I am writing this post while listening in on a conference call from my office. It’s OK, though, because I’ve got my phone on mute, so nobody can hear the clicking of my keyboard. It makes me feel like I’m getting a lot done to be multitasking like this. While I listen, I sometimes order my groceries, shop on the Internet, review my e-mails, and participate on the call. Sometimes I send an e-mail to someone else who is on the same call, so they know what I am up to. And guess what? Almost always, I get a reply instantly. Are we multitasking or just being rude?

Norman Fischer, a well-known Zen teacher, says there is no such thing as multitasking. When we think we are doing many things at once, what we are really doing is switching from one thing to another in rapid succession. According to Fischer, the brain can only consciously focus on one thing at a time, so we really cannot ever do one task with the commitment it deserves.

For instance, have you ever driven home from work on autopilot? When you pull into your driveway, you wondered how you actually got there? Your mind was on something else entirely! This is an example of not being conscious that could lead to tragic consequences.

Multitasking can sometimes accomplish a lot, but moving at high speed with your mind somewhere else is rude -- to your friends, family, co-workers, and even yourself. At the most, it could cost you dearly, with a tragic accident or the loss of relationships.

I’m not sure why we all feel the need to move through life at warp speed. Even as technology advances, supposedly making our lives more organized and easier, we still cannot keep up with all the information coming at us all day long. I think back to my father’s generation, and he did not even have an answering machine. Yet, he was a very successful businessman. I think we could all stand to slow down and be more mindful and present.

I admit that I am a multitasker, sometimes at the expense of common courtesy or present focus. But I am making a commitment to at least try to be more courteous and focused. I believe it will improve my health, my relationships, and my life.

Gotta go. I need to pay attention to my conference call.

To be successful, you need to focus on success. It is impossible to bring more success into your life when you focus on the lack of it. The power of positive thinking works in all aspects of your life -- success, love, wealth, and happiness. You cannot feel bad when you are thinking good thoughts. They are diametrically opposite, and cannot happen simultaneously.

So, if you want to be successful in business, think of thoughts tied to triumph and accomplishment. Get a clear picture of what success looks like, and focus all of your energy on making that picture become your reality. Here are a few things you can do to help yourself along:

Listen to your thoughts. When your mind starts turning and playing your thoughts over and over in your mind, do not judge them -- just review them as if you were a third-party observer. Realize that you have control and start turning your negative thoughts into positive affirmations.

Make a vision board. Gather items that help you visualize your success. Find magazine pictures, symbols, or any visual aids that keeps your picture of success clear in your mind. Look at your vision board every day, and tell yourself you are on your way.

When you feel overwhelmed or that success is elusive, give yourself a "gratitude break." Take a moment to relax with deep breaths. Create a list of things that you are grateful for. You can pick a topic relating to your business (or anything else you choose), and then just start rattling off items -- no matter how small.

You will find that you have more to be grateful for than you might have realized, and this will put you in a more positive mindset. In fact, with each exercise listed above, you will slowly begin to focus your energies in a positive direction. Remember, you cannot feel like a failure when you focus your thoughts on success, and when you focus your thoughts on success, you achieve it!

I just read a quote from a desk calendar that said, "You get to fill the blackboard of your life with whatever you want. If you have filled it in with baggage from the past, wipe it clean. Erase everything from the past that does not serve you, and be grateful it brought you to this place now, and to a new beginning. You have a clean slate and you can start over -- right here, right now. Find your joy and live it!"

Cheesy… but inspiring.

How long would you stay in a bad situation before making a change for the better? Maybe it's a job, a relationship, a lifestyle, or something else entirely. In my work at Snip-its, I see this all the time. Just about every franchise prospect I speak with tells me they have dreamed of owning their own business for a long time, but they were either too scared, too stuck in a job, or too financially strapped to make their dream a reality. Nine out of 10 times, these prospects end up not purchasing a franchise of Snip-its or any other concept. They go back to their comfort zone, even if they are not living their dream.

Starting your own business, even with a franchise partner, is a risky venture. In my experience, there are certain character traits that make one person more likely to take the plunge than another. From my observations, people with these character traits are more likely to live the complete life that brings joy and fulfillment -- in every aspect, not just in their careers.

