“If you wake up and don’t want to smile,
If it takes just a little while,
Open your eyes and look at the day,
You’ll see things in a different way.”
Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow!
(Fleetwood Mac)
Do you bounce out of bed ready to get to the day or have you noticed that it is hard to get excited about the day? Have you been pondering, thinking, dreaming about a business? Are you trying to figure out how to put more money away for retirement? Get more flexibility or work life balance? Maybe it is time to think about tomorrow!
The old saying “If you do what you have always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got” is very true. Ok, maybe that is just my saying, but still.
Moving boldly through life doesn’t mean being reckless. It means weighing the risks, calculating the reward and, if it makes sense, go for it!
Starting a business can feel scary. That’s why a lot of people like a franchise. The best ones really help you get up and running and really support you. They show you the system, have great training and support, are there when you need them with encouragement and support and help you grow. Not all franchises are the really great ones. Some are great, but not right for everyone.
Why Delay Happiness and Fulfillment?
So what does this have to do with tomorrow? Well, you can keep putting up with the unhappiness, you can suck it up and last one more month, one more year, maybe even one more decade. But is that really getting you to your goals? Hey, there are times when we all have to do things we don’t want to. But when you decide you have had enough, or that now is the time to wake up and smile, there are options.
You can start a business, buy a business or maybe franchising is right for you.
Where Do I Start?
No matter which way you go here is a secret. Don’t think about the kind of business. Think about what you want your life to look like. Ask yourself these questions:
- Do I want to be in a retail location every day?
- Do I want to visit my customers or have them come to me?
- Do I prefer Busines to Business or Business to Consumer?
- How do I feel about working nights and weekends?
- Am I looking for flexibility?
- Do I want to operate it myself?
- Do I want employees?
- Do you want multiple locations?
- Do you like to work with your hands?
- Do you like to sell?
- What do you enjoy doing every day?
These are just a few things to thing about as you think about your next step. There are many businesses that can fit your lifestyle and financial goals. But they may not be what you are thinking about.
How A Consultant Can Help
A good franchise consultant will help you think through these and other questions. He or she will work with you to understand your finances and give you insight into franchises that fit all or most of your criteria. But without exploring these questions, you may wind up with a business that makes you money, but also makes you miserable. Knowing what you want (or don’t want) is a great start to help think about options.
Will You Get To Your Goals With Your Current Plan?
Does your job give you the flexibility you crave? Can you put away enough for retirement? Do you have the work life balance? Are you working hard for someone else when you could be building your own business?
If you think you might want to start down the path with someone who cares about your tomorrow. Let’s talk about how I might be able to help. Contact me today. But don’t stop thinking about tomorrow!