reminded me why I started writing in the first place.

If one shop owner reads an article and thinks, “That’s exactly how I’ve been feeling,” then it’s worth every minute.

Receiving that validation from someone who spent decades helping shape the Canadian automotive aftermarket makes it even more meaningful.

I thought all of you would appreciate this because each of you has played a role in this journey, whether you realize it or not. Thanks for believing in me.

From Gilles…

Good Morning Mike

I just want to CONGRATULATE you for your columns in Autosphere

You convey convincing messages for all stakeholders in the Industry

and more specifically for the owners/shareholders of businesses.

Times fly but challenges remain constant and it seems that they are

more and more difficult to deal with as speed of change is in Turbo mode.

Thank you for sharing your perspective and reminding us all of the real life

of entrepreneurs whatever the size of their business.

One said – “It feels lonely at the Top »

You help others understand they are not alone…

Thanks and Keep on Going

Gilles Michaud

Retired –  Vice President, Product Management & Market Development

                            Uni-Select Inc.

Mike’s reply to Gilles…

Hi Gilles,

Thank you very much for your email. I truly appreciate you taking the time to reach out.

I have to admit, receiving a message like yours from someone who has spent so many years in our industry really means a lot to me.

When I started writing for Autosphere, my hope was simply to write about the realities of owning and running a repair shop. The victories are easy to celebrate, but it’s the challenges, the self-doubt, and the difficult decisions that often shape us the most. If sharing those experiences helps another shop owner realize they’re not alone, then I feel like I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.

Although we’ve never had the opportunity to meet, I’m really glad you reached out. Now that we have each other’s contact information, if you ever find yourself in the Oakville area, I would genuinely enjoy meeting you in person. Please don’t hesitate to stop by the shop anytime. The coffee is always on, and I’d be happy to give you a tour and continue the conversation.

Thank you again for your encouragement, Gilles. It truly means a great deal, and you’ve given me even more motivation to keep writing.

All the best,

Michael Urban, RSE

Founder – Urban Automotive Inc.

Best-Selling Author | Podcast Host – You Auto Know