Dreamer. A visionary. A dreamer is someone who can imagine fully what the future looks like. Having a dream is the first step to fulfilling it.

Risk-taker. Someone who risks loss in the hope of gain. A risk-taker in the sense that I mean a taker of calculated risks, not life threatening or thrill-seeking risks.

Analyst. Separating a whole into its elemental parts. This is someone who enters a situation with their eyes wide open, does their homework, and understands the risk/reward ratio.

Connector. A person who makes relations easily. They seek connections with other people that are good at gathering the resources needed to start and operate a successful business. As I've said before, the best way to turn a business vision into a business plan is to talk a lot about it. A connector is most likely to do that.

So what are you waiting for? Make your life the best it can be! Like the calendar said, "Find your joy and live it!"

For as long as there have been businesses with bosses and employees, leaders have been looking for ways to make their teams more productive, to deliver better service with lower turnover rates. Poor performance in all three areas can cost companies millions!

The hair salon industry -- my industry -- is notorious for employee turnover. In fact the national average is over 300 percent per year! That means that the average hair stylist will stay at her job for only four months. Imagine if we could find a way to lower that number. It would save not only on recruiting costs but also boost productivity. New employees are slower and have to learn the ropes before they become super-productive, and once they get their productivity up, they quit! Imagine the benefits of having a long-term staff that is happy, knows your customers, and delivers great customer service.

When I started my business 13 years ago, my salon's turnover rates were just below the industry average. So was my customer service and productivity. My stylists were slow and the quality of the service -- both customer interaction and technical haircut results -- were inconsistent at best. I tried everything to make it better: I offered more money to my better employees. I offered productivity bonuses for speed and revenue generated. I even offered a $50 bonus for each quarter an employee lasted at my salons. Needless to say, my tactics failed. I learned an important lesson: money isn't the only reason people work. Having a boss that cares and appreciates her employees is equally important, if not more so, than money. The key is to cultivate a culture of teamwork, camaraderie, friendship, and support. Here are a few ways I have found to do just that:

Ask your employees what their dreams are. Get them to think outside the four walls of the business and tell you what their life goals and desires truly are. They may be skeptical at first, but if you are sincere, your employees will be happy to know you care and take interest in them outside of work. And, if you can actually help an employee achieve a dream, they will be living a better life outside of work, be happier people, and be more committed to you and your business. I was actually surprised to learn what my hairdresser's dreams were. Several wanted to buy a car and others dreamed of moving out of their parents' homes. One wanted to get away from an abusive boyfriend. I was touched to get to know my team in a more intimate way, and by sharing dreams we bonded.

Make a plan to help your employees achieve at least one dream. Sit down with each employee and make a plan. Use the system called SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Rewarded, and Time-framed. With a detailed action plan, you can work with your employees to make their dreams become reality.

Check in once a month. Schedule a one-on-one meeting each month to see if the dream has changed or evolved, review the action plan, and make adjustments. Don't drop the ball on the program or you'll end up worse than when you started.

Rally the team to help. If appropriate, get others involved. You might even want outside help. Use whatever resources you have available to make progress. For example, I had one stylist who wanted to purchase her own car. That was her dream. I asked her if I could share her dream with the team because I was sure we had some resources that could help her. She agreed. Among the 10 employees in the salon, we managed to come up with a contact for a financial planner and a mechanic who could check out a used car to be sure it was in good shape. Both offered to help this stylist for free.

I worked with this stylist for about six months on her car-buying dream. We implemented a plan to help her earn more money, save more money, and get a great deal on a car she could really feel good about. Late last year, she bought a bright red 2004 Honda Accord, and we all took turns going for a ride with her so she could show it off. I don't know who was happiest -- the stylist, her friends at work, or me.

I love managing my business by helping my employees dream and achieve goals. I am happy to say that since we have been keeping track about five years ago, we have had over 100 dreams fulfilled -- some big, some small. We have reduced turnover to less than 60 percent system-wide, and our customer service and productivity have never been better. Helping people achieve their dreams is good business!

When contemplating a major decision, such as buying or starting a business, I find it very helpful to take some time aside from writing business plans and do some personal exercises that will help identify your core values and how to use your personal strength to achieve happiness and success. This exercise can be fun -- and very insightful.

