I’ve always loved sailing. In my twenties, I spent several months traveling the world as part of a working boat crew. And I’ve spent most of my summers since childhood in Maine, where I enjoy getting out on the water either alone or with my family.
Sailing can be incredibly peaceful. When you’re out on the ocean, you may see amazing things–like a pod of whales cruising with their calves–that most people only get to see in nature documentaries. But sailing can also be challenging, especially when a storm blows up.
From the candidates I work with, I often hear that this is what they feel like: storm-tossed. The last several years have brought all kinds of unexpected upheaval. We lived through a pandemic that killed more than 7 million people worldwide. War has been rattling Europe, the Middle East, and Asia for years. Our economy has been on one of the wildest rides in its history, in terms of the stock market’s behavior, how people define and experience work, and the number of layoffs making the rounds. And major shifts in technology, policy, and governance have been happening both in the U.S. and abroad.
In the middle of all this change and uncertainty, though, I have inner peace. Call it the calm in the middle of the storm. A lot of that peace comes from knowing that I’m not a passive passenger in the boat. Because I’m a business owner, not an employee, my hand is on the wheel. I can’t do much about the storm itself. But when it comes to the economic side of things, I have much less worry than I would if I were working for a corporation.
Empowered to Act
Because I own my own businesses, I get to make the decisions. Did I have to shut down my franchises temporarily because of government orders to be “safer at home” in 2020? Yes. Have my business (and personal) expenses been affected by significant inflation? Also yes. And have my businesses had slow periods because of wider economic trends? Again, yes.
But because I captain the boat, I’ve had the freedom to prepare for challenges in my own way and enter any periods of uncertainty on my own terms. I’m not wondering whether I’ll be given a pink slip or have to take a pay cut, or whether my job will even exist. I get to decide how to recover from any downturns.
In short, I’m empowered to act. I have the option to draw on my decades of executive experience to do what I know is best in a challenging situation. I don’t have to sit around waiting for someone else’s decision, or wonder if the higher-ups have prepared for this moment or know what they’re doing. And if I make a mistake, I have the freedom to learn from it and change my course as quickly as I can adjust the sails.
Supported by Collaboration
As I’ve gone through the greatest challenges with my franchises and my consulting business, I’ve also had peace because franchise ownership provides a huge network of collaborators. My fellow owners and consultants were experienced and supportive. They were literally just a phone call away.
In part, this network was supportive because I chose to make it that way. When I bought my first franchise, I wasn’t shy about connecting with other franchisees. I like to learn from other people: I always tell my team, “I don’t know what I don’t know.” So I sent emails and made phone calls, asked questions, learned from others’ experiences. As I became the experienced one, other franchise owners in the network began calling me for input. We developed a generous give-and-take.
When I became a franchise consultant, I repeated the process. I sought out other consultants and wasn’t too afraid or proud to ask for their advice. In return, they were generous with their expertise. In some cases, we’ve even done projects together, like my podcast with my friend Pete Gilfillan.
This kind of network is valuable even when things are running smoothly. But in an unpredictable economy, it’s priceless. I’m independent and empowered, but I’m not alone.
I hope that you and your families are doing well in the midst of all the change around us. But if you’re one of the many corporate professionals facing potential layoffs, a struggling industry, or just uncertainty about whether you want to keep running the rat race, I hope you’ll see me as a resource.
I would consider it a privilege to help you chart a course to a peaceful harbor. If you need to bounce ideas off someone, ask some questions, or just bend a listening ear, grab some time on my calendar. My services are free, and I’m just a phone call away.
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