Malik Reed and his wife, Cece, wanted to transition from professional sports into something they could build for their future. While Malik built his career in the NFL, Cece competed as a collegiate volleyball athlete. When the Reeds started looking at their options, they knew they wanted to be part of something meaningful that would support their family and positively impact their community. They had been thinking about business ownership for years, and through  Your Future Franchise and the guidance of founder and CEO  Scott Thompson , they found  Project Lean Nation . “Cece had mentioned bringing something back to our hometown,” Malik said. “At the time, we were focused on building our careers, but that idea stayed with us.”  That interest became more concrete after Malik attended a professional development conference where franchising was introduced as a structured path into business ownership. Having backgrounds in professional sports also gave them qualities like discipline and commitment that go hand in hand with franchising.  “They explained it like following a playbook,” he said. “That made sense to us. We are used to structure, preparation and execution. We had the resources, but we didn’t know where to start or how to invest the right way.”  It was important to the Reeds not to make the decision based on numbers alone. They wanted to invest in something they believed in and that would allow them to serve people.  How Scott Thompson from Your Future Franchise Stepped In Malik and Cece were introduced to Thompson through a networking connection. They spent the first hour of their conversation talking about the Reeds’ story, which helped them build trust.  “He wanted to understand us fully,” Cece said. “Not just what we could invest, but who we are at our core. He helped us see that this is something you will give your time and energy to every day. It has to align with your life.”  Scott guided them through every step, including reviewing the Franchise Disclosure Document, understanding financial expectations and speaking with other franchisees. He also made sure the Reeds understood the reality of each opportunity.  “Everything was new to us,” Malik said. “But every time we had a question, he had an answer or connected us to someone who could help. He showed us the positives, but he also made it clear where the challenges would be, whether that was time, finances or how it would affect our family.” The process also helped the Reeds rule out opportunities that may have made sense financially but didn’t feel like the right long-term fit. With Thompson’s guidance, they narrowed the search to brands that matched what they wanted to build. “That made the decision process much clearer,” Cece said. “[Scott] makes the experience way better. He's an asset, and if you're afraid, this is somebody you should talk to.”  After going through  Your Future Franchise’s seven-step process , Malik and Cece Reed chose to move forward with Project Lean Nation. They chose the franchise because of their strong connection to its leadership, including founder Tom Doherty, and a shared focus on faith, service and community. “What stood out was the alignment from the top down,” Malik said. “Serving people and being present in the community is important to them, and that is important to us.” A Process Driven by Alignment and Trust Scott made sure that the business the Reeds chose reflected their values before anything else. His structured guidance helped make an unfamiliar process more accessible.  “He made sure this fit who we are, not just what we could do financially,” Malik said. “He is someone we can reach out to at any time. Our relationship didn’t stop once the decision was made.” Today, Malik and Cece see their franchise as an opportunity to serve others, grow as owners and build something that will last beyond them.  “This is about impact, but it is also about legacy,” Cece said. “We are building something our kids can be part of and learn from.” To find out more information about working with Your Future Franchise, please visit  https://1851franchise.com/your-future-franchise .