First, think about your childhood influencers -- your father, mother, brothers, sisters, teachers, coaches, mentors, or any other person who was important during your childhood. Pick three or four of the biggest influencers and write down how they lived their lives and what their values were.

In order to determine your core values, get some insight from others. Ask significant people around you what they think your values are and write them down. Ask each person to name at least three values they feel you demonstrate in the way you live your life. This provides a window into what our core values are, as well as how well we are demonstrating them through our actions. Some people you can ask include your spouse, children, parents, siblings, close friends, and business or professional associates.

Second, look at your unique abilities. Understanding our own unique abilities can help us gain clarity on what is most important to us in our life. You'll want your core values to be in sync with your unique abilities. Answer the following questions:

• What are your God-given gifts, talents, and unique skills?

• What are you really good at doing?

• What do you love to do? These are things that you enjoy, that bring you energy. When you're doing something you love, time passes quickly.

• What are you passionate about? This could be something like a charitable cause, a humanitarian passion, or a dedication to something that is beyond your needs.

• If you wrote a book about your life to-date, what would the title be?

Finally, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to both complete this exercise and evaluate it afterwards. It is particularly helpful if you have a professional coach or therapist who can work through your answers with you. The information gathered should give you a clearer view of your core values and how you demonstrate them.

Many small-business owners underestimate the value of strong leadership and a cohesive, high-achieving team. A highly engaged workforce can take an organization to impressive and profitable heights. An indifferent workforce can ruin it. Every business owner wants to make their work environment better for employees, but many do not know where to start or what key drivers they should focus on. Here's a roadmap:

• First, every business needs strong management and leadership -- whether that's you, the business owner, or a highly trained manager -- to make sure the vision and plan of the owner is implemented effectively on a day-to-day basis.

• Next, you (and/or your manager) need to clearly identify and communicate your organization's objectives and goals. Make sure they are fair and attainable, but not too comfortable. Communicate this, and put it in writing where everyone can see.

• Align team members' strengths, egos, and personal interests with those objectives. Meet one-on-one with each person and get his or her buy-in. If there are objections, try to use personal interests and motivations to find an area of strength where each person can contribute positively.

• Foster shared decision-making, so the team feels like they are part of the planning process and individual members take ownership of the shared goals.

• Finally, keep score and keep coaching. Track progress towards the stated goals on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Revise the goals if necessary, and reward positive contributions. Make the process itself fun and engaging so your team will be receptive and motivated.

And, remember, compensation and perks are not the only reasons people work. Personal satisfaction in a job well done, recognition by peers and supervisors, and team spirit and friendship are usually more important than money in creating a positive and productive work environment.

The “R” word -- recession -- seems to be on the tip of everyone's lips these days, and people are scared of what the future holds. The only thing sure in these uncertain times is that if you do nothing, you will receive nothing in return. So try something, find an opportunity that excites you, and go for it. Opportunity is in the eye of the beholder. Here are a few tips:

Analyze your skills, talents and interests. Make a list of things you learned in school or at a job that you feel could help you in business. Do the same for things you are good at naturally and things that bring you joy. Play into your strengths as you contemplate your business venture.

Look at franchise opportunities and see what jumps out at you. It could be that the business you've always dreamed of already exists, and all you have to do is sign up and follow the plan. If not, at least you will see a broad spectrum of businesses that should add fuel to your fire. Be honest as you contemplate what color your parachute is.

Surround yourself with quality and passion. Seek out business experts, talk to family and friends, and network with others who are either starting or have successfully run a similar venture. Get all the advice and enthusiasm you can find.

Build a solid foundation and stick to your values. Be honest with yourself. If there are areas of business you are not strong at, either consider a franchise so you have the support of the system, or find a partner or advisor to help you. Be very clear on where you want to go and how you are going to get there, and don't waiver from your core values.

Tough times are challenging, and there is a lot of detail that goes into choosing, launching, and operating a successful business, of course. The points above are just a few of the many things to consider. The more prepared you are for tough times, the more likely you will be to emerge victorious. Tough times can happen in any business and in any economy, so recognize the potential pitfalls, plan strategically, and forge ahead.

Entrepreneurs buy into a franchise concept to live the dream of business success without the risk of going it alone. Of course, any business can fail -- even a franchised one -- but there are three financial mistakes that business owners make with some regularity that could easily be avoided. Don't fall into these traps.

