Every organization wants to build a strong team. But the teams that truly stand out are the ones that grow with intention, lead with clarity, and turn everyday challenges into opportunities for progress. They do not rely on luck or momentum alone. They build culture deliberately, one decision at a time.
I was reminded of this recently when I was invited to deliver a two hour keynote combined with hands on participation for a large fitness franchise organization. From the very beginning, it was clear this team approached growth differently. They valued preparation, learning, and long term thinking, and they understood that mindset is the foundation for sustainable performance.
What stood out immediately was their long term thinking. I was interviewed by the CEO and leadership team nearly a year before the event. They wanted me thinking about the keynote for an extended period, immersing myself in their world, and understanding what truly mattered to them. That level of preparation told me everything I needed to know. This was a team playing the long game.
The Three Types of Franchise Operators
Over the years, I have found that franchise operators tend to fall into three broad categories. This framework applies far beyond franchising, but it is especially visible in this space.
The first group is what I call the Blamers. These individuals believe buying a franchise is a shortcut to success. They focus on money, not mastery. When results do not come quickly, they blame the system, the franchisor, the market, or their employees. Accountability rarely starts with them. The moment they realize the model only works if they do the work, frustration sets in. These operators almost always sit in the lowest performance tier.
The second group is the Muddlers. They follow the model. They work hard enough to get by. They do not cut corners, but they also do not innovate or inspire. Their teams execute tasks but rarely feel ownership. Customers receive adequate service but nothing memorable. Muddlers often operate with a scarcity mindset. They hesitate to raise prices. They fear losing customers. They survive, but they rarely scale with confidence.
The third group is where Unstoppable teams are built. I call them the Grinders.
Grinders live the mission. They respect the franchise model, but they also take ownership of it. They know the rules deeply so they can elevate performance within them. They connect passion with purpose and turn their business into something meaningful. They sweat the details. They invest in people. They operate with an abundance mindset and are comfortable raising standards and prices because they deliver exceptional value.
Grinders consistently sit in the top quartile. Not because they work harder than everyone else, but because they think differently about growth.
Why Grinders Scale When Others Stall
The franchise team I worked with was a textbook example of Grinders. They were not chasing short term wins. In fact, they did not turn a profit until year four. Instead of extracting value early, they reinvested heavily into developing their people.
One investment stood out above all others. Mindset training.
They understood that scaling locations is easy compared to scaling leaders. At the time of the keynote, they were preparing to double their organization from roughly four thousand people to eight thousand in under three years. That kind of growth does not fail because of systems or processes. It fails when leaders are not equipped to coach, develop, and inspire the next generation of team members.
This is why they brought me in. They were not looking for motivation. They were looking for tools that would help their leaders multiply themselves.
Customization Is Not Optional for Elite Teams
Grinders expect customization. They do their homework and expect the same from anyone they invite into their organization. They invest heavily in offsite team building and retreats, sometimes shutting down operations entirely to get everyone in the same room. They see these gatherings as force multipliers, not expenses.
In this case, I was brought in as the closing keynote speaker. My responsibility was clear. Reinforce the themes of the event and equip leaders with tools they could use immediately. That requires restraint. Less content, delivered well, always beats more content delivered poorly.
When building an Unstoppable Franchise Team, leaders need tools that help them coach new team members while preserving a high performance culture. That requires a system based approach. Tools without focus are ineffective. Tools connected to real challenges create momentum.
The Mindset Foundations of Unstoppable Teams
I distilled the keynote into three core mindset fundamentals. Thoughts. Focus. Beliefs.
These are the building blocks of an Unstoppable Mindset. If leaders learn to manage these three elements, they gain the ability to activate every other leadership principle they encounter. This was especially important because the CEO had written a comprehensive book on entrepreneurial leadership with dozens of lessons. My goal was not to repeat those lessons, but to give leaders the mental framework required to apply them consistently.
Mindset is not about positive thinking. It is about learning how to direct attention, interpret setbacks, and take action even when confidence wavers. When leaders master their mindset, they can coach others through uncertainty instead of avoiding it.
Action Beats Inspiration Every Time
One thing I believe deeply is that inspiration without action fades quickly. That is why the keynote included structured exercises that required participation during the session. Every attendee received a branded notebook, not as a souvenir, but as a tool.
The exercises were goal based and designed to align with the organization’s growth objectives. Participants were not just listening. They were practicing. They were writing. They were committing to action.
No matter the goal, progress always comes down to persistent action. Not heroic effort. Consistent effort. This philosophy was already embedded in the company’s leadership culture, which made the alignment seamless.
What This Means Beyond Franchising
The lessons from this engagement apply to any team in any industry. Unstoppable teams are built intentionally. They are led by people who understand that mindset drives behavior, behavior drives culture, and culture drives results.
Grinders exist everywhere. They are the leaders who embrace discomfort, invest in growth, and hold themselves accountable first. They understand that success is not accidental. It is practiced daily.
Closing the Loop on Building an Elite Franchise Team
I love working with Grinders because they know what success requires. An unwavering commitment to daily action. A willingness to invest in people. And the humility to keep learning.
This team will achieve their goals. Not because of one keynote, but because of the mindset they practice every day. I look forward to returning in a few years to celebrate what they have built.
Always remember this. Unstoppable is a choice. And I am always here to help leaders and teams choose how to be Unstoppable in achieving their goals.
Here’s to an Unstoppable year.
Alden
