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 weeks ago, I talked with someone who had everything. Strong operations background. $300K liquid. Clear reason - his corporate job was draining him. He wanted control over his time before his kids left for college.
We found three franchise matches. Great economics. Perfect lifestyle fit. The franchisors loved him.
He didn't move forward.
Not because of money. Not because the opportunities weren't good.
Because he didn't believe he could do it.
"I've never run a business before."
"What if I fail?"
"I don't have restaurant experience." (We were looking at home services, by the way.)
"Maybe I should just stay where I am."
I see this constantly. Capable people walking away from opportunities that could change their lives. All because they can't get past their own doubt.
Here's what I learned after 14 years: The skills you need (discipline, learning ability, problem-solving, communication) - you already have them. You've been using them your entire career.
The question isn't whether you're capable. It's whether you believe you are.
Henry Ford said it: "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't - you're right."
Good news? Belief grows through education. The more you learn about a business, talk to owners who are doing it, understand what success actually requires - the more your confidence builds.
That's why I do this. Not just to match people with franchises. To help them see what's possible.
🎯 HiPer8™ Principle: Grit
"I view setbacks as necessary steps toward mastery"
When I bought my franchise in 2010, I couldn't sell. Zero sales experience. I was an engineer who could design products but couldn't get anyone to buy them.
My first few months? Brutal. I'd do consultations and walk out with nothing. I'd replay every word I said. I wondered if I'd made a huge mistake.
Here's what changed: I stopped seeing each "no" as failure. I started seeing it as data.
What worked? What didn't? What questions created connection? What created resistance? How could I understand what the client actually needed?
I studied top performers. Read books on selling (listened in the car). Practiced different approaches. Got coaching from my franchisor.
Within a year, I was one of the top closers in my system. Not because I was talented. Because I refused to quit.
Try this: Think about one area where you're avoiding something difficult because you're afraid you won't be good at it. What if you reframed it as "I'm not good at this yet, but I can learn"?
Grit isn't about never failing. It's about showing up again after you do.
📍 Quick Updates
🎓 Workshop 1 Success: Our first "From Corporate to Owner" workshop in November was a hit - great turnout and even better questions. The energy in the room reminded me why I love doing this work. Watch the recording here.
📅 Workshop 2 Coming: "Business Ownership Decoded: Independent vs. Franchise Models and What It Takes to Win" is Tuesday, December 9th at 5pm PT / 8pm ET. Drawing from personal experience with both (one failure, one multi-million dollar success), I'll break down financial comparisons, risk strategies, and the championship mindsets that separate winners from those who struggle. Attending Workshop 1 is not a pre-requisite. At TCSP Tennis Center or streaming live. Register here.
🎙️ Podcast Milestone: Just crossed 16 episodes of The Franchise Champion Show. The guest stories keep getting better. If you haven't subscribed yet, we're on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
🎙️ This Month on The Podcast
Episode 14: Emerging vs Established Franchises - What to Expect
What do you do when your franchise system is incomplete? I break down the differences between emerging and established brands, and how to fill the gaps when processes don't exist yet. Key insight: accountability and creative problem-solving matter more than perfect systems.
Listen Here
Episode 15: Career Transition Options - Workshop Recording
Four paths to greater wealth, autonomy, and purpose: advancing in corporate, buying existing businesses, starting independent ventures, or buying franchises. I compare the pros, cons, and what each path really requires. Lesson: there's no single "best" path - only the right one for you.
Listen Here
Episode 16: From $300K Crisis to $6.2M Success - Joe Steffens
Joe built Renew Medic to $6.2M with his son by his side. But it almost didn't happen - a $300K insurance claim nearly destroyed his first business. His comeback story and what he learned about resilience, family partnerships, and building systems that scale.
Listen Here
📚 Free Download: The Franchise Fit Playbook
With over 4,000 franchises out there, how do you choose the right one?
My 50-page guide walks you through the entire selection process: self-assessment, investment analysis, franchise categories, validation with existing owners, financing options, and comparing your final choices.
It's the roadmap I wish I had when I started.
Ready to Talk?
I work one-on-one with qualified professionals to find franchises that match their goals, skills, and investment level.
My coaching is free. I'm only paid by franchisors after you find the right fit and move forward.
No pressure. No obligation. Just honest conversation.
Thanks for reading the first edition of The Franchise Champion's Playbook. Monthly insights, opportunities, and stories from the franchise world.
Want to do me a favor? I'd love your feedback! Let me know if it's too long, too short (unlikely), too wordy, missing something, decent, etc. I'd greatly appreciate it (and promise to not take it personally!). Send to [email protected].
Alan Regala
High Performance Franchise Coach
Former Multi-Million Dollar Franchise Owner
Athlete to Owner
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