The Common Purpose
“Leadership begins with goals. When the followers know what the goals are, everyone understands the importance of their own role for the common purpose.”
The quote is from a former military general and he knows a little bit about the ‘common purpose’. When you are looking for a franchise system to buy into, you should be asking them the same question. What is their common purpose?
We all know it’s to make money, right? But what else do YOU value? What else are you looking for? Make sure when you are asking the Franchisor questions about their system that you include open ended questions, get them talking, learn about the people who control your fate. Can you trust them? Do you like them? Can you see yourself being their partner for ten or more years?
The Success Indicator
People measure success in different ways. Potential franchisees measure it in vastly different ways. For the last few years I have been using this simple categorized system by Mary Ellen Tribby (attached picture). I use these indicators in the picture from each side to ask open ended questions that will show me which side of the scale a potential franchisee will fall on.
Simple, yet elegant, and so far, accurate. Keep your system simple and straight forward. Complicating your processes and systems only makes it more difficult for you and franchisees potential success.
Rob Hilditch
Joey's Restaurants | Joey's Urban | MVP Moderb Barbers | Homes & Land Magazine
7 Reasons I’ll Turn Down a Job After Interviewing With You
This article is great and it also translates to a potential Franchisee interviewing Franchisors or vice versa……. Enjoy.
RACHEL DOTSON | March 5, 2013 |
Interviewing is an art-form for both the job seeker and the hiring manager. A simple mistake by either party can raise enough doubt to leave the other looking elsewhere. After much reflection on what’s turned me off to a job in the past, I’ve come up with seven interview red flags that will leave me saying, “Thanks, but no thanks” to your job offer.
1. You’re Negative
If you’re bad-mouthing the company, other employees, your workload, or even yourself, then chances are slim that I’ll come on board as your newest employee. Why? Because negativity is toxic. It tells me that morale is low and that you don’t enjoy your job. I recognize it’s possible that you’re just having a bad day, but it’s just too big of a risk to take.
2. You Asked Me Obscure Questions Just for the Sake of Doing It
Yes, I know why manholes are round; what I don’t know is why you are asking me this question. Is it because Google asks it? Is it because you want to see if I can think on my feet? Or is it some other reason that neither you nor I am aware of? Rather than waste our time with such a silly and off-putting question, ask me a situational question that’s relevant to my prospective job.
3. You Talk Too Much
I’m delighted that you’re enjoying our time together, really, I am. But I’m a bit worried that I haven’t been able to get a word in edgewise. You see, if I haven’t done any of the talking, then you can’t possibly know if I’ll be a good fit for this position. That makes me nervous. How can I believe in my own ability to excel at this position if you haven’t properly assessed my abilities and fit?
4. You Talk Too Little
Let’s look at the opposite side of the point above. If you don’t tell me enough about the job, the company, and so on, then I cannot, in good faith, agree to devote years of my life to you. When I ask you questions about why the position is vacant, what a typical day is like, and what the goals of the company are, I expect solid, well-thought-out answers. It’s these answers that will help me determine whether our values and goals align.
5. You Don’t Tell Me About Your Company Culture
If I’m going to be spending more time with you than with my friends and family, I want to know I’m going to be in a fun and positive working environment. You don’t have to provide organic lunches or have a company bar to show me you’re a great company to be at. While these perks would be nice, I’d much rather know about the people and the culture. How do employees interact with each other? How are employees recognized for a job well done? Do colleagues go to lunch together or see each other outside of the office? If so, do they do this because it’s mandated or because they genuinely enjoy spending time together?
6. You’re Unprepared
I’m busy, you’re busy, we’re all busy. I get it. People are spread too thin. But when I spend hours preparing for my interview and take time out of my day to attend said interview, I expect you to show me the same level of professionalism and respect that I show you. So please, don’t make me wait in the lobby for half an hour, don’t take five minutes to review my job application in front of me, and don’t make up the interview questions as you go along.
7. Your Interview Practices Are Illegal
So you want to know if and when I’m planning on getting married and you feel it necessary to let me know that you typically hire from a certain age group. The fact that you’re bringing these items up tells me one of two things: 1) you haven’t taken the time as a hiring manager to educate yourself on employment law, or 2) you’re discriminatory. The best case scenario here is that you don’t know how to do your job (and your company hasn’t bothered to train you how), and the worst is that the organization is sexist, ageist, or some other “ist” that I don’t care to be around.
Trust your instincts
When you buy a business franchise of any sort you are entering into a business partnership, in which your relationship with the franchisor (or 'principle'), and their people, will be absolutely crucial to your success. You must be able to trust and work with the franchisor and the franchise company's staff - especially the directors and senior managers. If you have the slightest doubt as to the integrity of any of the people within the franchising company think extremely carefully before you go ahead with them. Trust your instincts - if you feel uncomfortable during the selection and recruitment stage it is likely that there are grounds for concern. Feeling uncomfortable about trust and relationships may not necessarily mean that the franchisor is untrustworthy, but it does probably mean that the 'fit' may not be right for you. Relationships are personal things - some people you'll get on with and see eye to eye with; others you may not. You will be more likely to succeed, and receive a good level of appropriate support, if there is a good emotional 'fit' with the franchisor.
