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, and how their owners are actually performing. When I find a great brand, it feels like holding a winning lottery ticket. My job is just to find the right person to give it to.
But the industry meetings? Those were humbling.
I sat across from coaches who've been doing this longer than me. Some who've been doing it for far less time. And the comparisons came fast. How many clients are in your pipeline? How many deals have you closed? Numbers flying everywhere.
As a competitive person, that's a tough room to be in.
I'm not at the top of those leaderboards. Not yet. And for a former D1 athlete who's wired to win, that stings a little.
So I had to take a step back. And I had to remember my purpose.
Why I'm Building This Differently
I got into this because franchising changed my life. Fourteen years as a ShelfGenie franchise owner taught me more about business, leadership, and myself than anything else I've done. When I exited, I knew I wanted to help others find that same path.
But not just find it. Succeed at it.
That's why I do two things most franchise coaches don't. I help clients find the right franchise through matching. And I help existing owners build self-running businesses through my online course. Those two things are connected. My goal isn't volume. It's outcomes.
When I'm having a real conversation with a client and I can see them getting closer to their goals, that's it. That's the thing. No leaderboard captures that.
Comparing my numbers to someone running a different business with different goals is like comparing a tennis player's stats to a basketball player's. The scoreboard doesn't even have the same categories.
Purpose isn't a soft concept. It's a filter. It tells you what to pursue, what to ignore, and how to measure success on your own terms.
π― HiPer8 Principle: Purpose
"I have a compelling 'why'"
Purpose is the first principle in the HiPer8 framework for a reason. Without it, every decision is a negotiation. With it, most decisions make themselves.
Purpose doesn't mean you have a framed quote on the wall. It means you've done the work to know why you're showing up. And it gets tested constantly, especially when things are moving slower than you want them to.
Here's what I've found: when I'm clear on my purpose, I don't need external validation to keep going. When I'm not, I start chasing metrics that don't actually matter to me.
Purpose also keeps your service level high. When you genuinely care about the outcome for the person in front of you, you show up differently. Your clients feel it.
Try this: Write down your "why" in one sentence. Not why you want to own a business in general. Why this specific path, for you, right now. If it takes more than one sentence, keep editing until it doesn't. Then read it the next time you're in a tough room.
π Quick Updates
First live course cohort launches in April. It took longer than expected to fill the initial group, but we're ready. Scale to Exitβ’, a HiPer8β’ guide to building a self-running franchise, goes live this month with our founding cohort.
Podcast milestone: We're at 61 YouTube subscribers and 17,000+ total views! It's growing!
ποΈ This Month on The Podcast
Episode 25: The "No Employee" Franchise Model? (Back Nine Indoor Golf Review) - Darren Wilstead Darren runs a Back Nine Indoor Golf franchise and breaks down what it actually looks like to own a location with no staff. If you're drawn to low-overhead, experiential concepts, this one's for you. Watch here
Episode 26: Day 1 Profit: Best Franchise to Buy? - Matthew and Alissa Higgins Matthew and Alissa opened a Project LeanNation franchise and started generating revenue almost immediately. They talk through what made that possible and what they'd tell first-time franchisees. Watch here
Episode 27: Can a Layoff Lead to $1.2M? - Jay Tippens Jay was laid off before finding Surface Experts. Now he's built a business doing over $1.2M in revenue. His story is a reminder that the "forced pivot" often leads somewhere better. Watch here
π Free Download: The Franchise Fit Playbook
Not sure if franchising is right for you? Start here. The Franchise Fit Playbook walks you through the key questions to ask before you invest a dollar or sign anything.
Ready to Talk?
If you're exploring franchise ownership and want a guide who's focused on your outcome, not a transaction, let's connect. My coaching is free. I'm only paid by franchisors after you find the right fit and move forward.
Know Someone Exploring a Career Change?
If someone you know is frustrated in their corporate role or thinking about business ownership, send them my way. I'd be happy to talk with them.
Thanks for reading. Keep coming back to your why, especially when the scoreboard doesn't tell your story yet.
-Alan
Alan Regala
High Performance Franchise Coach
Former Multi-Million Dollar Franchise Owner
Athlete to Owner
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