I've been playing pickleball for a while now, and recently I realized something:
This sport has taught me more about the transition from employee to business owner than any career counselor ever could.
Let me explain why this matters for anyone considering franchise ownership.
Pickleball is played on a court that's about a third the size of a standard tennis court.
I don't really have the knees to play tennis anymore - I played a lot when I was younger, but I can't really play as much anymore.
This smaller court creates an interesting dynamic. It's often played in doubles, and a lot of the play happens right at the net.
When you're playing right at the net, people's first instinct is to try and slam the ball past their opponent.
This is exactly how most employees think when they consider business ownership.
They want to immediately "slam" their way to success - quit their job tomorrow, make six figures in the first year, and expand rapidly.
But here's the thing: if you're really close to the net and you want to slam it past the opponent, the ball has to be above the net.
If the ball is too low and you try to slam it over the net, it's going to go out of bounds.
In business terms: if you try to force immediate success without the right foundation, you're going to fail.
So you've got to be very patient. You've got to just "dink" it back and forth.
Often you'll see players right at the net, after hitting it back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, they just wait for the right shot.
And when the right shot comes, then you can slam it.
The most successful corporate-to-franchise transitions I've witnessed follow this pattern:
The "Dinking" Phase: Learning the franchise system, building relationships with customers, following proven processes, managing cash flow carefully.
Waiting for Your Shot: Recognizing when you have the right team, the right market understanding, the right financial foundation.
The "Slam": Expanding locations, aggressive growth, taking the big opportunities - but only when conditions are right
Your years in corporate America have taught you discipline, systems thinking, and strategic patience. These are exactly the skills that make franchise ownership successful.
You don't need to abandon your methodical approach, you need to apply it to building your own wealth instead of someone else's.
Just like switching from tennis to pickleball, transitioning from employee to franchise owner requires adapting your approach while leveraging your existing strengths.
The court is different. The pace is different. But your fundamental skills - strategy, patience, execution - are exactly what you need.
Ready to explore how your corporate experience translates to franchise ownership success?
Let's hop on a quick, no-obligation call. In just 15 minutes, I'll help you understand how to apply your professional patience and strategic thinking to building your own business.
Click here to schedule your call now - spots are filling up fast!
Best regards,
Keith
P.S. The best franchise owners aren't the ones who try to slam every opportunity. They're the ones who master the fundamentals first and know when to make their move.