Building pro forma financial statements without substance. It is easy to make assumptions about your business before you know the reality of how your business will perform. Build a pro forma business plan from the ground up. Use information from other franchisees, the franchisor, industry standards, economic circumstances, and anything else you can think of that will help you ground your plan in reality. With a strong financial footing, you'll be one big step closer to success.

Having just what you need and not a penny more. The disclosure documents will tell you the high and low range for initial investments. All too often, franchisees plan on being "average" and prepare their initial investment finances accordingly. Franchisees who are undercapitalized are destined to fail, so plan to have the high-side investment available, and maybe even 10-25 percent more than that. Once you have your capital secured, spend it wisely.

Spending too much money in the early stages. When your capital comes in, the money burns a hole in your pocket and you're dying to spend it. But be careful not to spend too much too soon. You'll be writing big checks for important items such as lease deposits, construction, furniture, fixtures, equipment, inventory, and more, but be prudent with every expense, big or little. Plan ahead, follow your plan, and keep reserves of cash for operations, unexpected expenses, and bumps in the road.

You can avoid these traps by being prepared, planning carefully, and making smart decisions.

Post a comment here and let me know how you are managing.

When buying a franchise, it's easy to fall into a trap that makes it difficult to make an educated and informed decision. Through the franchise sales process at Snip-its, I see many of these mistakes made by even the best of prospects.

Buy with your head, not your heart. It's great to be passionate about your business, but passion is not enough to ensure success. You'll want to carefully investigate the business, speak with existing franchisees and the support team, review the disclosure documents thoroughly, and compare your business to other businesses in the same industry, investment level, real estate market, etc. Prove that it is a smart business decision, not just a passionate one.

Make a full commitment. Many franchisees want to keep their corporate jobs until their new venture is off the ground and thriving. While this makes sense logically, it may not be practical. Any new business requires a great deal of energy and attention, especially at the outset. Be prepared to devote yourself fully to your new business, and don't be fooled into thinking you have enough energy and passion for two jobs.

Support the operations model -- don't reinvent it. Franchisees are entrepreneurs by nature, and that can be both good and bad. Entrepreneurs are notorious for wanting to reinvent the wheel, but a franchisee who wants to do things his or her own way is destined to clash with the franchisor, not to mention violating the franchise agreement. If you are buying a good franchise, the operating model has probably been well-proven by the time you come on board -- in fact, it's one of the primary assets you are paying for by buying the franchise. Wait until you have some experience before deciding you are the expert.

Be realistic. Some people think that buying into a franchise is a foolproof way to operate a successful business. It's great to be optimistic, but be careful to understand that YOU will be running the business, not the franchisor, and some franchises do fail. Be prepared for the worst-case scenario, and have a back-up plan in case your business struggles more than you anticipated.

Know what the franchise agreement promises. If you actually read the disclosure documents literally, you will see that franchise agreements generally provide very little to the franchisee beyond licensing the right to use the company's system and trademark for a period of time in a specific territory. There is actually not much else that the franchisor is required to provide. Although most franchise companies support their franchise owners with their marketing, operations, and real estate, it is usually not a legal requirement. Be sure you understand exactly what you are getting when you buy a franchise.

By identifying the potential pitfalls, you can avoid them. Franchising can be a rewarding and profitable way to get into business, so go in with your eyes wide open and minimize your risk.

If you are a franchisee or a franchisor who has experienced some of the mistakes listed here, I'd love to learn from your stories. Write me!

If you've made the decision to open a franchise, you'll need to do your homework before signing on with any franchise company. Part of the due diligence practice involves a process known in the industry as "validation." Validation is the process of speaking to existing or past franchisees of the system you are looking at to determine your likelihood of success.

Continue reading "Do Your Homework to Validate Success"

Why join a franchise system, as opposed to going it alone and starting your own brand? Below are five good reasons to consider a franchise as your next entrepreneurial venture.

Benefit of the Larger System -- When you join a franchise organization, you get the benefit of learning from other entrepreneurs who have done exactly what you will be doing. In franchising, we say "you're in business for yourself, but not by yourself." This means that you have an entire franchise organization, to call on for advice, best practices, and support.

