Duration: 13m 23s
Dan Tifft is a relatively new addition to the Right at Home family. He is just one year into his journey. But he oversees three growing territories in the Hampton Roads area of southeast Virginia – a region that includes Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach.
Before investing in his Right at Home franchise, Dan was something of a journeyman. The UNC Chapel Hill grad spent a stint working abroad with Teach For America, followed by a decade in marketing for the Keurig brand coffee company, and a subsequent tenure as a Navy supply officer. In fact, Dan is still an active member of the Navy Reserves today, even as he navigates the early stages of home care franchise ownership.
Answering the Call To Serve
Dan speaks highly of his experience working with the Keurig brand. But ultimately, he tells us, he knew he wanted to devote his career to service. His time in the Navy only strengthened his desire to help others. Still, he recognized that he would need to find a sustainable way to make a career out of service.
Right at Home proved the perfect remedy. As Dan tells us, “It definitely was an industry pivot, but it was very familiar to me in terms of service, and that’s really what I was looking for when I was looking at buying a business.”
Dan explains that owning his own business was always a priority.
“But whatever I did,” he explains, “I wanted to make sure that it was service-oriented, that it had a mission focus, and that it was connected to the community.”
Finding a Care-Centered Mission
Dan may be a recent addition to the Right at Home network, but in a sense, this is the mission he’s been training for his entire life. As he explained, “My grandfather is a World War II veteran who lived all the way to 101 years old. Up until the age of 99, he was living independently in his home, thanks in part to the care that was provided by really high-quality caregivers in our community.”
Dan saw firsthand how big an impact that kind of care can make, not just for aging clients, but their families as well. Dan’s grandfather was able to age with comfort and dignity in his own home. Reflecting today, Dan tells us that “this gave us a place to go as a family, and for my own children to have memories with him.”
The experience inspired Dan. He wanted to make it possible for other families in his community to create these same priceless memories. When the opportunity to purchase an already-operational Right at Home franchise emerged, he seized it.
Choosing Right at Home
“From the very first time I started talking to other owners, I realized that this was exactly what I was looking for,” Dan told us.
Right at Home seemed like the perfect vessel for carrying out his mission. If Dan wasn’t sure at first, his interactions with other franchise owners helped seal the deal. He describes the authenticity of the Right at Home mission, our focus on giving back to the community, and our shared dedication to improving the lives of everybody we touch.
But ultimately, he tells us, the proof is in the people.
“For me, it was every owner that I had spoken to along the journey, as well as staff members with Right at Home corporate,” says Dan. “There may be easier ways to make a dollar. But everyone I spoke to said, “This is not only financially fulfilling, but it’s personally fulfilling.”
As he was looking for opportunities to run his own business while focusing on a meaningful mission, Dan explains that “this really made an impact on me. This whole team, from the top down, believes in this mission.”
Connecting Concept and Culture
For those thinking about investing in their own franchise, Dan strongly advises finding out firsthand. He recommends that aspiring franchisees reach out and talk to as many people from the organization as possible, not just for insight and information, but for inspiration as well.
“Everyone I’ve talked to in our system has been super helpful, and more than willing to talk,” says Dan. “ And those were the folks who gave me not just validation around the concept of the franchise, but also the culture. And I think that’s so important. You have to have a good culture and people who feel that they’re truly part of a team, that we’re all rowing in the same direction.”
Learn more about owning a franchise with Right at Home by visiting: https://rightathomefranchise.com/.