Duration: 12m 14s
Description
In this interview, Christine Blum, Right at Home franchise owner, highlights the importance of passion for people, strategic leadership, and the valuable support offered by the Right at Home franchise system. She emphasizes that while the business is challenging, the fulfillment of providing quality senior care makes the journey rewarding. Her advice serves as a helpful guide for those considering a similar path in the franchise world.
Previous Background
Christine Blum owns three Right at Home territories in Hernando, Citrus, and Marion Counties in Florida. She started as a Right at Home owner 4 1/2 years ago. Before owning her franchise, Christine climbed the corporate ladder with a successful 25-year career with Coca-Cola. After realizing it was time for a career change, she wanted to own her own company and sought the help of a franchise broker. She explored various franchise options but was drawn to senior care because she personally cared for her mother who had Alzheimer’s.
Choosing Right at Home
The Discovery Day experience proved to be the deciding factor for choosing Right at Home for Christine. After meeting the leadership team and understanding the company’s culture, she felt Right at Home was a good fit for her. With her past experience at Coca-Cola, Christine appreciated the importance of aligning herself with a company that shared similar values and protected their brand.
Life as a New Franchisee
Christine noted that when she started as a franchise owner, she had a small team and was responsible for all aspects of her business. She wore multiple hats. As the business grew, she quickly realized the importance of delegating tasks to allow for growth and innovation. After hiring an office manager, she focused on expanding the business. It was challenging to manage multiple offices, but with the right staff and structure, she no longer needed to be involved in day-to-day operations. Today, Christine finds working on strategic leadership, community involvement, and improvements as fulfilling and empowering. It has allowed her to take vacations and engage in activities outside of work while ensuring the business remains successful.
Most Valuable Support
The support Christine received from Corporate in areas like marketing, legal, and political matters affecting her business has been most appreciated. She gets assistance and guidance on Labor laws, as well as marketing resources. This helps her avoid the need to create everything from scratch. She values the availability of a business coach, offering guidance whenever necessary. The support helps her maintain control over the business while ensuring a solid foundation.
Impactful Moment
In her early days as a franchisee, Christine had a client named Clyde who had dementia and had fallen multiple times. After breaking his hip and recovering in rehab, Clyde fell again. His family hired her business to keep him safe. Christine’s team provided 24/7 care, ensuring Clyde didn’t fall again and could heal properly. The family later wrote a Google review stating that Right at Home had “literally saved his life.” Her team helped Clyde recover and live another 1 1/2 years. She often reflects on this experience and others to remind herself of the difference she is making in people’s lives.
Advice to Prospective Owner
Christine stresses the importance of understanding the operational processes required to run a successful business. She recommends focusing on quality care, recruiting, and retaining great staff, as these are the core aspects of the business. Christine advises new franchisees to establish solid processes before focusing on service delivery. She adds that it may seem overwhelming at first, but once the foundation is set, everything else will fall into place and the business will thrive.
Click the link if you are interested in franchise opportunities in Florida.
If you would like to listen to other franchise owners’ stories, click the links below:
Meet the Family| David Bullard
Meet the Family | Lauren Miller
Meet the Family | Adam Reeback
If you are interested in joining the Right at Home family or just want more information, please submit the form below.
#Franchising #Leadership #GreatCareer #SuccessWithSignificance #QualitySeniorCare