Continue reading "Franchising: Five Reasons to Explore First"

Lately, it seems as if everyone is franchising their business. In fact, according to Franchise Consultants, Inc., a new franchised business opens every eight minutes of every business day. You can get your cat groomed, your poop scooped, or your dog walked; a hotdog, pizza, salad, tacos, yogurt, ice cream, or fondue; your hair cut, nails trimmed, back rubbed, body tanned, or waist whittled; your radiator lubed, tires rotated, car painted, battery changed; kids tutored, teenagers prepped for college, grandma babysat; carpets cleaned, basement finished, lawn trimmed, windows wiped, pipes drained and you can even do your taxes -- all from a franchised business.

Continue reading "Five Requirements for a Successful Franchise Model"

Buying a franchise is a great way to go into business for yourself but not by yourself. It's the best of both worlds. You get the autonomy of being your own boss while having access to the support and systems provided by the franchisor. Starting any business, whether franchised or not, is a huge undertaking -- one that should be well thought out and planned as carefully as you would plan the design for a building or home. Here are five questions to consider before buying into a franchised business.

Continue reading "Five Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Franchise"

Running a business is a bit like doing a jigsaw puzzle. The pieces must fit together perfectly in order to complete the puzzle. If you are missing a piece, or if you have to pound the pieces together, you can't complete the puzzle. All of the pieces are interconnected, so they can't stand alone. In order to run a successful business, there are six puzzle pieces that must all be perfectly arranged and executed. These are the six pieces critical to the success of Snip-its salons, and I believe they are transferable to just about any business.

Continue reading "Six Keys to Running a Successful Business"

For the last two years at Snip-its, we have held an annual franchisee convention at our headquarters in Boston. This year, however, we decided to do something different. Instead of one big convention, we held three regional meetings in Boston, Atlanta, and Dallas. A change from past years, we thought this was the best way to reach out to our owners and see things from their perspective. It was also important to re-establish the human connection and communicate together in one room.

Continue reading "The Value of Face-to-Face Meetings"

Why does an entrepreneur start a business? What compels him (or her) to take an inspiration or an idea and turn it into a business? Certainly it's not for the money -- most entrepreneurs would be more financially secure with a regular job. It's probably not for the flexible work schedule -- although it is nice to be in control and choose which 16 of each day you want to work. Surely it's not for the fame and fortune -- most entrepreneurs never achieve that! So why do we do it?

Any entrepreneur can tell you what drives them -- it's something from inside -- maybe a need to fill a niche, maybe a strong desire to accomplish a certain goal, maybe an inner drive to change the world. Whatever the motivator, it is important to articulate it and keep it alive as you build and grow your business.

Continue reading "Getting to the "Why""

When asked to write a blog about four things I wish someone told me before I started my business, I thought about what those things might be and as I pondered the issue I realized something interesting. My inexperience and lack of knowledge in the beginning was a blessing in disguise. If I had known then what I know now, I may never have taken the plunge and become an entrepreneur. Here are the four things I'm glad no one told me before I started Snip-its.

Continue reading "Things I'm Glad I Didn't Know"

I recently had the pleasure of participating on a panel of entrepreneurs at the Inc. 500 conference in Chicago. The entire event was a fantastic learning and networking opportunity, and I especially enjoyed the panel I sat on. I was joined by my fellow bloggers Gigi Lee Chang of Plum Organics, Clint Greenleaf of Greenleaf Book Group, as well as Jack Stack, CEO of SRC Holdings and author of The Great Game of Business. Each of us was asked the same opening question: When did you have your "aha moment" when you knew you had made it?

We all answered the same way. It was quite amazing! None of us felt like we had made it yet. We all felt like we were still struggling, still on the road to success, but not there yet. I think there is an important lesson there. Maybe it's that you never want to rest on your laurels and get too complacent. Maybe it's that it's normal to feel insecure and doubtful. Or maybe it's that you never really know what success looks like when you are still in the trenches of running and growing your business.

Continue reading "The "Aha" Moment"

The life of an entrepreneur can be lonely. It is often hard to find people in the real world who understand what we go through. It's not like having a regular job, where if you don't like your boss or things are not going your way, you can just quit and find another job. No, entrepreneurs who are building businesses can't just quit. It's like having an extra child, a "brain child" that is so much a part of you, you can't let go. Unless you are an entrepreneur and have lived it yourself, it is difficult to understand.

