Franchising is a unique business model where the various parties are very interdependent on one another. The franchisor relies on the franchisee success and vice versa. What we try to really emphasize is the fact that we have one thing in common and that is the brand, the brand equity, the brand integrity, and the brand reputation. So, when we bring a franchisee into our system and when we are growing our business with independent business owners, we emphasize how important it is and how everybody has the lofty responsibility to uphold that brand equity and integrity. And we have some legal measures in place to make sure we can protect it. These are compliance measures and brand protection measures that protect us in case a franchisee doesn’t uphold the brand standards. We make sure everything we do from a compliance standpoint is really in the best interest of everybody’s investment in the business and the brand of College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving.
With that mindset, we’re able to create an aligned vision of all the parties and stakeholders. As long as our vision is aligned and we’re trying to grow this brand to the best that it can be…while we may have some disputes or disagreements on various technical or strategic elements…at the end of the day, we’re still rolling in the same direction. And I think that’s a critical element of a franchising business. Everyone keeps that big picture in mind, nobody gets overly self-centered about their own business in their own market and neglecting the bigger picture of what we’ve invested in this common enterprise. So that that’s been our approach and it’s worked.
Once I became an entrepreneur, and by the way, I didn’t really even know what that word meant until we had started our business and people would say, “Oh you’re an entrepreneur, you started a business,”… from then on, I became sort of a student of entrepreneurship. I became a very avid reader of books. I would go to entrepreneurship conferences, I would talk to successful business owners who have been there and tried to apply the things that I was learning to my actual living, breathing business. At times, I’ve tried to force it too much. I’ll go away to a different conference and I’d come back and my employees would think I was crazy cause I would give them a list of like a hundred things that we needed to start doing that we weren’t doing yet.
Joining the International Franchise Association was very helpful to us. I joined a group called the Entrepreneurs Organizations, and that was nice cause I was surrounded by other entrepreneurs that were doing high-growth things. I’m now part of a group called the Young Presidents Organization, which is very similar. It has a group of my peers, business leaders that are trying to raise the bar in their own respective organizations. The passion I had for being a business owner and the opportunities and resources that were out there to learn and being able to apply those learnings to our business…was invaluable to the trajectory of the business as well.
Building leaders is one of our company core values, so we want to encourage everybody in all organizations down to the front line, those who are hauling or answering our phones. They’re not just here just to do that. They are here to learn and grow, get better, and improve themselves and in whatever capacity that may be.
Read more: SpeedPro Imaging CEO Larry Oberly Talks Franchise Success
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
