The Franchise Champion's Playbook

Monthly guidance for professionals exploring franchise ownership. Get insider insights, opportunity spotlights, and proven strategies from a former top-performing franchise owner.

Happy October! Last month I wrapped day one of a two-day workshop with Floor Coverings International franchise owners in Las Vegas. I'd built a new noble purpose statement for them to adapt, one that pointed hard at the impact they have on customers instead of the transaction. The room felt it. T...

Oct 06, 2026 purpose

My opponent won match point. Then he called himself out.

Happy September! Last month my 10.0 mixed doubles team won the Pacific Northwest Sectionals, and we're headed to Nationals in Arizona later this year. Great weekend. But the moment I keep thinking about didn't happen at the trophy table. The Point That Should Have Ended It My partner Luisa an...

Sep 01, 2026 accountability

What Cal Poly taught me almost 30 years after I left

A couple weeks ago I loaded up the car with my wife Angelyn and our youngest, Mira, and drove down to San Luis Obispo. I wanted to show Mira around Cal Poly, where I went to school. Walking a campus you last called home decades ago is a strange feeling. A few corners looked exactly like I rememb...

Aug 04, 2026 lifelong learning

A 10-minute meeting changed my entire summer

Happy July! What a month. I was just in Wisconsin watching two of my clients sign their franchise agreement. Watching that moment in person, and being a part of my clients' next chapter in life, is why I do this. Summer in Seattle means longer days, a packed calendar, and somehow even more to do...

Jul 07, 2026 exceptional communication

My calf seized up mid-match. I finished anyway.

Happy June! We're halfway through the year. This is the month where January's energy is long gone and you find out what you're actually made of. I found out last week. The hard way. The Match I Didn't Want to Play Last week I played the 45s Grass Court National Tournament near Palm Springs. Gras...

Jun 02, 2026 grit

I paid $100 to teach a class from a hotel conference room in Mexico

I just got back from Puerto Vallarta for my nephew's wedding. Beautiful trip. Great food, great people, and one very expensive lesson in accountability.Let me explain. $100, a Conference Room, and a Live Class in Mexico I recently launched the pilot of Scale to Exit™, my course for existing fra...

May 05, 2026 accountability

When the numbers don't tell your story yet

March was a travel month. Phoenix for three days. Dallas for three days. Back-to-back franchisor meetings, industry events, and a lot of time in airport lounges thinking. The franchisor visits were energizing. I got to go deep with brands on how they differentiate, how they support their owners, ...

Apr 07, 2026 purpose

I wish this were a franchise so someone would just hand me the playbook

Happy March! New season, new beginnings. I'm excited to announce that I'm launching my first live cohort of Scale to Exit™: The HiPer8™ Guide to a Self-Running Franchise in two weeks. It's a 6-week course with 12 months of implementation support for existing franchise owners who want to grow thei...

Mar 03, 2026 lifelong learning

When Plan A Fails, Purpose Gets Clearer

It's been a weird snow season here in the Pacific Northwest. Lots of precipitation, but not cold enough. The resorts have been struggling. Last week we finally got a few days of epic conditions. My daughter Pia (home from college) and I were stoked. First run of the season. We left the house at ...

Feb 03, 2026 purpose

The Unglamorous Work Nobody Sees

Happy New Year! Hope you had a great holiday season. I just got back from 10 days in Japan with my family. We visited Tokyo and Kyoto- they were both fantastic. If you've ever thought about visiting, I'd highly recommend it. _*]:min-w-0"> Now that we're a couple days into January, are you feeli...

by Alan Regala — Jan 06, 2026 discipline

The Self-Doubt Barrier

Greetings! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. I spent mine with family in Seattle, eating way too much lumpia and enjoyed having Pia (older daughter) back home from college. December's here. I've been thinking a lot about the decisions people make (or don't make) as the year winds down. A few ...

Dec 04, 2025 grit