People are tired of the “good ol’ boy” clubs and lip-service promises. Based on nearly every poll that has come out since Donald Trump announced his candidacy, it seems as if American’s are intrigued by change.
Sure, Barack Obama said the same thing when he was running, but this time, it feels a little different.
“Everyone said Donald Trump would not get as far as he has,” said motivational speaker Tony Robbins to Business Insider. “A man who is single-minded and aggressive can achieve a lot.”
When Trump first made his announcement to run for president, it seemed somewhat calculated. Perhaps, initially, he thought that the type of publicity that could come from an announcement would elevate his self-reported $8.7 billion net worth (as reported in his book “Crippled America”), but then, people started listening. And then they started responding.
“Why are people responding? I don’t think they are responding because he is tearing people down,” Robbins said in his Business Insider interview. “I think they are responding because they are so sick and tired of political correctness. They are so sick and tired of somebody looking at screens and reading their speech. They want someone who spontaneously acts. And because he has been successful in business many people believe that if says he will get it done, he will get it done. They are tired of politicians. They are tired of promises. And, they are hoping that somebody with that kind of intensity will keep their word."
Sound familiar? Closer to our franchising vest, what would Trump’s nomination and sequential potential presidential winning mean for franchising? It could mean a lot.
In the first chapter of “Crippled America,” entitled “Winning Again,” Trump says: "Donald Trump builds buildings. Donald Trump develops magnificent golf courses. Donald Trump makes investments that create jobs. Winning matters. Being the best matters."
Being best does matter.
While some may label his antics as arrogant, perhaps some are simply jealous—or nervous, perhaps?
Robbins said, “Don’t judge me on how my lips move, judge me by how my feet move.” To which, Trump is perfectly comfortable doing. Whether you like Trump or not, he has proven that he can have a successful career, make a lot of money and continue “Winning” (Charlie Sheen should certainly vote for him).
In franchising, aren’t we much about the same? Not just winning, but winning well and being the best?
Pick up any franchise trade publication and read through the advertisements: No. 1 in category; best unit-level economics; award-winning food. Wouldn’t the franchising industry be somewhat hypocritical to, at the very least, not say they appreciate the effort?
What Motivates Someone to Win
Perhaps there is something that happens to us as children during our development years that impacts our view of life and the world? Perhaps those occurrences shape our drive. Perhaps this is why so many of those who have become greatly successful can tell you a story of being bullied as a child? Perhaps being bullied creates the perception of a bully.
For Trump’s haters, he has been perceived as a bully. But perhaps having a calculated opinion voice is essential to “winning.”
“It’s always been you can’t do this, you can’t do that,” Trump told the TODAY Show. “My whole life has really been a ‘no,’ and I have fought through it. It has not been easy for me. I started off in Brooklyn. My father gave me a small loan of $1 million. I came into Manhattan and I had to pay him back, and I had to pay him back with interest. When I came into Manhattan I started buying up properties and I did great. And then I built the Grand Hyatt. And got involved with the convention center. I did a good job. But, I was always told that wouldn’t work. All my life I was told ‘no.’ Even for this, they said ‘what do you want to do it for?’ You are against professional politicians.”
Now, getting a $1 million loan is quite nice—many of us wish we could have gotten one (and many franchisees have). But it’s more so what he has been able to do with it and how he has been able to battle through adversity—including leveraging the power of bankruptcy to create more wealth.
No one can argue that Trump hasn’t walked a walk.
Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover; Cut the Cards
Ever hear the statement “over promise, under deliver?” Sure you have. This is still the risk that exists, as is claimed areas of expertise: human rights, global economy, international relations. Can Trump walk the walk?
It’s not as if it’s a shoe-in for the nomination, but Americans (and the world) are listening to what he has to say.
As Americans, we have shown a keen interest in drama. We love it. We love TMZ.com, the Kardashians and the Jersey Shore. Those brands have millions of followers and millions of dollars contributed to the global economy.
Currently, though, the world is listening more to Obama (only Katy Perry, Justin Beiber and Taylor Swift have more followers) than Kim Kardashian, Snooki, Trump, Hillary Clinton and Ben Carson combined.
Trump doesn’t even make the top 100 list (yet). Perhaps someone else should try running based on their influence.
“He is, right now, the leading Republican running for president,” said Anderson Cooper on his nightly show. “He is leading in the polls, leading in coverage, and leading in controversy, and, at the moment, he is leading in how he seems to be shaking up the race and the reaction that he is drawing from his opponents.”
What if a franchisor could shake up the race? What would that look like?
For a current emerging franchisor (let’s say, under the 1,000-unit mark), how would you like to be a $400 million company with 2,100 units? What if you could wave the magic wand and become that size?
Would you say no?
Is Trump the equivalent of a $400 million franchisor with 2,100 units?
Well, in franchising, that’s Quiznos (or, at least, was at the reporting at the end of 2013). Yet that brand is now seen as a black sheep. This, perhaps, is where Trump could end up as president: A whole lot of talk, a whole lot of fast walking and a whole lot of lacking in superior sustainability.
But Quiznos did make a challenge. The brand took off, quickly growing to 5,000 units before crashing and crashing again.
Sure, there are other 2,100-unit brands that are far more sustainable, but when you judge a book by its cover, sometimes you may say you want to be just that until you dive a little deeper.
Perhaps that’s what will ultimately happen to voters when they dive deeper—thus, concluding Trump’s run for change.
But perception is reality and reality is perception. Is the reality that Quiznos, at $400 million, is still a good company? Or is the perception that it is a dog? Wouldn’t you want to be that size? Is the perception that Trump is a crazy person? Or could the reality be that he is just different and some are afraid of change and the challenger?
Imagine what could happen to a franchisor if you applied Trump’s rules of campaigning and business to your brand:
If Trump were a franchise brand, I bet we would all be talking about it.
In no way, shape or form is this article meant as an endorsement for Mr. Trump. More so, it’s a review of what is currently happening in our world of politics. Time will tell whether Trump is a sustainable entrepreneurial candidate or just another self-serve frozen yogurt brand unable to tap its potential.
When asked about Trump during a recent interview with Fox Business, fellow successful-entrepreneur Mark Cuban shared why he wouldn’t make the perfect running mate—proclaiming his lack of consent as a hold-up:
“I am a horrible politician. I don’t strive for consent,” Cuban told Fox Business. “I think I can have more impact on our country and do better things for our country by helping more small businesses grow, helping entrepreneurs create more companies and grow and really setting that the American dream is alive and well.”
Even if this ends up as a publicity stunt, it seems as if Trump has shown that sometimes when not asking for consent or forgiveness, people are willing to listen and are, at the very least, intrigued. Perhaps his run for candidacy can still be good for franchising if we listen to the willingness to disrupt and the drive to win.
Clearly, Trump has shown the value in believing what you are selling to best put you in a position to win.
This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. It is for information purposes only. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you are a resident of one of these states, we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with applicable pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements in your jurisdiction. Franchise offerings are made by Franchise Disclosure Document only.
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