Steve Grubbs, 47, started his career in politics, first as an
Iowa state legislator, then as chairman of Iowa's Republican
Party, before parlaying his campaign experience into a business
in 1997. Victory Enterprises, based in Davenport, Iowa, provides
consulting, website design, and other services to companies and
political candidates, including recent presidential hopeful
Herman Cain.  Because elections come around only every couple of
years—and because Grubbs is obsessed with diversifying his
business—he launched a second venture,, in 1999. The site sells
more than 500 kinds of customizable products, including high
school banners, pizza boxes, 4-foot-tall greeting cards, and
political signs. Grubbs's two companies have revenue of about
$22 million and 90 employees, many of whom are friends and
family members. When he's not out meeting with politicians,
Grubbs spends most of his time at his old elementary school,
which is now his company's headquarters.   I usually start my
workday at Starbucks. I get a half