I’m Just Gerry

I’m Just Gerry: Building a Forever Company the Price Way
by Rob Wozny (Afterward by Gerry Price)
Published by Wood Dragon Books
Review by Michelle Shaw
$21.99 ISBN 9781990863318

I’m Just Gerry is the compelling story of the growth of a small prairie company and its journey to become a world leader in its field.

Price Industries grew from a little company in Winnipeg to become a billion-dollar world leader in the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) industry. The book explains the principles that helped the company to do that, many of which seem counterintuitive to succeeding in the cutthroat business world of today. Fundamental concepts like service first and treating others the way you want to be treated. The fact that the business has succeeded is an incredible testimony to the perseverance and vision of Gerry Price.

I know nothing about the HVAC business, but I feel as if this little book – and Gerry Price himself – are well-kept secrets that need to be shared.

Gerry’s approach is clear: “What counts is how leaders treat others and, more importantly, how they treat the people in the business with the least authority and power. Anybody who abuses people or takes advantage of people who can’t fight back because they don’t have rank, privilege or education… I have zero tolerance for that – zero.”

The book is built around the 13 Tenets that anchor Price Industries and its affiliate companies. These include Service; Risk; Innovation; Resilience and Growth; Team, Humility, and “No Ego”; and The Golden Rule (treat others as you would like to be treated yourself). In the introduction, author Rob Wozny explains that “I’m Just Gerry is a business story of hard lessons learned, setbacks, struggles, dogged determination, the pursuit of innovation and the privilege to truly serve.” He shows both the triumphs and the low points of Gerry’s journey. And along the way you see how Gerry’s grit and determination were forged.

Each chapter is full of practical advice and relates real life examples of each Tenet as experienced by the company.

While I’m Just Gerry provides a fascinating look at the growth of a “forever company”, I think it’s also incredibly valuable as a roadmap for life. Each chapter provides clear action points such as “know that winning takes time”, “have timely financial reporting” and “welcome human connections”. I was so inspired by Gerry’s determination, vision, and the way he took calculated risks and persevered through incredible challenges.

I’m going to hand this book out to as many people as I can.

THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE OR FROM WWW.SKBOOKS.COM