David O'Brien is CEO of dealership training company Quantum5 in Scottsdale, Ariz.
First car: 1980 Cadillac Eldorado off the showroom floor for two days; then my dad made sure it got sold and the sales manager, Jack Helm, encouraged me to learn to like slow-selling cars like a 1980 Olds Cutlass Supreme
First concert: 38 Special
Name a pet peeve: Watching people in a service industry not treated well by customers for no reason other than entitlement
Most thrilling/adventurous thing you've done: Took a biplane ride in Sedona buzzing the red rocks
Your personal hero, and why: People who overcome — my dad, the person who started with nothing and made it; the person who sacrifices for others; anyone who fights through the odds
First job: Washing cars at my dad's dealership and working at Maple City Dairy serving ice cream
Something on your bucket list: Riding the train to Banff, Canada
One thing you learned on the job you never forgot: Be grateful that I have a job and not focus on the problems
If you could pick up a new skill, what would it be? I'm learning to sketch in order to progress to painting art.
3 people you'd invite to dinner, living or dead: My dad, to ask some questions; my mom, to see her smile again; and writer Adam Grant to talk about resilience
What did you want to be when you were a kid? After fireman and policeman, it was always being in the car business like my dad. When he let me come to the dealership with him on Sundays, I was hooked.
Do you collect anything? If red wine counts, yes. I have about 450 bottles in the cellar.
First album/CD you bought: Boston
Favorite comfort food: Cookies, homemade preferred, but anything that reminds me of my mom making cookies
Who's on your Spotify playlist? Joe Rogan podcast, Dave Brubeck jazz; and no one knows I like me some Pitbull.
