Doc Franchise Writings and Ramblings

A few facts:

* It will take until 2021 for Michigan to gain back the 480,000 jobs it has lost
* It will take until 2017 for North Carolina to gain back the 178,000 jobs it has lost
* Colorado has gained 11,000 jobs this year but is still 110,000 down from pre-2008 levels
* On average, California has lost 16,000 jobs each month since January 2008...add that up (and it doesn't even include the over 58,000 jobs statewide they've lost in government!)
* Ohio has lost 400,000 jobs and is not likely to EVER gain even half of them back! Ohio is only #9 amongst the states in job loss!

This is just 5 stories. I chose them randomly. There are 50 states! Guess what? Each has a significant urban/suburban population, somewhere within it's boundaries that have lost jobs for a very very long time and for some it will be forever! The farmlands of the USA are no better.

Why do I point this out in a Life Coaching and Franchise Consulting business forum? Because so many husband/wife teams are stuck and stymied, doing nothing and hoping against hope because one, or both partners aren't dealing with reality. Month after month there is no job, there are no prospects and their nest egg is running out.

But one of the partners (and often both) can't see that a new way of approaching the issue of creating earnings needs to be considered. One of you refuses to look at anything but the old ways that worked in the old days. And one of you is working against the other.

Husbands and wives come together! Get on this! You have a problem to solve. It is a problem of financial security and fiscal responsibility to your family!...Generally speaking, "a job as the likely solution?" It is as likely as winning the LOTTO. What possesses you to believe that your financial need will be solved by some unknown employer?

Virgil the poet/philosopher said, "Fortune sides with him who dares." And, that is what most wives think business ownership, and having their spouse pursuing their entrepreneurial desire is; nothing more than a dare.

The fact is it's the opposite!

Pursuing a job search, month and month and for some now YEAR AFTER YEAR has no good end. Moreover, should you find the job, then what? Is it secure? Are your problems solved? Does it secure your future? How many of you are now on the 3rd, 4th and 5th job search? Oh sure, at one time, you worked for someone for 7 years, 10 years, 15 or 20 years...and then it was gone...you were downsized, rightsized, part of a paring of the middle and upper management fiscal labor fat. You lost your financial security. The company no longer valued your loyalty.

Perhaps after this first stunner you found a second job. How long did it last? Are you on your second job search; your third, ... fourth? The typical executive, who has been in the employment pool in America for over 20 years is on their third and fourth jobs. The first one (in their career rotation) lasted 12 years. The second one 4 years and the last one less than 18 months!I am not suggesting business ownership is for everyone. It's not. That is why Cindy and I do what we do. We help you, as a couple discover what direction is right for you...as a couple. It's our calling. We have worked together for over 35 years...we have counseled couples and marrieds to better understand one another from a perspective of goals, passions, personality and purpose. We'd love to work together with you and your spouse to best understand how it is you fit best so that, together, you truly are a source of energetic support and encouragement for one another and so that, together, you find out how best to solve your fiscal issues as well...

Give us a shout...this whole job problem is not going to go away. You desire to provide security for your family. Let us help.

There is a great book out there by good friend and expert on all things franchising, Joe Mathews. It is called Street Smart Franchising. It states 94% of all franchise owners consider themselves successful and 75% would do it all over again.

Here is the crazy part...99% of all people would love to own a business!

99 percent!

Do you know what reality is however? Only 1% possesses the motivation needed to do so.

99% of all people would absolutely buy a business, but when asked, “What do need to make that kind of decision?” Their responses were:

* They want a business were there is little or no start up costs
* Or, at the most, from the loose change found in their sofa cushions. (Less than $1000)
* A business that doesn’t need employees, but if it does there is no turnover…(Oh Ya, there's a reality)
* A business where you opened the doors and people are lined up to buy your product…(Sounds like free sample day at the Medical Marijuana Store!)

Well this type of business just doesn’t exist and that is the reason 99% are living in a dream world (or fog). It also explains why so many "look" but never commit.

BUT the 1% that has confidence in themselves and their skill sets; they want to find a business with a proven model that they believe in but know they must work as their own. That 1% is able to reach deep down inside themselves and find the determination needed to overcome the obstacles in order to create a better future for their families and solve the challenge of an insecure financial future, they will create an action plan and make a decision.

Yes, success in franchising is terrific and more likely to create success than should you do a business independently or even a business opportunity style. But most likely you will never know unless you decide you are the 1% and take the right steps to move forward.
We can help.

