Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue I, 2016 | Page 23

come in for an eight-week internship opportunity, where they learn about business
operations and marketing. “I ensure the
interns understand that our founder, Ray
Kroc, started his career as a blender salesman who had a dream that has turned into
a billion-dollar company, and they can do
the same thing.”
Jakes isn’t content in just serving his
community, operating his own franchises,
and watching the profits roll in. He recently started a consulting business called
My 5th Quarter, which offers business and
franchise consulting to other former and
current professional athletes who want to
get into business and have something going after their playing careers end.
“I work with them to teach fundamentals
like getting into franchising, starting and
staying in business, taking your business to
the next level, and how to make your money
work for you,” he says. “It’s rewarding to
share with others things that I’ve learned
and to watch them succeed and grow.”

SPORTS & BUSINESS
What skills or experience from sports
have carried over to operating a business? Execution.
Which do you find more competitive,
sports or business? Business.
Why did you choose franchising as an investment option? The success rate.
How did you transition from sports to
franchising? Quietly.
What was your greatest achievement in
sports? When I played with the Green Bay Packers and intercepted a pass in a game against my
former team, the New Orleans Saints.
What has been your biggest accomplishment as a franchisee? Acquiring my first
McDonald’s at the age of 31.

PERSONAL
First job: Body shop, cleanup
Formative influences/events: Staying out of gangs (which were highly
prevalent) and being involved in sports, which kept my attention and focus during
a time I could have easily gone the other way.
Key accomplishments: My family and my eight-year NFL career.
Biggest current challenge: Balancing time.
Next big goal: To help current and former athletes make a successful transition
into the world of business.
First turning point in your career: Realizing that I had to learn every detail
of the business.
Best business decision: Moving to Atlanta.
Hardest lesson learned: Going from 1 unit to 4. (More isn’t always better.)
Work week: My work week generally goes from 50 to 80 hours per week—
non-stop!
Exercise/workout: I work out 3 to 4 days a week.

Best advice you ever got: Put money, savings into a black hole… deep!
What’s your passion in business? Helping people.
How do you balance life and work? I balance life one day at a time, with
a three-month plan.
Guilty pleasure: Ginger snap cookies.
Favorite book: Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson.
Favorite movie: “300.”
What do most people not know about you? I can’t swim and I love
my pool!
Pet peeve: Dishonesty.
What did you want to be when you grew up? An NFL player, a running back.
Last vacation: Panama.
Person I’d most like to have lunch with: I’d love to have lunch with
President Barack Obama.

MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISEE IS S U E I, 2016

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