Did You Lower The Bar For Your Business?

You’ve done it. You successfully own a franchise or new business and the first three years have passed without too much trouble. Now 10 years…15…20, each with its own unique opportunity to keep your business perspective fresh and exciting. How do you stay motived and keep your passion thriving?

You’ve already overcome one of the hardest obstacles about business ownership, which is finding a business you find fulfilling and from which you gain a level of satisfaction. When your career matches up with your passions, it is hard to dread the workweek. Yet, that doesn’t mean you’ll wake up refreshed and ready to smell the roses at each ding of the alarm. While your emotions may fluctuate, you can’t lower the bar in your business relationship. It’s a constant give and take and your standards should remain resolute even in the roughest times.

• Realistic Goals: The world around you is rapidly changing, which means your business will be affected. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment, track your progress and celebrate the small milestones as well.

• Embrace Competition: Nothing like a good challenge to awaken the competitor within. Face it, we all like to win and a little healthy competition will encourage you to innovate and explore. Lacking in competition? That’s great! Challenge yourself. Let your friends and coworkers speak their mind and keep your business from becoming stale one way or another.

• Your Business is a Result of Your Efforts: That’s right. Your intentions, actions, efforts will show in your business. It is ideally an extension of you, after all. Make sure you put your best foot forward, or the lack of motivation will start to show in your work.

• Self Mastery: Continue to use the courage that got you to this point to achieve your dreams. Fear, if left unmanaged, will slowly deteriorate your business. Protect your future with courage and self-belief. Master your fears and always say you can do better. In turn, appreciate what you have accomplished and forgive your mistakes.

The bar, so to speak, is never set. It will be reached and repositioned, but only if you’re pushing professional (and personal!) boundaries. Always defy your limits and keep your passions alive.

Do you feel that you’re ready to get started? Let FranNet connect you with the business you’ve been looking for. Ask us about a free consultation. Our purpose is to connect the dots and make the transition from corporate employment to the freedom of business ownership manageable and safe.

"It is never too late to be what you might have been."

It’s almost like George Eliot was speaking straight to the late blooming entrepreneurs. Most of us reach a certain age and feel it’s too late to start chasing old fantasies and begin again. The wonderful thing about success is its impromptu character – it could happen at anytime time in life for the wildest of reasons.

Dig a little into Ray Kroc, Leo Goodwin and John Pemberton’s past and you’ll be convinced that an empire can be built with a little gray hair and spirit! Several of history’s leaders did not begin with the companies they are known for today and the same can be said for many modern entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is never easy, no matter what stage of life you are in. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, yet the reward is leading a career you have control over and enjoy. 

As author Isabel Allende says in her TED talk, “society defines when we are old.” How true! Does your age have control over your ambition, passions and mission in life? How accurate it is to see years as chapters, while the story you have been living is full of detail and depth. There are so many pages left that can be equally thrilling and satisfying.

The safety your current career offers you is a huge reason to stay put and avoid change. You have safety in that job you’ve carried out for 20 years, in the routine you walk through each day and in the predictable road ahead. There is nothing wrong with valuing that safety or the life you’ve lived thus far.  But what about that desire for more? It has not aged at all. 

Your age is the equivalent of a fine, aged wine: highly valued, greatly enjoyed and rare. You also have something younger counterparts do not – money and the experience to manage it. Not only that, but you will know how to cater to your community and gather support from long-time neighbors.  Don’t be afraid to use your network and build a team you can trust. Start exploring and don’t be afraid to ask current franchisees for advice.

You are not bound by any one path. Remember that you are the main influencing factor for what happens in your life. If becoming your own boss was a goal 10, 20 or even 30 years ago, it can still happen.

Do you feel that you’re ready to get started? Let FranNet connect you with the business you’ve been looking for. Ask us about a free consultation with a qualified and experienced franchise consultant. Our purpose is to connect the dots and make the transition from corporate employment to the freedom of business ownership manageable and safe. 

Can You Really "Do It All?" Promises of Productivity.

Amber Naslund, the SVP of a social intelligence company has a blog called, “Brass Tack Thinking.” In her post titled, "My Crazy Productivity Secrets” she took on the issue of being productive. Her words provide helpful insights and tips to help manage your time.

What it is that's keeping you from being productive? It could be anything, a loss of focus, lack of motivation, anxiety or even unclear priorities? Most likely, the main thing keeping you from being productive are your choices and using your time wisely.

“My choices reflect what’s important to me, and what makes me happy. That’s fluid and changes to an extent, but I’m devoted to a thriving career, a growing business, and excited about passion projects I have on the side. But there is no magic system. Stop looking for it.” - Amber Naslund.

Let's get it all out there, what do you need to do and what to you want to do. Be honest with yourself! It is easy to blend the two, eventually what you say you need turns out to be what you want. Of course, sometimes they do align. But when finishing a movie or playing with the dog becomes what you need to do, you’ve crossed into procrastination territory and the excuses will overflow.

“I don’t get the “busy as a badge of honor” thing. All that tells me is that you need to learn to manage your time better or get your priorities straight with yourself or the people you work for. Working insane hours is not an achievement.” - Amber Naslund.

At this point you have realized that more hours don’t necessarily equal more work done. If you're dreading the day ahead or constantly daydreaming, perhaps this is a sign you want more. A good way to finish what you need to is by enjoying what you do. “Working insane hours” will happen, but the achievement lies in your dedication to spend that time wisely so you can get back to the things that matter most to you.

“I have the responsibility of kids, animals, a house, and a business. The rest has to come after those things, and even the business can’t take over the other ones. - Amber Naslund.

Remember, your daily routine might look overwhelming but it doesn’t have to dominate every hour of every day. New tasks will always be there to take up room in your schedule. Keep in mind there is only so much you can do in a day and that’s okay! Relax, refocus and cut yourself some slack –work smart and know the difference between what needs to be done today and what can be done tomorrow.

Start working toward your business ownership goals. Let FranNet connect you with the business you’ve been looking for. Ask us about a free consultation. Our purpose is to connect the dots and make the transition from corporate employment to the freedom of business ownership manageable and safe.