A recent experience with a franchise candidate got me thinking about what characteristics are required to be a great franchisee. It is obvious that some people are cut out for entrepreneurship and franchising. Others simply are not. So what is the key difference?

At first I began thinking that it is leadership, focus, persistence and hard work. These are the typical 'A' type personality traits that are often written about. Unfortunately, I have seen too many people with these traits struggle. So what is the magic ingredient? What is the one 'extra' characteristic that allows one person to succeed as a franchisee and another to struggle?

After my experiences this month, I have determined that 'humility' is the missing ingredient. Why humility? Humility is what allows you to recognize that you may not know it all. Humility is what you need to follow a system developed by others who have more experience than you. Humility is what you need to be part of a larger world and still thrive. Humility is what allows you to be successful ... and still liked.

Without humility you are not able to recognize your weaknesses and you become closed to learning. Look at the most successful people. They are strong, focused and persistent - but they have enough humility to listen, learn and be likable.

Dedicating oneself to success begins with the humility to recognize that we do not know it all. It includes the conscientious decision to listen to those generous people who have gone before us.

What do you think? Agree?  Disagree? To add your thoughts, Click Here

Hope you have a great May!!

Respectfully, 

My town was 30 minutes from the nearest grocery store and most people were too lazy to make that long drive to return their bottles and cans for the five cent deposit. That's were I come in.

Our brains work differently as a child. We don't consider what other people think. We know what we like and the majority of our day is spent thinking of ways to get it - without regard to outside judgement, criticism, or questioning.

In my child brain every single bottle and every can was a little piece of opportunity. Opportunity to NOT be the poor kid in the neighborhood. We forget as adults that opportunities are made of our own doing, they're never given ... and at 10 years old, living in a small town in Upstate New York, a couple extra dollars in my pocket meant LOTS of opportunity.

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