One of the most common discussions I have as a franchise coach is about timing—and more specifically, when the timing is right to start a business.  And I’ll be honest: I stongly believe two completely opposite things about this topic. On one hand, I firmly believe that the timing has to be ri...

Recently a good friend of mine, Jacki Dezelski, was honored as the recipient of the 2025 Kent C. Schulz Award.  As someone who has dedicated her career to improving our community, Jacki is a truly exceptional choice.  Jacki is also a top ranked local tennis player and her acceptance speech used te...

Back in June, I wrote about the financial milestones of business ownership, and it got me reflecting on the early conversations I have with new entrepreneurs—those exciting first steps when someone decides to pursue business ownership for the very first time. One of the first exercises I walk peop...

When I talk to aspiring business owners about their financial goals, many express a desire to replace their current income as quickly as possible. While this might seem like a reasonable objective, it doesn’t truly address the financial milestones necessary for building a successful business. Afte...

When I work with individuals who wish to explore franchising, one of the questions we explore is – ‘What advice would you give to a young person regarding how to live a fulfilling life’.  I have received many answers to this question over the years, but Jon L’s response last month was truly...

Last month, I touched on one of the more complex aspects of the due diligence process – Item 19s and Building P&L’s. This week, I want to simplify things and focus on what is really at the core of due diligence. At its heart, due diligence doesn’t have to be complicated, it's actually pret...

About a month ago, my mother shared a book with me about a man who lived to be 109 years old. Over such a long life, he gained valuable insights, and the book is filled with meaningful lessons. One passage stood out to me—it explored fear and courage, aligning well with the first chapter of&hellip...

A few weeks ago, I was speaking with a new franchisee. He had been in business for around 6 months.  During our conversation, he shared some of the challenges he was facing as he tried to grow in his new role as an owner. His experiences reminded me of a previous life experience I had…...

This month, I'd like to talk a little bit about establishing a personal vision statement. Step One in The Franchise Playbook is all about defining your personal vision. When I work with individuals who are exploring business ownership, one of the first things we do is work on our personal vision. So...

As those of you who have read my book know, I really do enjoy sayings that neatly and cleanly summarize a thought or mindset. This month, I'd like to share one of my sayings with you: "The art of business ownership is the ability to make timely, confident decisions with incomplete information." Why ...