I’ve always had a deep respect for servicemembers and veterans, partly because my father served in the Marine Corps. Over the years, I’ve also worked with a number of veterans, and I’ve learned that military service tends to develop skills that translate well into the business world–and the franchise world. In honor of Veterans Day, I thought I’d celebrate those capabilities and share how they equip veterans for successful franchise ownership.
Teamwork
Several years ago, I attended a conference where a combat veteran shared his experiences. In battle, he explained, no one cared about the things that often divide civilians: politics, religion, and so forth. They just cared about accomplishing their mission and, more than that, staying alive. But they knew they couldn’t do either unless they worked together, so they prioritized teamwork. They relied on each other’s strengths and doing everything they could to help each other and serve with excellence.
In the franchise world, the most successful franchisees work as part of a team. They contribute their expertise and support to the franchise owner network, and they have a positive attitude about partnering with the franchisor. As a result, they gain credibility and goodwill with other franchisees and the franchisor. These positive relationships translate into more support for them and their business–one of the key benefits of franchising over traditional entrepreneurship.
Resourcefulness
Whether for disaster relief, massive public works projects, or aid to suffering people overseas, we often call on our military to do jobs that are too big for anyone else. That’s because resourcefulness is a hallmark of military service. Veterans have experience surviving in hostile environments, solving problems with limited resources, and figuring out how to navigate complex and dangerous situations.
While the challenges of franchising are small change compared to what veterans encounter on the battlefield or even in boot camp, franchise ownership can be a tough job. Especially in the launch stage, franchisees often have to be resourceful about marketing and running their businesses. Veterans have learned military skills that help them face such challenges with confidence and think creatively about problem-solving and resource constraints.
Self-discipline
Perhaps more than any other skill, servicemembers and veterans are known for self-discipline. They learn to follow a rigid set of rules; maintain their kits, uniforms, and living quarters in meticulous order; and push through pain and fatigue to accomplish their objectives.
For many failed entrepreneurs (franchisees and otherwise), a lack of discipline is what killed their business. It’s all too easy to get distracted by “shiny objects” and deviate from the business’s core focus, or to overspend on pet projects. That’s why the kind of self-discipline learned in the military can be an advantage for franchisees. It can help them stick to business plans, budgets, and strategic goals to optimize their success.
Calculated Risk-taking
Though veterans learn self-discipline, they aren’t robots. Particularly as a servicemember moves up the ranks, they’re expected to exercise leadership and make sound decisions in challenging circumstances. Battlefield decisions, especially, always involve serious risk. Military leaders learn to weigh those risks and their associated costs against the need to accomplish the mission–and to think creatively about ways to avoid risks that may at first seem invevitable.
That practice in calculated risk-taking translates well into the franchise world. Though I believe that franchising is inherently less risky than traditional entrepreneurship, it still involves some level of risk. And that risk is not just a one-time thing. It’s there with the initial investment and resurfaces as the franchisee makes strategic decisions. Someone with military experience has a head start on weighing business risks and making smart decisions that will help the franchise grow.
Accountability
I’ve heard many veterans say that, in the military, the mission is everything. All servicemembers are accountable to their commanding officers and their fellow soldiers or sailors for accomplishing the mission. This is why servicemembers go through such rigorous training. When the stakes are life and death, a lapse in discipline, an overlooked procedure, or a refusal to learn from a mistake can cause catastrophe.
I believe that accountability is key to successful franchise ownership. Perfection is impossible, but if you have no sense of accountability, you’ll refuse to admit that you might be wrong or might have made a mistake. The biggest danger of that mindset? You lose the opportunity to learn from your errors and improve. Because of their training in accountability, I believe, veterans are at lower risk than other franchisees of falling into this trap.
If you’re a veteran reading this blog post, please accept my deepest thanks for your service. You stood in the gap for me and my family, and I am grateful for that. I know that finding a new mission after your military service has ended can be challenging. If I can help you assess your options in any way, please book some time on my calendar for a chat. I’d be honored to help.
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