Diary of a Franchise Entrepreneur

A guest contributor shares her experiences searching for professional satisfaction.

Even as a child I enjoyed the company of all kinds of people. I’ve just always had a sense of what others were thinking and feeling. After University, I found I was a natural fit in Human Resources and began a long, successful career at a mid-size publishing house. Over the next two decades I started a family, bought a house, and steadily increased my earnings—though only through very slight annual raises. I was happy I suppose, but never really satisfied.

My workplace was a typical one—stressful, hectic, and often a little tense. Co-workers would often rely on me as an empathetic ear, and day after day I patiently listened to complaints of counter-productive policies and out-of-touch managers. I’d often come home cranky and weighed down by all of the fuss. I was forgetting what I loved about people to begin with, and even my personal relationships were becoming strained through my stress.
The idea of running my own business had occurred to me, but with a family and a mortgage it was something I hadn’t seriously considered. Still, a big part of me feared I might live out my professional life without ever finding my true calling. The thought just wouldn’t let up.

It was actually an article in a magazine that changed my life. The piece was a profile of a very successful young man early in his thirties. He had been operating his own restaurant for years and had gone on to make some very wise investments. I couldn’t help wondering how on earth such a young man had been able to afford the risk of opening his own business. At the conclusion of the article, he was quoted saying, “I was lucky to find a great franchise to work with—my initial investment was very affordable and I had support every step of the way. Not all franchise opportunities are created equal, but I would never have made it where I am now by opening an entirely independent restaurant.” Whilst I knew the restaurant business wasn’t for me, his words inspired me to make a change.

Two months later, I once again found myself lending an ear to the people in my office—except this time they were my own employees. After weeks of intensive research and mental preparation, I had found a franchise opportunity that suited me perfectly. My employees and I were reflecting on our first month of operation and how excited we were about the year to come. All of us were happy, and I had found my place as a leader who understood how to listen. Running a franchise meant being my own boss without the intimidating financial risk of starting my own company, though it turned out to be a priceless opportunity.

Today I run my career and my personal life differently. I get up and work each day because I love it, not because I have to, and at the end of the day I bring the positive energy of self-satisfaction and gratitude back to my family, not the stress and resentment of years past. Simply put, I live my life the way I’ve always wanted (and I set my own schedule and salary too!). The only thing I do regret is not making the change sooner.