Author: Rebecca

by Elizabeth Denham

The COVID-19 pandemic presented all of us with a lot to fear: health risk, job loss, isolation, life without toilet paper…the list was long. And while many of us were able to work from home, making that shift at a moment’s notice was challenging. Even more difficult, many of us were working from home and trying to keep our kids engaged with school.  

Now is no less challenging. Many summer camps are canceled, vacations postponed, friends kept at bay. So, the question is sent out to the vast universe. How do I entertain my kids so I can work?! 

I have some ideas. And I will admit, many are not my own. I have watched my kids and my nieces and nephews (heretofore known as The Gaggle) come up with some pretty creative ideas that I am going to share with you in the hopes that it will keep them occupied and out of your hair (at least for a while) so you can get some work done in peace. 

Zoom a la Painting with a Twist or Bob Ross 

The Gaggle has created a gallery of fine art with zoom, paper/canvas and whatever art supplies are on hand. Here is the deal. Your Gaggle, which can consist of friends, family or even solo) will: 

1. Get on Zoom or Facetime with other Gaggle members. 
2. Choose a picture everyone will paint or draw. 
3. Each creates art from his/her own locations with idle chitchat and bounteous commentary on the others’ work. 
4. Run to the living room and show whoever is home. 

This should get you about 30 minutes. 

Cooking Show Competition a la Gordon Ramsay 

This can be a bit messy, but cleanup can buy you another half hour. The deal is you mess up the kitchen, you clean it up.  This must be articulated before beginning. You will need to add the ingredient list to your next grocery run, but this one could buy you a couple of hours.  For this one, The Gaggle will: 

1. Choose a recipe. 
2. Get on Zoom or Facetime. 
3. Set out ingredients for a recipe. 
4. You can make this challenge harder – my Gaggle did – by having one person read instructions but NOT reveal portions of ingredients. This adds the potential for disaster which makes for better TV (my Gaggle filmed it and added it to their website). Want to see? Not sure if you do, but here it is! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9NKV8PY_8k 
5. Create recipe. 
6. Have everyone taste and describe. 
7. Run to whoever is home and force into taste testing. 
8. Clean up. 

This one can buy you a couple of hours. 

Make a Movie 

The Gaggle does this every year when the cousins all come to town. They spend weeks meeting online or on the phone and writing a script. The plan shots, edits, costumes, etc. They even have a YouTube where on of my older sons says 103 unsuspecting victims have sat through these movies. I love them. It’s all about perspective, right? 

1. Write a script. 
2. Plan costumes. 
3. Plan shot selections. 
4. Plan locations. 
5. Film  
6. Edit (you’d be amazed that they all know how to do this on their phones). 
7. Show it to every unsuspecting victim you can find! 

This one, when done right, can buy you days and maybe even weeks! 

May the force be with you this summer! 

by Rebecca Monet

I know you better than you know yourself. Underneath that tough exterior, there lies a tender underbelly. But none have seen it. Not your friends, colleagues or boss. Not your children in whose eyes you are a combination of superhero and ATM. Not even your adoring and balding husband. What?! But he’s seen me naked, you exclaim. No, he’s clueless too. How do I know? Because he’s sound asleep and snoring while you’re wide awake asking yourself:  

“Do I have what it takes?” 

You’re not alone. Everyone asks themselves that question. But rarely out loud. Even rarer, is getting an answer in advance of taking the leap into business ownership. Indeed many linger for years watching on the sidelines as others much less talented crossover from corporate minion to business owner. Oh, I’m not suggesting you are dawdling. Besides, how would I know that? Nor am I implying you lack confidence or ambition. I’m simply suggesting this one question has hindered countless individuals from achieving their dreams of business ownership.   

Granted not everyone has the ‘right stuff’ to be a franchisee but just as often the issue is in regards to ‘right fit’ instead. Two different things. Both are important. I’ve spent 27 years in the psychometric assessment business specifically in franchising. I research, create and validate tools to determine if someone has what it takes to be a business owner and if so which franchise would be the right fit. I love data and being able to quantify and predict things. Call me a nerd, but franchisors who care about the performance of their franchisees like having me around.  

In the past 8 years, Zorakle Profiles has assessed more than 120,000 franchisees and prospective franchisees. That being said, let me provide an unbiased, science-based answer as to what it takes to be a successful franchisee. Then you can decide.  

Top–performing franchisees exhibited these three traits in spades over their low performing counterparts.  

Self-Control 

Pop psychology suggests if we are self-aware – understand our emotions, strengths, weaknesses and drives we will be happier and more successful.  I can’t argue the happier part but I can tell you our research shows no such correlation to business success. In fact, low performing franchisees scored higher in self-awareness than top–performing franchisees, pointing to negative correlations.  

Instead, top performers scored higher in self-control. Their ability to manage disruptive emotions and impulses effectively and remain calm in the face of the unexpected is what leads to success. This in turn confronts another false assumption, that one must understand something to control it. Top performers control their thoughts, feelings, mouth, time and money. Top performers do not bow to their feelings. They take their thoughts captive. They zip it because gossip, criticism, whining and complaining are destructive acts of pride. Most importantly they are good at delaying gratification. Want to fail? Speak and spend like there’s no tomorrow. Want to succeed? Exert self-control.  

Initiative 

Low performing franchisees scored higher in self-confidence whereas top–performing franchisees scored higher in initiative. Seems odd right? How is it that someone with strong self-confidence would avoid taking initiative? Let’s look at the difference.  Confidence by definition is courage that comes from certainty about our capabilities and goals. This doesn’t sound very confident or courageous to me. If one must be certain about something before taking action what kind of courage does that take?  

Initiative, on the other hand, is the power at one’s own discretion to do something before others do. In other words, someone with initiative is not waiting until he is confident in his capabilities. Top–performing franchisees take initiative. They cut through the red tape. They mobilize themselves and others even when all the ducks are not in a row. So why does someone with strong self-confidence not take initiative? Because confidence does not mobilize it gloats. Want to fail? Continue to gather competencies and capabilities, take that seminar, read that book, hire a coach and whiteboard your ideas. Want to succeed? Get up. Get dressed. Go do it.  

Humility 

While we are on the topic of self-confidence and gloating let’s look at the role of humility in business success. Humility is the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people. Hmmm, sounds like anti-gloating to me. Top performers outscored low performing franchisees in the trait of humility. Top performers treat people with respect. They are not easily offended. They don’t take credit for what others have done. They do not need to be right or insist on having their way. 

Pride is the enemy of success. We’ve heard ‘pride cometh before the fall’ a thousand different ways, yet we are a culture that is easily offended and applauds arrogance. Want to fail? Pretend you know it all, be easily offended and insist on being right. Want to succeed? Serve others, admit your mistakes and ask for help.    

I trust this quick glimpse into three attributes of successful franchisees answers your question: do I have the right stuff?  

 

About Rebecca Monet 

Rebecca Monet is chief scientist and president of Zorakle Profiles. Zorakle Profiles is a franchise–specific solutions provider of psychometric assessments. Zorakle’s SpotOn!! meta-analysis provides insight no singular profile, survey, algorithm or assessment can.  Zorakle’s SpotOn! science determines franchisee-franchisor compatibility and predicts performance. Zorakle reduces recruitment and support costs while increasing franchisee validation and performance.