What skills are essential to become a successful franchisee? 
In my opinion to be a successful franchisee, you must balance strong operational discipline with the ability to follow a proven system rather than reinventing it. Essential skills include financial literacy to manage margins and people management to lead a team that consistently delivers the brand’s promise. 

What is your favorite inspirational quote? 
“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.” – Ronald Reagan

What is something most people don’t know about you? 
I have been fortunate to live in three different countries across three continents. United States of America, Germany, and Japan. I hope to continue to do more traveling even though I do not plan on moving out of the country.

What motivates you professionally? 
 I am professionally driven by the opportunity to empower others and foster collective success through mentorship and support. This passion for service fuels my own continuous growth, as I am constantly seeking new challenges and skills that allow me to provide even greater value to my team and community.    

What was your first job & what did you learn from it? 
My first job was working for a franchised Dairy Queen. I learned the art of the ”curl” while working in a fast-paced environment. This experience taught me operational discipline, the importance of customer service under pressure, and how to work effectively within a team to deliver a consistent brand experience. 

If you had to pick another profession, what would it be? 
I would think I would strive to work in non-profit management. This way I could continue to help others as my primary measure of success. Having a constant cycle of growth to allow me to master diverse skills to ensure the organization can scale to impact and reach more people in need. 

Reach out to Austin today! You can contact him at 952-921-5320 or austin.vavra@circlek.com