Are you buying a job or investing in a career?

Greetings,

Road Warriors- Don't you hate it when you are handed a hotel key and go to the room and open the door and start to walk in, and realize that there is already someone in the room? Welcome to my world again today. When I went back downstairs and told the young guy at the desk he just said that was twice he did that today. I just hope somebody doesn't get hurt with all this walking in on strangers. This was at a newer very large Holiday Inn Express in the DFW area.

Now to the topic,are you thinking about buying a job or investing in a career? If you already have a franchise, which is it for you? I visited two new franchisees the last two days in the DFW area. One bought a job, one invested in a career. They are about the same age.

Franchisee1, lost his job. He had been a morgage counselor and lost his job due to the economy. He has had a couple of other jobs in the last 10 years. He was fed up with working for someone else. He wanted to control his own future. He has money in his 401K to spend, so he bought a franchise. The only problem is that he isn't interested in doing any of the work. He bought himself a job and he wants to be the President, CEO, and boss everyone else around. The only problem is that there are no customers, no employees, and until he gets out the door and starts creating business, he is a one man show. Let's say it is a Merry Maids type franchise. He is the boss, the house cleaner, the salesman, everything. He doesn't want to do any of the physical work, he just wants to be the boss. He rarely calls me, he just makes all the decisions and hopes they are right. He is finally busy being the Dad he could never be working for someone else. He goes to everything his kids do. He spends several hours a day being with the kids.

Franchisee2. He had a successful business career going as a Therapist. He made lot of money, but it tired of doing the same thing for 25 years. He wants to learn a new career. He is reading everything he can about cleaning equipment, he is planning his marketing, calling on friends and neighbors to get the business going and is doing all the work himself even though he he had never done it before in his life. He calls me 3 times a day to check on what direction to head. He spends about the same amount of time with his kids, but more quality time since he can now schedule around them and do some of the work while they are asleep.

Which one do I think will be successful? I think they both could be, but Franchisee2 has taken it to heart to completely change his life and so I think he will be around for a long time. Even if he changes his mind down the road, he will have built up a good business and have something to sell.

If you are thinking about buying a franchise, ask yourself what your motives are, and don't lie to yourself. One of my favorite franchisees tells me that he is lazy and won't be over extending himself and that's just the way he is. I can accept that. Be honest with yourself. Are you buying a job, or investing in a new career and a new future?