Meet David Splitgerber
David is a franchise business owner who assists people in business ownership exploration through a discovery and education-based method, to help people to discover opportunities that are ideally suited for what they are seeking. David is on the Advisory board for PONG, an advisor for 40 Plus, and guest lectures at Marquette University on franchising. He is married and has coached their 2 boys in their sports for the last 15 years and is now retired from that endeavor.
You’re no longer the coach of sports, but you are a career ownership coach, what exactly is that?
Something that most people don’t, don’t know exists. What I do is, I help people to explore, quite simply business ownership, and I specialize in the franchise and owners alliance end of things. And what I do is help people to explore. And what that means is first helping an individual get to know themselves. So it’s a lot of conversations and meetings and assessments that I have individuals complete that we talk about to learn about the individuals. In other words, who am I? And what is my career bend? So it has some elements that kind of look like in an interview to some degree. The ultimate goal is to both have us on the same page, who am I? What am I about? What’s my career been about? What do I like and dislike, and then helping them to also see the future. Helping them try to figure out what do I want my life to look like a year from now personally and professionally?
Sounds like you do spend a lot of time in the franchise business a little bit. Can you talk a little bit about what types of businesses are franchise businesses?
I think that’s a great question because I think there’s the a lot of people who have that kind of assumption or belief that it’s food and that it’s well you know, I don’t want to be in the restaurant industry. But honestly, there’s probably 50 or 60 to 80 different business industries. I mean, it’s everything that you probably have walked past but never even noticed or considered or thought about that were businesses that are franchise. So I mean, there’s things that are in everything from like travel, sports and recreation, home improvement, senior care services, children’s products, children’s services, automotive, employment and staffing, recruiting – there’s franchises in that arena. Distributor ships, web or internet or it based businesses, pet related businesses for pet services, there’s mobile businesses. So those just a few off the top of my head are some of the industries that are enfranchisement.
Let’s say I’m someone that’s already in a job and I like what I’m doing, I want to keep it but is there anything that you can do to help on that side hustle type of things?
Absolutely. That’s a great point. And that’s probably about 30% or so of the individuals that I talk with are that exact individual saying, I’ve got a job, I really like it. But I want additional income or something on the side. Or maybe eventually I’d like to go and do something. But is there a way for me to start something and then grow into it? So depends on what the individual is trying to accomplish. So bottom line, it’s called semi absentee and there’s some that are closer to absentee. And there’s some that are kind of absentee, what I mean by that is less than five hours per week, where it’s more of an investment, there’s less opportunities in that arena. And those are, I’m going to say quite honestly, quite a bit higher investment, because obviously, you’re hiring a lot of people to do all the tasks of the business. But yes, there are some where you can work anywhere from five to 10 to 15. At most, there’s a few out there, that would be maybe 20 hours a week. So someone can absolutely keep their job in these franchises are set up that way.
Can you share with our listeners, one of your most successful or favorite networking experiences that you’ve had?
So first, I’ll say I’m right there with everyone else. When I first started networking previously, in my career, I did not really have to network, just because of the businesses that I was in, it was not necessitated or needed to help grow business. So it was new for me. And it was kind of scary, right? I’m more introverted. One of my favorite networking stories is this was about two years ago. And I met an individual at a networking event. And we continue to have conversation after. Through his connection, it didn’t help my business directly, which networking doesn’t always and shouldn’t always be about that. If you’re looking at networking, just to grow yourself and your own business, you’re probably not going to do because if it’s just about me, me, me, people see through that. So anyway, this individual, we sat down, and I actually helped him, I gave him two different referrals that he followed up with me within a few months later saying, you know what, I picked up both of those as clients, and that just almost doubled my business. So it was great for me to help someone like that, and know that the more you help others, the more good comes around to everyone else.
How do you stay in front of or best nurture your network and your community?
It takes time. And you have to be open to say yes, once in a while. It’s important to say yes, when you can and as much as you can. So my goal is, if someone calls me or emails me and says, hey, do you have five minutes or 10 minutes? Yes, I’m going to try and find time, let’s find time to chat. Attending some of these network meetings where I’m part of a group that attendance, once a month, or once every two weeks, whatever it might be, is making sure I attend and not miss meetings, they’re blocked off on my calendar, and I don’t schedule client appointments during those. It’s important to continue growing those relationships to help others who have actually helped you.
What advice can you offer to the business professionals that are looking to grow their network, any key tips or pointers that you want to share?
I’d say be willing to talk. And I know that sounds really simplistic, but I got into some different networking groups that I never knew about that I didn’t find online. It was the one when I had conversations with people and actually asked the question, hey, are you part of any other really good networking groups that you would think would be a value. Are there any other good groups and from there, I was able to find some other groups that I’m still part of today that are valuable, made some good friendships made some good business connections on top of that, of course. So I think that’s one of the most important things is be open to trying and talking and asking about different networking groups. And don’t be afraid to walk away from one if you’re not seeing the value of it. But be open to trying new ones and finding the ones that fit for you, your personality, your style, your business, and for the others around you that it’s a good fit and a good match for you.
If you could go back to your 20-year-old self, what would you tell yourself to do more of less of or differently with regards to your professional career?
If I go back, I’d say, take more chances, keep putting your head up, look around more and look at some of the opportunities that are around you. And if someone says, hey, what about this? Be willing to say yes. Be willing to put yourself out there and try different things, do different things, say yes to things and be willing to be uncomfortable. And that a level of un-comfort is going to give you comfort over time because you get used to it more. And where you were uncomfortable before becomes now the new normal.
How to connect with David
Phone: 262-210-7700
Email: dsplitgerber@esourcecoach.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsplitgerber/