F.O.C.U.S.E.D.

Franchise First

If you are going to buy into a franchise, then be all in on being a franchisee.  To find success in franchising, you cant constantly be at odds with the brand.  Pick the right brand, and be that brands biggest cheerleader.

Obsessed

You have to be obsessed with the success of your business.  You may hear the word “absentee” or “semi-absentee” thrown around a good deal when exploring franchise ownership – don’t buy it, at least not right away.  A franchise is a lot like a child – it requires a great deal of attention at birth, and as it starts to mature, you can give it more autonomy.  

Control the Controllables

Business is hard, so it is easy, especially in Franchising, to think about all the items that are more in your circle of concern as opposed to your circle of influence.  Sometimes Franchisees can het hyper-focused on what the Franchisor is doing instead of staying focused on the local market and the guest standing right in front of them.  The most successful Franchisees stay dialed in on what they can and execute relentlessly.

Unreasonable

I know what you are thinking – unreasonable doesn’t seem to have a positive connotation.  However, you have to be unreasonable in many facets of your franchise business to set yourself apart.  You have to be unreasonable about service.  You have to be unreasonable about taking care of your people.  You need to do things that leave the average person thinking you are crazy for going out of your way to the degree that you do when it comes to your guests and your team.  Your staff are your guests, and if you treat them with unreasonable respect and kindness, they will do the same to the guest.

Scared

If you aren’t a little scared every day, then you don’t fully understand the gravity of the situation.  Jeff Gordan, a four-time NASCAR Champion, used to say, “If I’m not a little scared, I’m not driving fast enough.”  That is applicable in the business of franchising.  You can’t take anything for granted.  You need to be a little scared you may lose a valued team member, a guest, or a trusted vendor.  Healthy fear will help you foster all of those relationships.

Empathetic

Design Thinking is all about leading the decision making process from a place of empathy.  In a time when most business owners are viewed as prioritizing the “almighty dollar” over everything else, empathy will set you apart with your team and guests.  Customers will call you expecting a fight, and empathy will change their demeanor almost instantly.  There are going to be many times when you are going to want to snap at an employee, vendor, customer, etc.  Ignore that urge.  Always.  Your going to get farther along in your journey, and you are going to regret being mean.  Lean into kindness in every situation.  Before you act, lean into empathy.

Dreamer

Franchising gives you a practical guide and playbook, but as the Franchisee, you have to bring the dreams and aspirations.  You can manifest what you believe.