The American Dream Heats Up This Summer with Franchise Opportunities
Monica Feid, COO and co-founder at Thunderly
Courtesy of FranchiseWire
Americans receive an average of 11 vacation days a year. But, according to a study by the Pew Research Center, 4 in 10 U.S. workers don’t take all of their paid time off. So who’s surprised at the freedom we feel when we actually prompt that Out-Of-Office reply?
This year, some 46% of U.S. adults will take a summer vacation. That’s roughly 150 million people getting away from the daily grind. That’s also a heck of time to show them a pathway to achieving more of that balance — and maybe even a career change through franchise ownership.
Remember those New Year’s resolutions? Franchising is a pathway to reaching them and summer is a time to rekindle that fire.
I have a whole theory about summer vacations, Christmas in July, and why we as a society wish for long, hot days spent with family and friends. Do we need a vacation? Absolutely. But, more importantly, we crave that seasonal reminder of work-life balance…and also how to get more of it.
Welcome to summertime and Resolution 2.0 season. Because vacations, no matter the time of year, plant the seed for bold dreams of new careers, better futures and more control of one’s journey.
Could a Vacation Spark Your Next Career Change?
If the lure feels familiar during June, July and August, it should. Many of these thoughts were top of mind for people in January. That’s when workers returned from the Christmas holidays with grandiose plans to rethink jobs, compensation and financial freedom for themselves and their families.
Big dreams of being in charge versus earning a paycheck were front and center until…oh, say, February. Then life’s aspirations took the usual backseat like some 80% of all New Year’s goals.
No sooner does summer approach when vacations once again can’t come soon enough. Notice a cycle here? That begs the bigger question: Do people need a vacation, or do they really need a new career?
A recent survey from Gallup Poll showed employee engagement is at a 10-year low. That means workers feel uninspired and seek to do the bare minimum. That’s in stark contrast to the vast majority of franchise owners I know who work incredibly hard, run their own show, but also make plenty of time for vacations that they’ve earned.
Better yet, franchisees don’t request time off. They design their businesses and their lives to achieve that and so much more. As a result, they feel deeply engaged in their investments, they manage to grow great teams, and they have something of real value to pass on to the next generation or sell when they are prepared to exit.
Thus, proactive franchisors know the drill.
Summer isn’t about down time. It’s a hot reminder for seven year-round characteristics for franchising and the American Dream.
In a survey of franchise executives with more than 340 years of experience across some 49 franchise networks, they cited seven attributes to the American Dream through franchising as reasons for people to invest:
- Opportunity
- Control
- Financial stability
- Freedom
- Independence
- Business ownership
- Generational wealth
These aren’t benefits during peak seasons or the far-off future. These are motivating and qualitative goals that begin day one and underscore the very essence of the franchise business model in hot summers, cold winters and all year long.
It’s also why some 20,000 new franchise units are predicted to open this year from the International Franchise Association’s economic forecast. Under current market conditions. With these interest rates. In communities from coast to coast.
So cheers to the entrepreneurs who bet on themselves. I predict their journeys will include many well-deserved vacations in the midst of their success. And here’s to summer breaks over the next three months that drive others to dream of joining their ranks.
Make This Summer Count
Franchising isn’t just a business model—it’s a gateway to the American Dream. While others see summer as a slow season, smart franchisors recognize it as a prime opportunity to inspire future owners, drive momentum, and plant the seeds of growth. At Thunderly, we can help turn seasonal slowdowns into year-round opportunities with franchise marketing strategies that are built to convert.
Want to position your brand as the next stop on someone’s journey to freedom, control, and long-term growth? Let’s build that dream together. Contact us today.
