Up in the morning before the break of day! That is just one of the things that bakery owners and service members have in common. Yes, I said things. Military service members possess many traits that are desirable in a bakery owner. With the recent Veteran’s Day holiday, I started thinking about the commonalities between the work that veterans and bakery owners do. There is a surprising amount of knowledge that transfers over from military experience to bakery ownership, giving veterans an advantage.
Having spent the last 13 years in the Montana Army National Guard, I used my own experiences and related them to the Great Harvest Franchise. Take a look at the many aspects of bakery ownership that will be familiar ground for veterans.
7 Ways Veterans Enjoy a Head Start with Bakery Ownership:
1) Commitment: Owning a small business requires commitment. You’ve demonstrated your commitment to your country, your peers, your subordinates, and your higher echelon. Running a successful bakery means taking on another commitment. It requires concurrent commitments to your customers, employees, and the Great Harvest brand — much like your commitment while serving.
2) Experience Working As a Team: Leadership is needed in a bakery, but what really helps a bakery thrive is teamwork. Successful service in the military requires being able to work as a team. Depending on someone else to do their job and trusting that they’ll do it correctly is not desirable, it is necessary. As a bakery owner, you direct the “battle” but you cannot be present at every “battle” position. You have to be able to work with your trusted team.
"Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it." —Dwight D. Eisenhower
3) Ready for Early Mornings: Though it is true that you’ll build a team of great employees, there might be mornings when you have to be at the bakery before the break of day.
4) Willing to Sacrifice: Small business ownership might mean early mornings and late nights. The degree of sacrifice certainly doesn’t compare to being away from home and being in harm’s way. Nevertheless, time in the service will prepare you for the long days that are sometimes required of an owner.
5) Experience with Controlled Chaos: The bakery can be a very busy place. There might be customers waiting for sandwiches, buzzers going off, people wanting bread from the breadboard, and tables that need to be bussed. It is easy to understand how someone could be overwhelmed. However, those with experience in the military know a thing or two about controlled chaos. Multi-tasking is second nature and prioritizing is routine.
6) Familiarity with the Importance of Systems: The Great Harvest Franchise has a lot of flexibility. However, we still have many systems in place to ensure our bakery owners’ success. In the military, you may have used a checklist during inspections to prepare for a mission. Similarly, in a bakery, checklists are used during opening, transfers of ownership, and throughout the tenure of your bakery.
7) Implementing Processes Learned in Training: In the service, you learned and implemented best practices — much like you’ll learn during your time at Bakery Boot Camp and through the tracker and post-tracking stages.
Great Harvest franchisees come from many prior careers, and they each bring something useful to their bakery’s success. There are many reasons why those with prior military experience can enjoy a head start in this business. With Great Harvest, your veteran status is an advantage.
Great Harvest Franchising, Inc. recognizes the sacrifice that service members have made which is why we offer a 15% discount off the franchise fee for new locations opened by service members. We require a DD 214 in order for you to receive the discount.
Get to Know the Great Harvest Franchise
Read More About the Veteran Advantage and the Great Harvest Franchise:
- Why is Franchising a Good Next Career Choice for Military Veterans
- How One Local Retail Business Makes a Difference
- An Inspirational Week for This Bread Business CEO
