The influencer we follow for key business advice
Tim Ferriss
Tim Ferriss is an entrepreneur with a multitude of accolades under his belt. He started a nutritional supplement business in 2001 whilst working full-time and is now an early-stage technology investor and advisor, having been involved with brands such as Uber and Duolingo. He has penned five number-one New York Times and Wall Street Journal best sellers, including The 4-Hour Work Week. This book changed the way people approached their working life as it encourages them to abandon the nine-to-five model and get more out of their days.
Tim likes to push the boat out and test new ideas in business, and his enthusiasm and drive are the reason that he has been so successful.
He hosts The Tim Ferriss Show, which is an interview-centered podcast that provides the tools and tricks needed to succeed in the business world.
Podcasts
The podcast we listen to for expert franchise advice
Franchise Empires
The Franchise Empires podcast, hosted by The Wolf, the CEO of Wolf Pack Franchising, provides aspiring franchisees with the information they can use to channel their ambition and become a multi-unit franchisee. The Wolf highlights that many start-ups are doomed to fail, but franchising is a robust alternative with far less risk and guaranteed financial freedom.
Each episode, guests from the franchising world describe their journey and how they plan to build from single units to having hundreds of locations. From fast-food chains to health and beauty franchises, this podcast covers a wide range of business opportunities to demonstrate the many choices that franchising has to offer. Listeners will learn how to open their first franchise, how to scale up to having multiple locations and the common mistakes to avoid. Episodes release every Tuesday so you can get your weekly dose of valuable franchise insider info.
Must-listen episode: Season 3 Episode 10 – Greg Flynn – Meet America’s Multi Billion Dollar Restaurant Franchisee
The podcast we listen to for key entrepreneur tips and tricks
Entrepreneur Weekly
Alan Taylor is an award-winning radio and television host and has over 30 years of experience as a broadcast professional. He co-founded Benchmark Entertainment in 1995 and hosts many talk shows, and as the host of Entrepreneur Weekly, he provides listeners with essential information on how to start and grow a successful business.
On this podcast, Alan interviews industry-leading and innovative guests from a wide variety of backgrounds who share their insights on how they scaled their business into a profitable brand. From business coaches to owners and clinical psychologists, this podcast provides an extensive overview of the many ways in which entrepreneurship can take shape.
There are hundreds of episodes to tune into, and the topics explored cover anything you may want to know about starting your own business.
Must-listen episode: The ‘It Factor’ with Emily Ford
Books
The book we read to learn about all the franchising possibilities
Non-Food Franchising: The Better Path to Business Ownership by Jon Ostenson
Jon Ostenson is the CEO of FranBridge Consulting and is a top one per cent national consultant. As an Inc. 500 franchisor and a multi-brand franchisee, Jon is well-equipped to offer advice on why and how to break into the franchising industry.
In this book, he presents franchising as a solid business model for those wanting to start their own venture and achieve success. The book focuses on non-food franchising in order to showcase the multi-faceted nature of the industry, and that there is something for every entrepreneurial-minded person.
Jon highlights why franchising provides a more stable option than starting your own business from scratch and evaluates the details that go into becoming a franchisee. This guide will set readers on the path to business ownership.
The book we read for an innovative insight into business strategy
Blue Ocean Strategy, Expanded Edition: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant by W. Chan Kim, Renée Mauborgne
Blue Ocean Strategy challenges everything you think you know about business strategy. In this book, business theorists W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne argue that engaging with competitors results in swimming in a “red ocean” full of rivals and cut-throat contests. Rather, the key to succeeding in business is to uncover a “blue ocean” of untapped space in the market.
The book studies 150 strategic moves, spanning more than 100 years across 30 industries, guiding readers on how to seize growth and move away from a market crowded with competition to a new world of uncontested market space. It provides insights into creative business thinking and useful advice on how to implement this strategy to take your business to the next level.
The book we read to grow your business
Book 3: Adventures in Franchise Ownership: 4 Pillars to Strengthen, Protect and Grow Your Business by Christy Wilson Delk
In this book, Christy Wilson Delk – a successful franchisee turned author and business professor – breaks franchise success down into four main components: loyalty, leadership, money and method management. Explaining each concept in depth, Christy describes what successful franchisees do in order to thrive.
Adventures in Franchise Ownership is based on Christy’s own franchise ownership ventures, which she explains with humor and wit. Readers will find advice from 16 industry top performers representing a wide range of markets, sharing their insights into what it takes to build a strong business. The book provides a framework for attaining financial success and professional satisfaction, and it is relevant to franchise newbies or seasoned franchisees.