Success, the faith, the confidence, the ability to create the inertia to move forward is due in large part to a developing knowledge base. That is where Vision Reach can help. Our staff works as both consultant, coach and trainer. Understanding the unknown makes it much less scary. With over 90 years of combined success in franchising we can provide you with that knowledge. Give me a shout!

John is a 30 year veteran of the franchise industry and Life Coaching. He has owned and operated, been an executive and coach/consultant in his franchise tenure. You can also contact him directly at jwilson@matchpointnetwork.com. The website is www.visionreachinc.com or office phone: 480-838-1641. His offices are located at 4635 S. Lakeshore Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282. He works throughout the United States, Canada and the English speaking world as a consultant, coach, speaker and trainer

There is a massive disconnect between what people perceive as success and a switch that goes on at the time they start investigating a franchise. It causes them to jump to silly conclusions about success and they begin to interpret the process of evaluation using false criteria.
At the macro level, we see big franchise names on the street and we assume "can't miss" success for some of them and failure or more likely to fail, for other brands.
Why?
It's subjective. Individually we naturally relate our conclusions back, somehow, someway in our personal psyche to the national company. At the local level perhaps certain brands have closed their doors. Or, perhaps a number of businesses in a category seem to be struggling. But that it is somehow the fault of the national brand? Well, nothing is typically further from the truth in the world of those franchises.
Franchise companies provide systems, training, ongoing support, marketing, group buying power and market insight. They give us a home base from which to draw information so we might constantly be updated to trends in the client and consumer base for our products. In addition, we have a whole group of franchisees from whom we can communicate in order to better understand unique and local challenges. None of this, by and large is available to the independent businessman. To think because you understand the operations of a business that you don't need a franchise is making a huge mistake beyond your apparent scope of understanding.
However, all of that support, help, purchasing power, knowledge, branding and positioning a franchise company provides is of little value as it relates to our personal success unless we practice successful habits for our business at the local level.
Here is a short list of 12 things franchisees must bring to the table to achieve personal success. Every successful franchisee is taught this and knows this. It only escapes you and I because we aren't thinking through both the big picture and how it relates to the local picture.
Here they are:
1. Be practical, tactical and useful as clients observe you in your marketplace
2. Be easy to find and understand and by that I mean YOU, the franchisee not just your business.
3. Be helpful and solve problems, pain or fear in your market positioning - be specific in describing them
4. Be authentic in the message and the way you deliver it to your market
5. Be caring, kind and generous in your local community and that means YOU be visible
6. Be grateful in your observable interaction in the community and marketplace
7. Be respectful to everyone (competitors, clients, other businesses) and have integrity in your business dealings with both clients and vendors.
8. Be indispensable for some things that others, over time will realize you do uniquely and without fanfare
9. Be resilient because it takes time and patience to create brand awareness
10. Be responsive to the community and potential client base and that means be personally involved in details
11. Be paying it forward and giving back and make this a habit and not an event in your business life
12. Be fun and have a sense of humor in your life and delivery of your messages
Finally, in this climate it is hard to decide on a right business choice. The best way to do it is have someone who understands the in's and outs of the franchises themselves, what they are looking for, what is their culture, and if their business systems provide all the tools for their most successful franchisees. If you don't know that through the process of personal experience then consult with a franchise Coach. We at Vision Reach/MatchPoint (www.facebook.com/visionreachmatchpoint) have developed a unique system to provide you with the support you need to make a confident right choice.
I hope you found this learning useful today!
John is a 30 year veteran of the franchise industry and Life Coaching. He has owned and operated, been an executive and coach/consultant in his franchise tenure. You can also contact him directly at jwilson@matchpointnetwork.com. The website is www.visionreachinc.com or office phone: 480-838-1641. His offices are located at 4635 S. Lakeshore Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282. He works throughout the United States, Canada and the English speaking world as a consultant, coach, speaker and trainer
The original of this article was first published on Facebook here: 12 Things You Must Do to Ensure Your Franchise Operation Success

Do You Get Satisfaction In Creating Satisfaction?

On Facebook and Twitter; our website and LinkedIn...every week I'm asked about the secret of success in both choosing a franchise business but also, after investing, in ownership, what is critical to success? I've learned what that means to the asker, "How do I ensure my success, in the way that I define it (and further I am not going to reveal what that means to you!)"

The short answer is there is no one answer to ensure your success...in ANYTHING!

Life happens...the improbable occurs...the impossible bears down on us and then, as if what we do not control isn't enough looms heavy, we ourselves make all types of boneheaded decisions!

Security is NEVER...EVER assured...EVER!

