During the month of February, we celebrate Black History Month.

All of us are well aware of the significant contributions made to our society by the likes of Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King, Jr., to name a few.

But are you also familiar with the names of Reginald Lewis, the richest African-American man in the 1800s; Charles Clinton Spaulding, president of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company; Alonzo Herndon, founder of Atlanta Life and Atlanta's first Black millionaire; or Madam C.J. Walker, the first American woman to become a millionaire based on her hair care products formulated for African American hair?

“Take one for the team.”

“Offense sells tickets, defense wins championships.”

There sure are a lot of football cliches used in the workplace! As football season nears its exciting end in both college and the pros – and a new, opportunity-filled year kicks off for small business owners – this is a great time to take a look at a few of the similarities between franchise business ownership and America’s favorite sport.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."   -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

There’s no denying that we are living in a time of uncertainty and disparity. Between the political dissonance among the American people today and the increased and ongoing cries for social justice, this disparity weighs heavily on all of us. However, even in difficult times, there’s opportunity to be a positive force for good.

“Next year is going to be even better than this year.”

This might normally sound like a worn-out cliché, but after the year we've just had, hopefully most people can agree with the optimism!

There’s a good chance you’re looking forward to putting 2020 behind you. January 1st is always a great opportunity to reflect on the past year and plan for the future, which is especially welcome this year. Here are some new year’s resolutions that will be particularly relevant for small business entrepreneurs this upcoming year.

2020 is almost over and 2021 is right around the corner. If you’re a small business owner, this year may have felt like a full decade! As we look ahead to the new year, there are many opportunities facing franchise businesses and the franchise industry as a whole. Some of this year’s obstacles for small business owners will linger through the beginning of 2021, but these challenges will open doors for savvy entrepreneurs to capitalize.

If you’ve considered using Rollover for Business Startup (ROBS) as a franchise funding strategy, you may already be familiar with many of the basics. ROBS strategies allow aspiring entrepreneurs to invest in themselves by using their own qualified retirement funds, without incurring any debt, tax penalties, or early withdrawal penalties.

While there’s plenty of information out there about the basics of ROBS strategies, answers to some of the more specific questions can be hard to find if you haven’t spoken with an expert.

We would like to thank Dr. Stevie Dawn for this guest blog post. Dr. Stevie Dawn is a keynote speaker and corporate trainer who specializes in emotional intelligence strategies in the workplace. We have found Dr. Stevie Dawn’s workshops particularly helpful as we’ve navigated the unusual challenges of 2020. We chose to share a bit of her wisdom with our readers, many of whom own and operate businesses of their own.

It’s dog-eat-dog. Let sleeping dogs lie. The tail is wagging the dog.

Think all entrepreneurs are whiz-kid tech titans or eccentric inventors? Great Scott! Think again. In fact, there’s no definitive profile of an American entrepreneur. Startup founders span all age groups and their businesses cover nearly all industries.

The United States is home to tens of millions of entrepreneurs. There’s a good chance that you have friends or family members who own their own businesses. You may even be a business owner yourself.

With 17.4 million veterans in the United States, chances are you have at least one family member you give a special thanks to every November 11^th. Veterans Day allows Americans the opportunity to thank the men and women who have served our country and to honor the sacrifices that they’ve made to protect our freedom.