I am often asked to give advice to people with inspirations or talents they want to turn into a business. I also sell franchises of my business to entrepreneurs across the country. Although I am eager to grow my business, the advice I always give is this: If you're not up for a 24-hour-a-day major obligation that takes both a financial and emotional commitment, don't do it. If you are looking for a lifestyle business where you can have a happy work/life balance, don't start one on your own. Of course, it's different if you are going to be a sole proprietor, working on your own terms and your own time frame -- an independent decorator or jewelry maker, for example. But if you are thinking of starting a retail operation where you are committing to a long-term lease and full-time employees and demanding customers (hopefully lots of them), then a lifestyle business is not what you are after, and you should be prepared for a major commitment. I might have lost a franchise sale or two, but I want my franchisees to know what they are getting into, and in the long run it pays off.

I also recommend to my franchisees (and I do it myself) to network with other entrepreneurs. As a franchisee, there is a built-in system for communication and networking among business owners. I strongly encourage franchisees to take advantage of the collective wisdom of the group. That's the whole idea behind franchising -- you're in business for yourself but not by yourself. As a true entrepreneur, going it alone, it can be difficult to find that network of peers unless you join an organization or a group. I have been a member of EO -- Entrepreneurs' Organization -- for over two years now, and I find it incredibly valuable and motivating to sit with other entrepreneurs and share experiences. Some members are extremely successful, and others are struggling, but we all share many things in common. Whether your business is haircuts or software or professional services, we all share the same struggles. With such diverse businesses, we all deal with the same issues -- employee issues, vendor issues, financing issues, acquisition issues, partner issues, and the list goes on.

As a business owner, you can't talk to your employees about these issues -- sometimes you can't even talk to your spouse or your friends. Unless they have lived it -- the blood, sweat, and tears of owning your own business -- they just can't relate. A peer group is essential for survival and camaraderie in the world of entrepreneurship.

Sometimes the best business concepts come from the simplest ideas. You don't have to be a scientist with a brilliant invention or have an MBA with a complex business model in mind--maybe you're just a mom like me looking for a better way to get your kid's hair cut.

It all started when I took my oldest son for his first haircut at about 1 1/2 years old. There should be a better way to reach out to kids who get their first or tenth haircut. There should be a salon that is specialized just for kids. And just like that, I mapped out the idea in my mind. Just like pediatric doctors and pediatric dentists, why is it so hard to find a pediatric hair salon? After a heartbreaking experience with my son, I set out to find out why there were no salons for children and what it would take to create one.

The first thing I did was interview as many people as I could to find out what the positives and the negatives about the current options. After talking to hundreds of moms, kids, and stylists, I came up with my first business platform -- the Snip-Its Triangle of Success. Like a three-legged stool, the triangle cannot stand alone unless all three sides are supported. For Snip-Its, the three sides are the parents, the children, and the stylists. I figured if I could make all three sides happy, I would have a thriving business. I still say to all my franchisees to remember the Triangle of Success, and no matter what challenges they face, they will be successful.

Afterwards, I set out to research all currently available options for kids. As I looked in all the nooks and crannies around the country, I actually found quite a few salons just for kids. Most were "mom and pop" salons with just one location. What I discovered made me incredibly optimistic about my prospects for Snip-its. Without exception, the salons I visited were sub-standard. They were small and dingy, with limited entertainment for the kids, and all of them were filthy. In fact, I took my son to one salon in California where the stylist gave him a bucket of toys to play with while she cut his hair. The bucket had so much cut hair at the bottom; the toys were completely covered with hair and gunk. Of course, my son took out the first toy and put it right into his mouth. I was horrified! Returning to the parent side of the Triangle, Snip-Its absolutely had to be clean and sanitary! The reason that salon and others like it made me so optimistic is that they were all incredibly busy! The kids were lined up out the door for haircuts and slimy toys! If you can run a successful salon under those conditions, imagine what could happen if you actually did a good job? I knew I was onto something big!

And that is how I turned a simple idea into a nationwide franchise with Snip-Its. My business is innovative and provides a service that will always have demand by parents and kids alike. Once you have an idea for a new business, try to map it out in your mind first and don't be afraid to do your research, you might just be pleasantly surprised in what you find!