Trust your instincts to tell you whether the franchising company has a similar value system and ethos to your own. If you value the customer above all else, do they too? If they do not then they may not be fully in tune with your style and business philosophy. Finding a good emotional and philosophical match with your chosen franchising company is almost as important as choosing the right sort of business. Given sympathetic and genuinely relevant support we can achieve almost anything - be sure that your franchise partner will be able to provide it.
Look for Integrity in your Franchisor
Look for high integrity propositions and franchisors
High integrity is essential for two crucial reasons:
You will keep your peace of mind, and sleep at night. The world is full of miserable millionaires - people who have exploited others to make their money - don't be seduced by this false dream. Always behaving and deciding with high integrity will keep you safe, well, and probably make you wealthier too.
You will delight your customers and good word will spread, which is vital for local service businesses, which nearly all franchise businesses are. Local businesses live or die by their reputations. Behaving with high integrity will automatically ensure that your reputation shines and grows. Many well established successful franchisees never need to advertise or look for their next customers - their customers find them.
If you buy a franchise that lacks integrity, then with all the best will in the world, you will be pushing water uphill.
Look for and buy a franchise which has high integrity at the centre of its products, services and business ethos, and you are half way to running a high integrity franchise business - all that remains is for you to ensure that your own input and activity are high integrity too.
The Four Way Test
Everyone has heard of it, everyone has thought of it, but does everyone use it or at least the principals it is derived from?
The test, which has been translated into more than 100 languages, asks the following questions:
Of the things we think, say or do
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Joey’s Franchise Group has used the test in one form or another for many years. It allows us to bring great products and quality to all of our franchise systems. It helps ensure we bring quality Franchise Partners to market and most importantly it has built a level of trust within our community. Over 5o% of our ReFranchise stores are sold to existing staff members. That says a lot about the brand development, not necessarily the growth, but the brand trust that our Partners and their Employes have with us.
When you’re choosing your next franchise, ask them how they implement the Four Way Test.
Rob Hilditch – VP of Business Development
Joey’s Restaurant | Joey’s Urban | MVP Modern Barbers | Homes & Land Magazine Canada
What drives us....our Partners.
“When we work hard towards something we believe in, it’s called passion. When we work hard towards something we don’t believe in, it’s called stress.”, Simon Sinek
What is your Passion? What drives you?
Our Franchise Group is driven by our Passion to see our Franchise Partner’ succeed. Succeed in their businesses and succeed in their personal lives. Each of our Partners is a member of our franchise family.
We try to build this foundation on trust. Trust is a feeling. It is the same feeling for friends or companies. To earn that trust we need to act like our friends would when interacting with our partners.
Our Partners are the reason for it! They are out ‘why’.
Financing for Franchises
Did you know that most financial institutions have franchise financing programs and that typically your best chance of success and best rate is usually with your current institution. When researching your financing options, start with your local bank that your already hold accounts with. They will be able do give your the best terms and service. Using other lenders can lead to higher rates and shorter terms unless you use institutions that have franchise specific programs. If your local institution can’t provide you with satisfactory terms, look to the institutions below. We recommend their programs regularly and have great success with our franchise partners using them. They’ll not only help you get the financing you need but also review the franchise business model you are considering and give you advice on them.
TD Canada Trust Franchise Financing
Scotia Bank Franchise Financing
Hospitality.....
Ultimately, hospitality is your competitive edge. Don’t confuse that with providing good service — you can give good service and still have people leave feeling un-cared for.
True hospitality doesn’t come from what you DO, it is a result of how you ARE. This creates a training dilemma. How do you help people learn to BE different? For that matter, how do YOU learn to be different?
The truth is that you don’t learn it as much as you allow it to blossom from the inside. It is a wonderfully natural — and totally painless — process of seeing life from a different direction. A Place of Hospitality is designed to help you move in that direction … and help you stay in that place once you have found it.
“To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.” – Donald A. Adams
It all starts with…….you!
Avoiding franchise remorse...
Much like the picture attached, ask yourself, what makes you feel good. The best feeling in the world, is knowing you made the right decision and having no remorse in it.
At Joey’s Franchise Group, we believe in making our Franchise Partners feel good by ensuring they feel happy about their decision to choose one of our Franchise concepts.
Evidence of support tends to nurture trust and builds group resilience. It is typically sought by people in three primary forms:
• Consistent Leadership Behavior
• Regular Feedback
• Adequate Resources
Without sufficient or appropriate forms of support, individuals and the groups they belong to, tend to fuel their own anxiety and stress. This is counterproductive which in turn hampers trust and performance of all kinds.
In business almost any action we take is dependent on support of others, and approval either before or after the fact. In contrast to criticism and complaint, expressions of approval and support do have long shelf-lives.
Our support system of our Franchise Partners is integral to their and our success. It allows them to feel great about their decision.
Rob Hilditch, VP of Business Development
Joey’s Franchise Group – Great Canadian Franchises