"Keith, I've been in logistics my whole career. I want to do something different. Something more exciting."
That's what my candidate told me in our first conversation.
He had 15+ years in the logistics industry. Good experience. Strong network. Deep understanding of how supply chains work.
And he was bored.
He wanted something sexier. Something he could get excited about. Something that felt like a fresh start, not just more of the same.
So I showed him consulting franchises. Business services. Even some retail concepts.
All good options. Any of them could have worked for someone with his background and skills.
But then I showed him something else.
There was a logistics-oriented franchise in our system that I thought could be a perfect fit for him.
He wasn't interested.
"Keith, that's exactly what I'm trying to get away from."
I get it. I really do.
When you've spent 15+ years doing something, the idea of doing it again even in a different context feels like going backwards.
But here's what I told him:
"Just take the intro meeting. Learn what it's about. If it's not for you, we'll cross it off the list. But give it a chance."
He agreed reluctantly.
The more he learned, the more things started clicking.
Yes, it was logistics. But it wasn't the same corporate grind.
And here's what made the difference:
His experience wasn't just helpful, it was a massive advantage.
This franchise didn't require industry experience. Plenty of people come in with zero logistics background and do fine.
But because he had it? He ramped faster than almost anyone.
He understood the business model immediately. He knew the industry pain points. He could speak the language from day one.
The more he learned about this franchise, the more things started to click.
Yes, it was logistics-oriented but it wasn't the same corporate grind he'd been doing.
He'd be the owner. He'd be building something. He'd have control over his schedule, his income, his future.
And here's what really made the difference:
There were two things this franchise really valued: sales experience and the ability to build relationships.
He had both.
He'd spent years selling logistics solutions to corporate clients. He knew how to identify problems, present solutions, and close deals.
In his corporate job, those skills made him successful.
In his franchise, those skills made him unstoppable.
But here's what I want you to understand:
Most of the franchises we represent don't align with any specific corporate industry at all.
And that's actually great news.
Because it's not the industry experience that matters most. It's the skills you developed there.
Franchises of all types - from home services to business consulting to health and wellness - are looking for people who bring skills in management, sales, team building, and operations.
Think about it. If you've spent years managing people, hitting revenue targets, building teams, or running day-to-day operations in any corporate environment - those skills transfer directly to franchise ownership.
Your industry may not carry over. But the skills you've built? Those are your real currency.
I see this pattern over and over.
Someone comes to me wanting to reinvent themselves completely. Start fresh. Do something totally different.
And sometimes that's the right move. If you genuinely hate your industry and can't imagine spending another day in it, then yes… find something else.
But more often, what people actually want isn't a different industry.
They want freedom, control, and ownership. The chance to build something for themselves instead of making someone else rich.
And the fastest path to that isn't running away from your expertise.
It's leveraging it.
If you're exploring franchising or another form of business ownership, consider this:
What if your current industry isn't something to escape from, but something to leverage?
What if those years of experience - the ones that feel boring or repetitive are actually your biggest competitive advantage?
I'm not saying you should automatically stick with what you know.
But don't automatically dismiss it either.
Sometimes the best opportunity isn't the sexiest one.
It's the one where you already have a head start.
Want to explore franchise opportunities that match your background?
Let's have a conversation about your experience and see if there's a franchise that could give you that competitive edge from day one.
Click here to schedule your call now—spots are filling up fast!
Ever upward!
Keith Liscio
