Ambition, Attitude And Aptitude: How To Become A Successful Franchisee

If you ask franchisors what they look for in prospective franchisees, ambition and attitude are always top of the list. Add aptitude into the mix, and you've got the perfect franchisee. Not only are these personality traits ideal for a franchisee to possess, but they're also skills that cannot be learned. The franchisor can teach you the technical and operational know how to run one of the most successful franchises, but to become a franchisee it takes more than what can be shared in a classroom.

And although franchisees come from a wide variety of different backgrounds, having the ambition to succeed, a can-do attitude and a robust set of business skills are common traits found in the majority of successful franchisees.

Ambition

An ambitious attitude can drive anyone to succeed irrespective of what challenges they face. If you have the desire and courage to own one of the most successful franchises, your ambition will help you achieve this much sooner than just just having the right skill set.

Having the right talents to be a business owner is meaningless if you have no ambition behind your skills to work hard and make the necessary sacrifices to make your dreams come true. Ultimately, it’s ambition that differentiates a mediocre franchisee and the top performing franchisee in your network.

Owning a franchise can be tough at times with a need to frequently work long hours and weekends. Without a clear sense of purpose and the drive and motivation to achieve success, it’s easy to lose sight of why you chose to become a franchisee.

When you’re researching investment opportunities, make sure that you find a franchise that matches your ambition. If you have plans to grow your franchise quickly and then expand your portfolio by purchasing additional units, you must ensure that the franchisor is supportive of multi-unit franchising.

Attitude

It doesn't matter how ambitious you are; there will be periods when you're running your own business that only a positive attitude can get you through. As a franchisee, you need to be enthusiastic and resilient even when it all gets too much. A can-do approach will not only get you through difficult times but will inspire your staff to do the same.

And it’s not just your employees that will be affected by your positive mindset. A can-do attitude also affects customer relationships. When you’re happy, other people want to be around you. Your positive approach will help to develop stronger relationships with your customers which can, in turn, more business opportunities with them.

Here are five quick tips to apply if you feel that negativity is affecting your business:

1. Understand that you’re in control. You decide whether to view the glass as half empty or half full, so take control of how you approach any challenges that arise. Choose to be positive, and you'll be surprised at how much easier it is to discover the solution to your problems.
   
2. Put things into perspective. When you're running a franchise, it can be easy for your business to become all-encompassing. This can make it difficult to see the woods for the trees at times. If you’re faced with an issue, take a step back and apply perspective before you react.
   
3. Don’t dwell on the bad times. If you do encounter problems, learn from them and move on. It’s pointless worrying about the past that you can’t change. It’s much more productive to focus on the future which you can.
   
4. Surround yourself with positivity. Even if you have the most positive of attitudes, there will be times when you need to turn to someone else for help. Find a franchise that encourages franchisee networking. If you can share your problems with your peers, you're more likely to deal with them more quickly than if you try to tackle them on your own. Likewise, you should choose to invest in a franchise where the franchisor has a similar positive outlook on life as you. This will help when you need to rely on them for support and guidance.
   
5. Celebrate your successes. When you become a franchisee, you should set yourself some goals that you want your franchise to achieve. When you reach these milestones, make sure you celebrate them. Running a franchise can be tough, so enjoy the good times.

Aptitude

Several skills contribute towards the success of franchisees. However, if you can master the following skills, coupled with having ambition and the right attitude, you’ll be well on your way to running one of the most successful franchises in your network:

1. Willingness to learn. This may not seem like an essential skill for a business owner to possess, but as a franchisee, it's crucial to your success. You must be willing to learn from the franchisor and other franchisees in your network so that you can benefit from their expertise and experience. Find a franchise that invests time and money into developing its franchisees and take full advantage of the support that you’re offered as part of your franchise package.
   
2. Be hard working. As with any business, if you’re prepared to put in the hard work, success is more likely to happen. And your work ethic shouldn’t just kick in once you’ve bought a franchise. You also need to put effort into the due diligence that you perform before you invest. You’ll also achieve success if you choose a franchise that is aligned with your passions, interests and ambition.
   
3. Communication skills. Excellent communication skills play an essential factor in the success of a successful franchise operation. Being able to communicate with customers and employees effectively will develop loyalty and trust, both of which are key to your success as longevity as a franchisee. Remember, good communication skills are equally necessary from a personal perspective as well as professionally. Being a franchisee can be demanding on your time and energy, so you should discuss the opportunity openly and honestly with your family, friends and loved ones before you invest.