Name: Allen Lasky
Location: Dallas, Texas
Q: Where are you from?
A: I am originally from Chicago but grew up in Wisconsin. When I turned 18, I graduated and left to join the U.S. Air Force. After I got out of the service, I moved to California and lived there for 13 years. Then we got wise and moved to our final resting spot – the Great State of Texas.
Q: What was your career before franchising?
A: I have been in aviation my whole life. I started as an aircraft electrician in the Air Force. I stayed in aviation after I got out and did everything from working on engines to overhauling aircrafts. After many years as a mechanic, I moved to quality control (QC) as an inspector and spent majority of my career in
aviation in this role. Incidentally, I have never worked for a large airline; I always worked for independent repair stations or aircraft manufacturers.
Q: Why did you decide to open your own business?
A: I always wanted to be in business for myself.
I looked into different concepts, such as video stores and ice cream shops, but I wasn’t really prepared to undertake those types of ventures while raising a family. Plus, it was hard to imagine myself renting out DVD’s or scooping ice cream on a day-to-day basis.
Then, two years ago, I went through a drastic transformation and found something I was passionate about. I was 51 years old, weighed 230 pounds and was at 30% body fat.
The realization that I wasn’t in shape and aging terrified me, so I joined a gym and hired a trainer. Now at 53 years old I am in the best shape of my life at 165 pounds 8.2% body fat.
As part of my transformation I discovered nutritional supplementation from
MMSN. The franchising opportunities caught my eye.
I originally started looking to purchase a franchise about a year ago but wasn’t in the financial and career position to do so at that time. So I put the idea on the backburner but, in the meantime, I got my financial and job situation squared away. On the job front, I was travelling a lot and couldn't dedicate the time to prepare for starting a franchise. After some time, I got to this point and decided to take the opportunity seriously, which brings me to my present situation.
Q: What was appealing to you about joining a franchise system?
A: I have never run a business and liked their business plan and franchisee support. It’s a turnkey operation. Don’t let the term “Turnkey Operation” fool you, though; it’s also a lot of work, but a lot of the work has also been done on the front end by
MMSN. So I thought it would be the best way for me to go into business for myself. Along with the training
MMSN will provide (and it’s a lot!), they will prepare me well for opening my business. I am so excited; it’s all I think about all day long! My family will be involved. My daughter-in-law will be my manager. I went into this with the thought of having my family involved and that is very important to me.
Q: With regard to your previous experience, what skills do you feel helped you in your business?
A: In every prior position I’ve held, I’ve managed to move into supervisory positions and find success. It’s probably because I know how to deal with people and run a quality department. I am a fast learner and my attitude and my enthusiasm is going to serve me well.
Q: What obstacles have you overcome to get where you are today with your business?
A: I have to learn about business and about dealing with people from a different angle than I have been accustomed. In addition, I could not secure a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan due to collateral rules in Texas (the Texas Homestead Act prevents banks from seizing homes, which are traditionally used as collateral on loans in most other states).
However, this ended up being a blessing because in the process I learned about a way to roll my retirement funds into a 401(k) trust, and so I am funding my business from my retirement funds. Therefore, when my business is open it will be paid for, and I will just have operating
costs to deal with. Some may question sinking all of my retirement savings into this business, and to that I would answer “this is my retirement”. If I were working for another company, I would look to retire in thirteen years.
Because I own my own business and am in great shape, I will probably never retire. Putting my retirement funds into this business is a risk, but I think it is a good risk.
Q: What are some of your achievements (professionally or personally) that you think will help you along the way in your business?
A: When I set out to do something, I really put everything into it. A lot of the things I have learned over the years in my career are self-taught.
Aside from the obvious point of getting into shape during a time when most are out of shape, I am also proud of my prior aviation history and the way it will serve me in business. For example, I was appointed as a designee by the Federal Aviation Administration
to do work on their behalf, which is not an easy designation to get. So whenever I put my mind towards something, I get it done.
Q: What are your expansion or development plans?
A: We are hoping to expand at 3-5 years down the road. Of course that will depend on
the success of my store.
Established in 1991 by former NFL linebacker Joe Wells, Max Muscle Sports Nutrition (MMSN) is America's premier sports nutrition retail outlet and franchise system, selling a combination of scientifically proven nutritional supplements at more than 150 outlets in 32 states. Rated by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top Retail Franchise 2010, a Top 500 Franchise 2010 and by Military Times Magazine as a 2010 Best for Vets business, MMSN provides a one-of-a-kind in-store experience through its unique design and one-on-one customer counseling from extensively trained Certified Fitness Nutrition Coaches™. MMSN's aggressive expansion plans include offering its unique opportunity to qualified, business-savvy candidates. For more information, call 888-MAX-MUSCLE ext. 2 or visit
maxmusclefranchise.com.
By: Faye Edmundson
