5 Sensational Self-Improvement Ideas For Franchisees

Self-improvement is a fundamental aspect of franchise business ownership success.

But unfortunately, today’s busy franchisees can get easily sidetracked by their day-to-day and sometimes hour-to-hour responsibilities.

That said, if you’re a franchisee, engaging in as many self-improvement activities as possible is crucial. Why? So you can reach your full potential. And beyond.  

In this post, I will share 5 things to help you do just that.

1. Invest In Your Personal Development

You, as a franchisee, are the driving force behind your business's success.

Investing in personal development activities is one way to continue being that force.

For example, you can attend local workshops that will help you learn about things like time management, employee communication, leadership, and more.

Another thing you can do is attend a business conference once a year.

Doing so will expose you to experts you can learn from and provide networking opportunities with other like-minded small business owners.  

Remember that if you cannot attend a national conference in another state or faraway locale, look for local, state, and national conferences.

Look to connect with others through the International Franchise Association or ask your OpenWorks franchise development team for assistance.

And as an added bonus, you’ll get a much-needed break from your daily routine for a bit. That’s always good to do as well.

For OpenWorks franchisees, the online training portal called Franchise University, offers a wide variety of courses to help franchisees stay up to date!

Finally, you can take online business courses and read small business and entrepreneurship books.

Because the more you learn, the better equipped you’ll be to operate your franchise business effectively and successfully.

“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders
are readers."
— President Harry Truman

2. Engage With Other Franchisees

Today’s franchisees are lucky.

That’s because they have instant access to an entire personal business network.

More specifically, a network of franchisees who, like them, want to succeed as owners.

Do you have a problem you can’t seem to solve yourself?

Maybe a 10-minute call with another franchisee can provide you with the solution.  

Are you trying to figure out how to get your business to the next level?

Ask around and find a couple of franchisees who are at the level you want to be at. And call them. Ask them how they got there. See if they have any suggestions to help you get there too.    

And who knows?

Maybe you’ll find someone who will help mentor you.

3. Develop A Strong Team

Having a strong, capable team behind you can free you to work on self-development, including leadership.

But you’ll have a difficult time working on things that will make you a better leader if you constantly need to micromanage your employees. Make sense?

That’s why you need to recruit, hire, and retain high-performing employees from the get-go.

And if you’re having problems doing that, use my suggestion above, and reach out to other franchisees. Tell them your situation. Why?

Because they may share their hiring wins with you, including how they found their top employees.  And how they’ve managed to keep them.  

4. Have Specific Goals

While it’s terrific to participate in self-improvement activities, I don’t recommend doing so without having a specific goal or two in mind.  

It’s been proven that goal setting is vital to personal and professional development.

That’s because it helps you establish priorities, track your progress, and motivate you.

Here are 3 things you can do to create and achieve your goals:

• Come up with a specific vision of the top thing you want to achieve

• Divide the things you need to do into small, obtainable, tasks

• Establish deadlines and measure your progress regularly, and acknowledge your achievements in real-time

Finally, make sure you write out your goals. And keep them near you at all times for a little extra dose of motivation.

5. Make your health a priority

Self-care, both physically and mentally, is essential for franchisees and their success.

That’s why prioritizing health, which includes recharging energy levels and reducing stress, can improve your overall health. Here are three things you can do right now:

• Eat well and exercise regularly.

• Take several short breaks during the day. If the weather permits, do them outside, as even a 10-minute walk can be beneficial.

• Engage in activities that help you relax, such as meditation, yoga, or listening to your favorite music.

And when it comes to your mental health, don’t be afraid to share what’s going on with you inside. That’s what friends, family, counselors, and therapists are there for.

In conclusion, self-improvement requires dedication, persistence, and a growth mindset.

So what did we learn?

• focus on your self-improvement

• Engage with your network of like-minded franchisees

• Put a strong team of employees in place

• Write down the goals you have for yourself and your business. And be specific as possible

• keep your health top of mind

Because doing those things will help you become a constantly improving, successful franchisee.

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This article was written by The Franchise King®, Joel Libava. He’s a 20+ year industry veteran, the author of two helpful books on how to buy and research franchises, and a Franchise Ownership Advisor.

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