Monday, March 5th, 2012
In the Fall of last year, Stay At Home® secured the services of Roger Flynn to lead franchise development. Since that time, Roger has been an invaluable contributor to Stay At Home and just recently I received a letter from one of our newest franchise owners that I would like to share with you.
After leaving corporate America, I knew that I had to find a new direction and meaning in my life. I researched multiple opportunities, including franchise opportunities. Through it all, I found working with Roger Flynn at Stay at Home a wonderful experience that really put my mind at ease. There was never any pressure and I felt like I had my own personal business coach, a person who had my best interests in mind. There was no question I asked that was too trivial; no request that went unanswered; and Roger was always available and responsive. Incredibly, I was able to start my business within a month of signing my Agreement and I have never looked back. Working with Roger was a treat and I know, should the opportunity arise, that you will have a positive experience too!
Deborah Toppi, Stay AT Home of Middlesex County, MA
Thursday, December 1st, 2011
Dreaming Big
All great and worthwhile things typically start out as a dream within the eye of an individual. Winston Churchill, the great British leader during WWII, once said “The empires of the future are empires of the mind.” The power of his assertion could not have been lost on the people of his day, just as it should not be lost on our generation.
One of the greatest gifts that we have been endowed by our Creator is the gift of dreams and imagination. Dreams by themselves are often simply flights of fancy; random thoughts on a lazy summer afternoon. Dreams coupled with action and vision are powerful; they assume what appears to be lives of their own and they have a tendency to come true. I am of the school of thought that says ‘dare to dream big and prepare to receive your dream’.
Our franchise owners are all encouraged to dream big. Big dreams are worthwhile; they typically have meaning and almost always improve many lives. Big dreams require big actions and a concrete vision of the future. It is for this reason, that each of our franchise owners receives guidance in developing their own Future State Vision, complete with a two year action plan. I know that big dreams with staggered goals are attainable; big dreams are achieved one step at a time.
Dreaming Big is a gift that requires equal parts of practice, patience and action to get right. I encourage everyone, regardless of their chosen path to dream big, you will be amazed at what can be accomplished.
John Batcheller
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011
Continuous improvement is a philosophy; it is a way of life. Early in my career, I was exposed to this philosophy through the instruction of some great men from both Japan and the US. I learned from their wisdom that continuous improvement is the lifeblood of continual success. I also learned that in great organizations continuous improvement and innovation are inextricably linked.
At Stay at Home®, we never rest on our laurels. From the smallest details to our largest programs, we look to our franchise owners to provide feedback and suggestions on how to improve operations. I am acutely aware that every owner has been endowed by God with certain gifts and that it is up to us to recognize those gifts and provide platform for them to flourish. While the core values and relationship focus of our business will never change, the tactics and tools will change as improvements and innovations are communicated by our franchise owners.
Continuous improvement is truly a way of life at Stay at Home®. I am always excited about new possibilities; new ways to grow and serve our franchise owners and their clients.
John Batcheller
Wednesday, April 20th, 2011
A franchise system can be very advantageous to a new business owner, helping provide the methodologies, tools and training needed for a successful launch. But a franchise system is not enough, the desire to succeed is required; it is an essential ingredient for growing a business.
Building a new business is not for the faint hearted. Problems and issues will always arise that require determination and skill to resolve. While skills can be taught, determination has to come from within. In my life, I have seen those in seemingly good positions who become paralyzed by fear of the unknown and those who are in seemingly dire positions who become energized and break through barriers. The difference between success and failure is almost never a difference in position, it is a difference in attitude.
A person with drive, the desire to succeed, will not be swayed by circumstances. When the drive is rooted in a genuine desire to do good, the result is an unstoppable force. During the interview process, one of our franchise owners, a cancer survivor, brought this home to me. When asked how they handle bad days, they told me “I don’t know how to answer that. I don’t have bad days, I choose not to.” It is the desire and the drive, not the circumstances, that is the game changer.
Monday, March 28th, 2011
“This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we know but what to do with it.” Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882). Emerson’s words are profound, especially considering the times in which we live. Today, we can easily spend time in pursuits of entertainment, dead end careers focused on an ever elusive goal of retirement, or even temporary escapes from the pressures of the world. Time spent in this way can lead to an unfulfilled life, an existence without vibrancy, without ‘life’.
The life worth living is one of impact, a life that makes a difference in the lives of others. At Stay at Home®, our franchise owners have made a decision to spend their time in the pursuit of a better life; a life of service to others, a life characterized by sacrifice and reward. This life is not for everyone, it is for those few who are driven by the desire to “do well for themselves while doing good for others.” Where and how we spend our Time is a decision that has a profound impact on the outcome of our lives. In the immortal words of Robert Frost “I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence; two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
John Batcheller
