The Emotional Roller Coaster

‘If we’re going to date, you have to promise you’ll never ask me to go on a roller coaster.’

My wife, Rachel, made it clear early in our relationship that she was prone to motion sickness. Whether it’s on land, air, or sea, excess motion isn’t good for her. We had to split up at amusement parks with friends and, eventually, our kids. Some of us hit the coasters while the others rode the carousel. 

But when I bought a franchise, I broke my promise. I asked her to join me on something much more tumultuous than riding the Cyclone, taking her on a wild ride with ups, downs, and much more neither of us could anticipate or control.

Not everyone has the stomach for running their own business. While a traditional job can also be quite challenging, it’s structured and predictable. You can plan your life around a regular paycheque. You feel (whether or not it’s true) that you’re part of a stable company with clearly defined rules and a climbable ladder. 

Some people need the freedom of business ownership. It’s more of an adventure. There’s risk, adversity, and the chance of enormous financial gains – or nothing at all. Running a franchise is a modern-day treasure hunt. 

The question is, is that for you? You could do the same things wealthy franchisees do and get the same financial payoff. But if you don’t enjoy the journey, you won’t have the quality of life to meet our definition of ‘wealthy.’ It’s not enough to evaluate a business before buying. You need to examine the lifestyle. If you don’t like roller coasters, you may not like franchising. 

Those who can, do, and for ten years, I did. I proudly owned the title ‘franchisee.’ That pride was as much from what I overcame as from what I accomplished. It was an intense time with ups, downs, and plenty going sideways. 

I’m going to share with you the highlights of that wild decade. As I recount my journey, try to put yourself in my shoes and imagine having the same experience. I’ll discuss what I went through as well as what it felt like. I’ll pause periodically throughout my story to give you a chance to reflect how it would feel to you. 

I Blame My Father 

My father is a bloodhound for new business ideas. In 2005, when he showed me an ad for a fruit basket franchise called ‘Edible Arrangements,’ he caught me at ...

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