We did a whole video with statistics and proof that a job/career in America is no longer secure. You can no longer trade loyalty for security with a corporate position. You might as well chalk up the potential of losing your job (fired/downsized/outsourced/canned, etc. etc.) to a span from the possible and improbable to the drop dead assured to happen; you will lose your job if you work for someone. You will also lose the next one too. It's a statistical fact.

So, is business ownership, overall, that much more rosy? YES! World's so.

...with some very significant "ifs" and here's one: How much do you or would you enjoy serving a customer base? If the answer is you could and it is possible and, further, that you do not feel universally that, "Business is great except for the people!" then you have a major shot at business ownership success.

Client satisfaction is of massive value in business ownership. Paperwork isn't. Systems are only important inasmuch as they work to serve the client/customer needs.

In our world you have client relationships. The transaction with the client either occurs within a relationship or it doesn't. If it doesn't then you will have to create transactions anew each time a warm body shows up. Moreover, if you aren't treating your people in a way that shows you value the exchanges with them you will be fighting upstream against an ever increasing body of knowledge through them that says, "working with this clown isn't worth the effort!" Not cool.

In customer service training they talk abut the "lifetime value of a customer.” In this scenario making a major refund doesn't matter nearly so much because that value when projected over 3, 5, 10 years becomes inconsequential and, in business, you must always take the long view over the short term value proposition. But, and as you can guess by what I've said previously, even if you’re only going to deal with a customer one time, if you approach it as a relationship, you’re much more likely to develop a "fan for life!"

When I am asked what components help to make a decision to go into business, how you feel about producing satisfied customers is at the top of the list. The guy who answers me, "I like creating solutions," usually is more about the process and not the people. That isn't enough. The one who answers they love the thrill of the hunt, securing that first deal; what they think of as "the victory" really has no vision. Business owners, large and small, must have vision. What might a right view of customer service look like?

How do you know if you are a customer service kinda guy or gal? How can you tell if you have a component necessary for small business success? Let me suggest 5 components of a necessary caring customer service attitude:

1. Integrity: Integrity is always defined by the customer to mean that you had communicated an outcome and you have fulfilled that promise. Do you communicate intentions and get agreement on expectations with the people around you? If the answer is "yes" then you will be viewed as having integrity and have a most significant component of customer service.

2. Knowledge: Again, from the customer's perspective do you understand your offering and have you, to the clients satisfaction, communicated its purpose and value proposition to their satisfaction? I know it's frustrating when you go to a company and can’t get answers to the most basic questions. Your ability as the owner to have a singular response that can be easily communicated to both client and employee is fundamental. Do you have the capability...the ability perhaps, to effectively communicate so there is little misunderstanding? You might have customer service skills and the ability to train them.

3. Create a relevant culture: A company’s culture gets transmitted from the top down. As the owner YOU are that top! Your team will only treat your clients as well as they view your treatment of those customers. As important they will rarely treat customers any better than you, as their boss, treat your team! Do those who report to you, both inside and outside your family view you as fair, pleasant, respectful in your dealings with them? You might be a quality customer service individual and that goes a long way to building a business and retaining clients!

4. Training: This is a place where franchising shines. If your business calls for employees, then it calls for employee training. However, your personality can circumvent good training materials and practices. If you are one of those who sort of slaps your direct reports against a wall, leave them to their own devices and see if they stick to it, you are going to waste resources and money. Proper and continual training is it's own reward in that you gain satisfaction as you watch your team gain confidence and develop pride in the enterprise. However, the major payoff of greater sales and significantly stronger customer retention will elevate your revenues while reducing your expenses.

5. Empower your employees beyond the expected: Nordstrom's Department Stores are known for exceptional customer service. This happens because of the chain of hiring, training, internal relationship building between leadership and associate (customer service) personnel and how it influences how adequate and empowered everyone feels. Comparatively a Nordstrom employee develops more than 50% higher revenues and 12% great profit margins and a major component of this is a culture of empowerment. Do you communicate, train, encourage and exhort individuals in your life? If you do you might have what it takes to lead and create a successful business climate.

What is the key to success? Success is a building with many doors and many locks. One key is quality customer service. As you review the 5 components, ask yourself, "Do I have those abilities?" Then, ask a few people who know you their opinion. Then, do some soul searching! Until next time...

John is a 30-year professional in the franchise industry. He has been a franchisee, a franchise executive and an advocate/consultant to the public and to dozens of franchise companies. He is the founder and managing partner of Vision Reach and can be reached at docfranchise@gmail.com. or direct office 480.838.1641