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Toolbox for the Trades Culture

The Power of Franchising: You’re in Business for Yourself, Not By Yourself

⏱️ 35:54 🎤 Jackie Aubel, Christina Deer
AUDIO EPISODE
The Power of Franchising: You’re in Business for Yourself, Not By Yourself
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Chapters

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  • 0:00
    Managing vs. Leading Teams
    Christina emphasizes the distinction between managing operations and leading people, highlighting the importance of leadership in fostering a thriving team and culture.
  • 0:32
    Journey to Zoom Drain
    Christina recounts being 'born into' the trades through her family's business, Zoom Drain, which started 30 years ago and grew from a small family operation to a multi-million dollar franchise.
  • 1:17
    Retail to Trades
    Christina shares how her eight years in retail, particularly her early leadership experience, taught her valuable lessons in customer service, operations, and people management, preparing her for her role at Zoom Drain.
  • 1:49
    Communication Style Adjustment
    Christina discusses her naturally direct communication style and the crucial lesson she learned about adapting it to meet the needs of her team, rather than expecting them to adapt to her.
  • 3:33
    Working Up the Ranks
    Christina details her journey from a call taker to Director of Operations, highlighting how working every position provided a deep understanding of the business and the importance of focusing on the customer and the technician.
  • 4:20
    Franchisee Onboarding & Values
    Christina outlines the 16-week onboarding process for new franchisees, focusing on operational training, business development, marketing, and the core values of grit, responsibility, optimism, and willingness.
  • 5:31
    From Support to Owner
    Christina explains her transition from supporting franchisees to becoming an owner of two franchises, gaining a new perspective on the day-to-day challenges and responsibilities of a small business owner.
  • 6:33
    Balancing Work and Life
    Christina candidly shares how she balances her demanding career, two businesses, and family life, crediting her supportive husband and the strategic use of a virtual assistant to manage her schedule and tasks.
  • 7:21
    Benefits of Franchising
    Christina advocates for franchising as a path for entrepreneurs, emphasizing the advantage of a proven blueprint, established operating systems, and, most importantly, a supportive network that mitigates the loneliness of business ownership.

Speakers

J
Jackie Aubel
Host
C
Christina Deer
Director of Operations at Zoom Drain

Key Takeaways

✦

Lead your team with empathy and adapt your communication style to fit their needs, rather than expecting them to adjust to yours. People are to be led, not just managed.

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Take extreme ownership and responsibility as a leader; when issues arise, reflect on what you could have done better first.

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Understand your entire business from the ground up by experiencing various roles, ensuring you know what it truly takes to serve both your customers and your technicians.

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Embrace the core values of grit, responsibility, optimism, and willingness; these are crucial for navigating challenges and succeeding as a business owner.

✦

If you're an entrepreneur, consider franchising for a proven blueprint, established operating systems, and a built-in network of peers and mentors to support your journey, mitigating the isolation of business ownership.

✦

Leverage support systems like a dedicated spouse or a virtual assistant to manage your workload and personal life, especially when juggling multiple businesses and family responsibilities.

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