When the calendar flips to a new year, everyone takes time to reflect on what they could have, would have, and should have done last year. If you’re like me, it feels like everything was on hold until after the national election. When that dust cleared, both individuals and companies realized they’d been putting off important decisions for months. Cue the regret.

I have regrets of my own. Twenty years ago, I was a professional actor in North Carolina doing regional theater. A West Coast agent attended one of my performances and told me I had a good shot at making it to the big time if I moved to L.A. 

Long story short: I didn’t move. 

Turns out I didn’t have the courage or the drive to take the big risk. I wanted to be a famous professional actor, but not enough to leave the safety of the life I’d built for myself. My regret might be a little more intense because, at the time, I was rooming with Chris Elliott, who went on to work with David Letterman, write movies and star in others, and appear in some of the funniest shows on TV. He’s won four prime-time Emmys for his writing. I’m sure he didn’t feel safe or comfortable most of his career; that’s the very definition of risk. And, by extension, reward.

As I write this, thousands of people are returning after the holiday break to jobs that are no longer fulfilling. They’re going through the motions, just as they did last year, promising themselves that this is the year they’ll chase the dream of going out on their own and becoming a business owner. 

The problem is that, as Henry Ford once said, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” If you don’t take any steps toward your dream, you’ll be sitting in the same place when the calendar flips to 2026.

So, this is my invitation to take a step toward your dream of business ownership this year. This week. It won’t cost a dime, and you can talk through all your hopes – and fears – with someone who’s not trying to sell you anything. My only job is to match you with a business opportunity that’s the right fit for you.

We’re all human, and we all have the same fears; they’re just prioritized in a different order. Fear of failure. Fear of letting your family down. Fear of losing financial ground. Fear of the unknown. My process helps you identify what’s most important to you (and your family’s future) and clarify your goals. I’ll talk you through models and options for franchises. I’ll connect you with owners in those industries so you can ask questions and get answers you can trust.

When you imagine owning a business, what do you feel? What will change? Franchises offer a business model for almost any kind of lifestyle and wish list. You can customize your business to meet your needs, whether they’re professional, financial, or personal. Your preferences and level of commitment will determine what kind of business makes the right fit for you.

I work on matching people with franchises because for many people, it’s the right entrée into business ownership. People who have been successful in corporations or large organizations like the military thrive in an environment where they have both independence and support from a successful corporation. They have a proven model for success limited only by their own effort.

If you’re willing to take the first small step toward a new life this year, take the franchise assessment. There’s no obligation to go any further, but you’ll be able to see that there’s another road available for you to travel this year.