What if everything you built over decades hinged on just a few key decisions and a whole lot of grit?

In this episode of Maximum Octane, hosts Jason Patel and George Zeeks sit down with Gilda Dyckman to hear the incredible journey she and her husband Mike experienced while building and eventually selling a multi-million dollar auto repair business. From taking over a humble muffler shop and growing it into a full-scale operation, to overcoming legal battles, raising twins with special needs, and executing a well-planned exit strategy, Gilda shares powerful insights into resilience, entrepreneurship, and family business dynamics.

She opens up about the early struggles of managing with paper invoices and unsupervised staff, and how everything changed after joining ATI. With the right coaching, mentors, and systems in place, Gilda and Mike shifted from surviving to scaling. She also reflects on how retirement isn't the end of the road but the beginning of a new chapter filled with purpose and community impact.

Tune in to episode 122 of Maximum Octane and discover how grit, strategy, and the right support system can turn operational chaos into a successful and fulfilling business legacy.

Episode Takeaways:

• 1:00 Gilda's unconventional entry into the auto repair industry
• 5:50 The lawsuit, the "bad Mike," and learning tough business lessons early
• 10:40 Balancing business ownership with raising special needs twins
• 14:50 Why joining ATI was the wake-up call that changed everything
• 18:40 The toughest part of transitioning from DIY operations to data-driven decisions
• 24:20 Inside the 5-year plan to sell the business and how they pulled it off
• 31:30 Why succession planning should start the day you open your business
• 35:40 The overlooked business risk most shop owners aren't planning for
• 37:00 What retirement really looks like and how to prepare for it with confidence

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