Franchising, Fatherhood, & Other Bad Decisions: March 2026

In short

This edition has six short sections with one thread: who takes responsibility. Rob Lancit opens with a practical note for development teams. When prospects keep asking the same questions, the information they can find has a gap, and short videos, FAQ one-pagers or landing pages can answer them before the first conversation.

The longest section is about customer service. He remembers hotels that left chocolates on the pillow and contrasts them with a tip screen presented before anyone has made eye contact. At a recent concert he took his own drink from a fridge, carried it to the counter, and was shown a 22 percent tip prompt by a cashier who never looked at him. He tips for good work and leaves extra for the person who cleans his room. His objection is to a tip requested for no service, and he says employers who paid better would not need to pressure customers.

He then describes the almost-ready buyer: qualified on paper and still thinking like an employee, asking who handles hiring or what happens when business slows. Ownership starts to work, he writes, when the question changes from who handles that to how will I handle that. Shorter notes cover working outdoors for a change of scene and serving as a roundtable facilitator at the International Franchise Association convention, where he valued the small-group conversations most. The fatherhood lesson is that kids watch how a parent handles small moments and copy what they see.

Summary by the editors of this site. The original is Rob’s own writing; read the edition at the source.