One of the best programs we ever started at The Dwyer Group was VetFran (http://www.leadingtheserviceindustry.com/VetFran.asp), offering our best financial discount to military veterans who wanted to own a franchise.  Today, that program has blossomed into a national effort with hundreds of franchise companies giving their best discounts to thousands of military veterans-turned-franchise owners as the result.  Good ideas are meant to be shared. And in Texas, where we are headquartered, that’s just part of being friendly. 

This month, our efforts have been honored by G.I. Jobs Magazine, which named all seven franchise brands for The Dwyer Group to its Top 100 “Military Friendly Franchises” list.  Read the press release,  here: http://www.dwyergroup.com/press/2012/05/15/the-dwyer-groups-seven-brands-named-2012-military-friendly-franchises-by-g-i-jobs-magazine/

I am so proud of the VetFran program and not only what it has done to attract some of the best men and women to our franchise family, but also what it continues to mean for the their futures as business owners.  Having served our country to protect the very freedom under which we operate, it’s a gift to be able to extend those same business opportunities to veterans when their service is done.  Welcome, friends!

Do you want great people in your organization? Start with the people who hire them. Today I got to speak to the Heart of Texas chapter for the Society of Human Resource Management. These are individuals who help foster great companies. If there was ever a gatekeeper for an organization – a true point of entry (and exit) that has a direct impact on the culture of a business through the people it employs — it rests with these talented professionals. I know from experience that hiring for attitude as well as ability can propel an organization beyond expectations. That’s why we believe in our Code of Values at The Dwyer Group as a great tool by which to measure our true performance. Our brands are only as strong as the men and women who represent them.  And learning to champion Respect, Integrity, Customer focus and Having fun in the process (the themes to our Code of Values) is not the kind of thing you see on a resume.  That’s why the people in our Human Resources department are so critical to finding, attracting, and keeping the right men and women who can make that difference. It’s just one more aspect to how we Live RICH at The Dwyer Group. Thank you to The Dwyer Group. Thank you to the HOT chapter for SHRM. And many thanks to all the HR people out there who make finding great people a true art.

This week I had the great pleasure of being a keynote speaker at the GKIC 2012 SuperConference in Dallas. The ballroom was packed with about 1,000 people (entrepreneurs, small-business owners, network marketers and more) looking to take their businesses to the next level.  And I was more than happy to share how the Code of Values has helped us do that very thing at The Dwyer Group.  Hmm.  You might ask why I would give away such a good thing. After all, if the Code of Values makes The Dwyer Group brands stand out, wouldn’t I want to guard it as a best-kept secret?  Isn’t that why we’re so special? Perhaps that is the attitude that keeps Corporate America from missing real opportunity time and time again. You see, I feel it is in giving that we receive. And talking about The Dwyer Group Code of Values – yes, even giving a copy of those values to others to share it within their businesses – makes us all better as a result.  As long as people credit The Dwyer Group as the source, why not? It’s one thing to Live RICH at The Dwyer Group. It’s another to “Think Big” like the title of my speech today and “Live RICH” with others too.

Our hearts and our helping hands are reaching out to communities across North Texas today. With some 19 tornadoes reported yesterday alongside high winds, heavy rains, flooding, damaging hail, power outages and more, the destruction is overwhelming as thousands of people address the clean up and recovery effort that now begins.  I am proud to say that our service brands at The Dwyer Group are stepping into high gear across the region to answer those calls.  We work tirelessly to put customers first in our business. Today, in North Texas, that couldn’t be more important.  I give my thanks to an amazing team of associates here at home, our call center, our franchisees, and the wonderful service professionals who are making such a big difference on the front lines. The things we can accomplish by working together are more powerful to me than the storms that choose to test us. I invite those in need of our service brands to call 1-800-490-7501.

Today I had the great honor of welcoming 81 attendees to franchise training at The Dwyer Group. That’s a new record for our company. It’s the most we’ve ever had across all of our service brands in one class.  And it makes me smile to no end. I’ll just call this a Meaningful Monday – one of many in the history of our franchise family that continues to remind me why I have a passion for this business.   The Dwyer Group is 31 years young with more than 1,600 franchises around the world, and this place is still stretching boundaries and setting new goals.  As I looked across the room, I saw faces of inspiration – new franchise owners who were eager to represent our service brands, who were optimistic for the future, and who are championing small business in America in a huge way. I gave my “Design Your Life” seminar to everyone in attendance, and it was a powerful audience to address. I’m so grateful for our team. Thanks to them, I’ve enjoyed another great start to another outstanding week ahead. And there will be many, many more to come.

Every week as SmallBizLady, I conduct interviews with experts on my Twitter talk show #SmallBizChat. The show takes place every Wednesday on Twitter from 8-9pm ET. This is excerpted from my recent interview with @DinaDwyerOwens. She’s the Chairwoman and CEO of The Dwyer Group www.dwyergroup.com over such well-known service brands as Mr. Rooter, Aire Serv Heating and Air Conditioning, and Glass Doctor. She is also a past chairwoman of the International Franchise Association in Washington D.C., the world’s largest advocacy group for franchising. She’s the author of Live R.I.C.H.: How to build success in your company and your life with a proven Code of Values. And many people now know her form her appearance earlier this year on the CBS hit reality show “Undercover Boss” where she went on the front lines of her business in search of her company’s Code of Values at work. For more information www.dinadwyerowens.com
Please click here to read the full interview: http://succeedasyourownboss.com/03/2012/how-be-successful-as-a-franchise-owner-with-dina-dwyer-owens/

I couldn’t agree more with this story below. I firmly believe hiring veterans is good for business! Enjoy this information and share it with others.

 http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/03/07/hiring-veterans-good-company-s-bottom-line

As I prepare to welcome the largest orientation group of future franchisees in the history of The Dwyer Group this week, I would like to take a moment to reflect on what this means for our service brands. Our service brands’ growth and achievements speak volumes in today’s economy that the right team and the right systems are in place. In the state of our economy, more and more people are looking at franchise ownership and our service brands have stood out as the right choice. Already serving theU.S.andCanadawith more than 1,300 franchise locations, our growing number of franchisees is proof of the positive impact that The Dwyer Group can make. The 45 future franchisees we will be greeting this week is a testament to that. We believe that The Dwyer Group service brands attract franchisees because of our commitment to our mission, vision and Code of Values, which in turn create a family business atmosphere. So I would like to say to our biggest group of future franchisees joining us here inWaco—welcome.