Where will tomorrow’s jobs come from? Everyone from Main Street to the White House is focused on that question. Well, according to new data projections from The Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute, future job growth will be created primarily by women-owned small businesses.
Guardian’s research shows that by 2018 women entrepreneurs will be responsible for creating between 5 million and 5.5 million new jobs nationwide. That’s more than half of the 9.7 million new jobs the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects small businesses to create, and about one-third of the total new jobs the BLS projects will be created nationwide in that time frame. READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE
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Since I used to own a Sir Speedy Center in downtown San Francisco, I am happy to be able to post this article. I just recently had coffee with Don Lowe, the CEO of Franchise Services, and one of my favorite people. Don was president when they asked me to help them develop the nine western states for them. I know that the printing industry has been a tough road with all the changes in the industry but Sir Speedy continues to work hard to help their franchise owners. Congratulations Sir Speedy!
Sir Speedy Named To Franchise Times Top 200 List Company achieves high ranking in foreign units category
MISSION VIEJO – Sir Speedy, a franchise network of printing and marketing services providers, was recently named to Franchise Times magazine’s Top 200 List. The Franchise Times Top 200 is comprised of all top franchise systems ranked by worldwide sales for the year 2008. Sir Speedy ranked number 155. This year’s report showed significant international growth among franchise companies. Sir Speedy ranked number 75 in the foreign units category. READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE
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When I met my client, she was living in California, unhappy with the direction her life had been going and was ready to make a change. She had a sister who lived in the southwest which gave us a place to start. She needed to sell her house and buy a new one, find the right match in a business but oh yes, we had a trip to Europe planned too.
She had already been doing research on her own and thought she knew what she wanted. After taking her through a very detailed process of discovery I was able to identify a business that fit her to a tee. She wanted a business where she could become part of the community offering a very needed service. She wanted to make sure she wouldn’t be stuck in a location. Happiness to her was being out and about.
So she became a Senior Helpers franchise owner, a recognized brand name and a unique business concept with a strong support system. New business, new town and new friends – what a great combination.
While on vacation in China earlier this year one of the ladies on the trip had her own senior business that wasn’t a franchise. We didn’t talk shop on our trip – both of us wanted to just have fun…A few months later I ran into her at a networking event. She has built a big business but is looking for a business coach. Again I heard, wish I would have met you years ago – not having the support of a franchise is a huge challenge.
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I have heard different acronyms for FEAR – False Evidence Appearing Real. FEAR – Failure Expected And Realized. How about the saying of, “feelings aren’t facts.” The key to all of them is an assumption a person has made and a lack of knowledge. It has been my experience over the years that people run away from their dream of business ownership because of FEAR.
Going into business is the most rewarding and hardest thing you will probably ever do. If you are considering a business model that you can really feel passionate about – you have a much better chance of being successful. That passion could be that you offer a service that gives a homeowner more time with their family on a weekend. It could be the satisfaction of giving your employees the dignity of being able to support their families. It could be making a difference in your community with a much needed service for children.
Once you find that passion and a business that really fits YOU – you need to get all of your questions answered – get that needed knowledge – so you don’t run away because you assume that a business is a certain way when it fact it isn’t at all. So many times the more my clients dig into the research of the companies doing their du-diligence – the company they first thought would be perfect for them they end up dropping and the company I encouraged them to consider they end up falling in love with. Why? Because in the beginning – they don’t know what they don’t know!
Why do I love franchising? It is very simple, you don’t have to do it alone and a franchise gives you LOTS of safety nets. Today with technology, you not only have the company who is going to do everything they can to help you, you also have easy access to the other franchise owners. And don’t kid yourself – that saying of squeaky wheel gets the grease – that is true in our industry too. The companies I work with want to do everything they can to help you…but you have to ask. I always tells people, the franchise company is going to give you a tool box, your job is to open the tool box and use the tools.
Don’t get me wrong – everyone gets fear – if you don’t have any fear then you probably have not found the business that is right for you. It’s dealing with the fear that is the KEY….otherwise you will not be able to have the courage everyone needs to take the step to become a business owner.
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Fall 2009
We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance.
Harrison Ford 1942, quoted by Garry Jenkins in ‘Harrison Ford: Imperfect Hero’
I love this time of year, living in the Northwest has given me an opportunity to really enjoy the change of seasons. I live up on a hill and looking over the city of Issaquah is so beautiful with all the fall colors.
Change – oh no! I did a consultation this week with a client who has been working in the same industry his whole career. One of the joys of my job is the opportunity to learn about different types of industries and the current challenges they are having. It is so natural for all of us to want to stay where we have been and what we know – sort of like that warm pair of slippers that we like wearing. It is my job to help people open their eyes to consider something new. They often hear me say – sometimes it is more important to find out what you don’t like then what you do like. I want to make sure I help people find a business doing something they are going to love doing.
As my friend John Assaraf often says, people need to play where they work! My goal is to find out what you love to do and then find a business that fits that. That doesn’t mean that because you love to cook – you want a restaurant! If you are well suited for the business and have the necessary skills needed – you have every reason to be successful. Our unique profile test helps me to know what your “natural” skills are and also to see what you might be doing currently that you don’t enjoy – and might not even realize it.
So that begs the question – how do I know what skills the companies are looking for? That is my responsibility – to take the necessary time to learn exactly what they are looking for in a great franchise owner. For me, it has to be a win-win. I am always helping people find a franchise business they would have never dreamed of, that’s half the fun!
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Phyllis Pieri
I never thought that I would be willing to start a blog but the more people I talk to and the more stories I hear I decided that it was important to share my experience with you. I hope that you will find my post helpful and encouraging.
I have been raised in an Entrepreneurial family so being self employed is a way of life for me. When I was a little girl my mom had a really nice playhouse built in our backyard. It had windows, a french door and a wooden deck around it. Sounds great – and it was but what I really liked was the general store I had on the wooden deck in front of it. So, being in business started with me when I was a little girl!
Why do I believe in the franchise model? Well, that is a great question. I have worked for franchise companies and I have been a franchise owner. I believe that if you want to have your own business – if you can find the right franchise for YOU – why not take advantage of all the resources and support a franchise has to offer.
I spend so much of my time educating people on the benefits of franchising and also helping people to open their eyes to possibilities. We all have perceptions of what we think we want. If you don’t take the time to really investigate a business you are going to be in for some big surprises. So many times people get excited about the “idea” of being in business for themselves and it isn’t until they have been in the business for awhile that they really understand what the business is all about – lots of time they are not happy but then it’s too late. I help people not make that mistake.
I hope you will enjoy me sharing stories of people I have helped over the years and experiences that I have.
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