the franchise

  I was wondering if the loss of a hard days work is leading us down this path we find ourselves on. Are we lacking that sense of satisfaction , that sense of accomplishment, that comes with that. I don't mean just physical labor, although that is a large portion, but also the sense that you are accomplishing something for yourself, not just for the sake of making money. We used to have craftsmen, Sears even named their tool line after those folks. They were the ones that excelled at their craft, whatever that craft happened to be. Perhaps they made shoes, but they took pride in making the best shoes. They would rather be known for that than, that's the guy that can make a pair of shoes in five minutes flat. His pride, his satisfaction came from accomplishment, not monetary gain. Yes, yes, the money thing was important to them, they had to eat but that was secondary. Today millions work at a job solely to make money, that's it. They go to college and study whatever, only to get a job making money. Some study subjects with just that intent in mind, the highest paying job that doesn't involve actual work. Isn't that the goal these days? The successful man sits behind a big desk and directs others while he increases his wealth. The things that he does for self satisfaction he calls hobbies. The craftsman combines those. I'm the best mechanic, the best carpenter, or best shoemaker. As a result I do make money.

  I think a great deal of that was dependent upon a much smaller world. We are all familiar with that idea. It's a big world out there isn't it? Yes, it certainly is and the ability to stand out in that world has increased as well. Locally I may be the best but when it comes to national or international, well maybe not so much. Much of our life is based on perception. What do you see yourself as? In grade school you may have been the "smart" kid in the class, but by high school, well maybe not so much. Isn't that measured against the group? In the high school band you may have been the first violin but in college, well you are in the band. Perception. In order for the perception to remain however we require validation of that perception. In the past I believe we received that validation from those around us, in our communities, towns and even counties. Today that validation needs to come from the world! Yeah, it's a bit different. As a result we have sought another way to show our "success" and that is with the acquisition of wealth or fame. They usually accompany one another. 

  I don't know I just think it is hard to take pride in accomplishment, when that accomplishment is accomplished by thousands of others, or millions. Now it has always been that way it was just the pool was smaller. Everyone has heard that somewhere there is someone better than themselves at doing whatever it is they do. A better mechanic, better carpenter, better singer, better writer or whatever. It was just in the past we didn't have that comparison all the time. Take something as basic as being a shop owner. The fabled Mom and Pop stores that we all bemoan the loss of. They took pride in their shop, proud to be in the community, some were the hub of the neighborhood, some the hub of the entire town. You don't get the same feeling being the manager of a 7-11. When you have a franchise you don't own the place, you get to run it, under direction from the guy sitting behind his desk somewhere. Not the same thing in my thinking.

  I guess I'm wondering if that isn't what has happened to the majority of us in this modern world. Are we just part of the franchise? The goal of any franchise is simple enough to understand, to make money. A franchise does that by selling what? A brand or a product. It has little to do with anything else. Franchising was the first example of going "viral" in America. The idea really took hold after WW2 but had been around before that. Coca-Cola was one of the first franchise things. Yes, you had to pay a fee to Pemberton, the inventor of what was to become Coca-Cola, to get his recipe and permission to sell that product. Ben Franklin gets credit for the first franchise in America though. That involved printing his works, including Poor Richards' Almanac. 

  I'm thinking that in the past the United States of America was the franchise. The vast majority supported and loved the franchise. Today it looks like the franchise is beginning to collapse. What causes a franchise to collapse? People no longer want the product would have to be at the top of the list. And what product does the United States of America offer? Opportunity is the answer. For two hundred years people have come to America in pursuit of a dream. The details of that dream may differ somewhat but the goal was the same, to become an American, become successful and live free. Thing is, you have to be willing to work for that. It comes at a personal cost, one of hard work, determination and perseverance! Today there are those that are not willing to do any of that, instead insisting they  are entitled. Those folks are willing to sell the franchise to the highest bidder. China is in the market I hear. Another reason a franchise goes out of business? They run out of cash! No longer able to support their "franchisees" they are forced to just close the door. It begins with debt. It ends with debt.