1851

There is no doubt that COVID-19 has changed the business world, and the franchise industry is no exception. Now, as states start to reopen, franchisors across many segments are strategizing new ways to support their franchisees, keep customers satisfied, help local communities and come out stronger on the other side of this crisis.1851 Franchise Publisher Nick Powills and Internicola Law Firm Founder and Partner Charles Internicola spoke with former Major League Baseball pitcher and business owner, <a href="https://twitter.com/gehrig38?lang=en&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-franchise-brands-can-learn-from-curt-schillings-approach-to-leadership-2713401" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Curt Schilling</a>, about how leaders can learn from the COVID-19 crisis.&nbsp;<figure class="media"><oembed url="https://youtu.be/hETBnD_xQ_k"></oembed></figure><h4>The Leadership Perspective</h4>First, Schilling notes how important it is for business owners to develop the right perspective. “<a href="https://1851franchise.com/how-business-leaders-should-guide-recovery-right-now-2713125#home">The topic of recovery needs to be thought of from the perspective of leadership</a>,” he said. “Just like in sports, a company’s team is only as strong as their leader. This crisis will be an enormous test for leadership, and it needs to be about people first and foremost.”&nbsp;That people-centric approach isn’t only focused on customers, but team members as well. “Employees should be proud to wear the uniform,” said Schilling. “People who don’t have pride for the company they work for are just ex-employees waiting to happen.”&nbsp;If leaders are worried about being disliked, Schilling notes, they just need to make sure they are disliked for doing the right thing. That way, in the long run, employees can be proud of working for a company with a strong and competent leader.Amid COVID-19, a team-centered focus is more important than ever. When leaders assign smart, focused people to the same task, there is nothing the team can’t achieve. <a href="https://1851franchise.com/identifying-and-leveraging-your-wins-to-promote-franchise-growth-2713308#home">The leadership of a company needs to be able to facilitate that focus</a>. Plus, in terms of the labor pool, there will likely be an immense amount of talent looking for work soon.&nbsp;“The reasons businesses succeed — whether through hard work, diligence, core values or endurance — will never change,” said Schilling. “For example, great customer service is never going to go out of style.”&nbsp;<h4>New Priorities</h4>As the country emerges from this crisis, a brand’s priorities will be very simple: <a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchisors-need-to-prepare-for-recovery-now-heres-how-2713187#home">get back to those principles that allowed the business to succeed in the first place</a>. Sometimes, businesses need to go through a crisis to be able to build the strongest model.&nbsp;“There will undoubtedly be new questions that companies will need to answer moving forward,” said Schilling. “<a href="https://1851franchise.com/strong-franchise-growth-requires-a-good-brand-story-heres-how-to-tell-yours-2713289#home">Primarily, franchisees, customers and employees are going to want to know how the brand took care of their people during this crisis</a>. Franchisors need to be transparent and communicative as the company adapts to the times, allowing team members to express their concerns and fears.”&nbsp;When it comes to the new normal, Schilling notes that there will now be an entire generation of young people who understand the importance of being prepared and always having money saved. “No matter how carefully we budget, the unexpected will always come up,” he said. “Companies will no longer be able to survive payroll by payroll — and that's a good thing.”&nbsp;<h4>An Honest Plan</h4>On a final note, Schilling talks about how he struggled during his first month of playing baseball in the big leagues. He quickly realized he wasn’t good enough to play with the top players — yet. By being honest with himself, he was able to develop a strategy for getting better and to meet all of his personal goals in baseball until the day he retired twenty years later.&nbsp;“Sports really taught me that just because you want to, doesn’t mean you can,” said Schilling. “It is important that leaders are honest with themselves in terms of how they can and cannot succeed. <a href="https://1851franchise.com/coronavirus-is-making-franchise-owners-more-engaged-in-their-businesses-2713051#home">If business owners truly care about those truths that keep them up at night, they won’t need others to motivate them</a>. Business owners need to take the right steps in order to get into the recovery mindset.”If business owners can embrace a growth mindset and acknowledge the areas where they can improve, they will be much better prepared to start the recovery process.

What Franchise Brands Can Learn from Curt Schilling's Approach to Leadership

1851 Franchise

The former MLB all-star spoke with 1851 Franchise to discuss how business leaders can create a strategy for recovery post-COVID.

what-franchise-brands-can-learn-from-curt-schillings-approach-to-leadership

Right at Home

Right at Home Marks 30 Years With Continued Franchise Growth

Right at Home Marks 30 Years With Continued Franchise Growth, Tech Advancements, and Strong System Engagement in First Half of 2025

right-at-home-franchise-growth-2025

KidStrong Franchising, LLC

Unlocking Superpowers: How KidStrong Is Building the Next Generation of Confident Kids — and Thriving Franchise Owners

kidstrong-franchise-confident-kids

Image of a kid growing up, developing with kidstrong, high fiving and smiling. 

How KidStrong has Become the Franchise Disrupting Child Development by Partnering with Purpose-Driven Franchise Owners 

kidstrong-franchise-opportunity-child-development

Picture of kids for franchise business Kidstrong which focuses on child development and fitness

KidStrong Is Pediatrician-Recommended for Raising Confident, Capable Kids and Families Can't Get Enough

kidstrong-child-development-program

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Layne's Chicken Fingers-QSR-Sandwich-Brand-Addition-June-2025

Why Sandwich Franchisees Are Expanding With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

laynes-chicken-fingers-franchise-sandwich-operator-expansion

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Drone Delivery Takes Flight in QSR: The Future of Franchise Operations?

drone-delivery-takes-flight-in-qsr-the-future-of-franchise-operations

Chick-fil-A Tops Customer Satisfaction Rankings for 11th Year as Challenger Brands Gain Ground

chick-fil-a-tops-customer-satisfaction-rankings-for-11th-year-as-challenger-brands-gain-ground

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Kelsey McManemin — Vice President of Marketing, HTeaO

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-kelsey-mcmanemin-vice-president-of-marketing-hteao

Photo of a large group of people standing in a circle, placing hands together in center

Franchise Opportunities for Minorities: Expanding the Franchise Network

franchise-opportunities-for-minorities

Amanda Evans - Stellar Service Brands - Franchise Marketing Leaders 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Amanda Evans — Senior Vice President of Marketing, Stellar Service Brands

stellar-service-brands-marketing-leader-amanda-evans

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photos of Danielle Rosemond & Usman Khan & TruBlue logo

Family Members of Local Physicians Bring TruBlue Franchise to North Central Nassau, Long Island: A Health Care-Inspired Approach to Aging in Place

family-brings-trublue-franchise-to-north-central-nassau

What Franchise Brands Can Learn from Curt Schilling's Approach to Leadership

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS