Beware of Volunteer Business Consultants Telling You Your Business Idea Can’t Work

I’d like to tell you a little story, not because I am good at story-telling, but because I think it’s important if you are considering starting a business. Look here is the deal, many folks will tell you that your business idea, concept, or new business model can’t work, but how would they know that? Have they ever tried it? No, most likely not. If they had, you should listen to all their wisdom, advice, and experience, but if not which generally usually the case, take that advice with a grain of salt.
Let me explain. You see, I was told my business model wouldn’t work by a SCORE counselor long ago, I didn’t listen, and my business idea did work. In fact, I franchised it in 23 states! You know, I was explaining this to a friend the other day, another Franchising Company President, and I said; “I sometimes wonder how many people they’d dissuaded – because the SCORE counselor was from the Corporate Side of business and was fully-retired and out of the game, after the game had changed, and just didn’t understand Main Street.”
Another thing, you know as a franchisor I learned early on that the franchisees I thought would be a “Sure Success” and no-brainer, didn’t always succeed, and those I kicked myself for even letting into our system – succeeded well beyond ANYONE’s expectations.
There is a real lesson there for the “personality psychology tests” – and when it all comes down to brass tacks – it is human “Will” and intent – belief – perseverance and personal character that determines success or failure; that is if the business model is a winner too.
Yes, franchisors often use the personality type tests, but they are only a component of any matrix for franchisee placement that I’d use, there is just more to it than that. Well, at least the way I see it. Well, I am sorry for carrying on in this way, but you see I just LOVE Franchising, I could talk about it for 100s of hours and not get tired of it.
And I am a believer – I believe in capitalism – and I believe franchising is the BEST business model ever created in the history of humankind. We should franchise the World – maybe it would get along better! Indeed, I hope to leave you with those thoughts today, and hope you will consider all this and think on it.