Doc Franchise Writings and Ramblings

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