When you stop and think about it, the amount of change we have endured over the last 15 months is astonishing. Without warning, virtually every aspect of our lives changed. But, at the same time, certain fundamental principles remained the same. Among those, that franchise owners have to protect themselves from uncertainty and unfair practices.…
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Not necessarily being able to pinpoint its origins without looking it up (it was first used in a book by Walter Brandenburg in 1917), we’ve recently resurrected the phrase, “teachable moment,” as part of our modern-day lexicon. It is meant to identify a spontaneous moment when an individual is positioned – by circumstances of every-day…
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There’s a story that many of us in the Association Management profession hear when we first enter the field. It is generally told to underscore the importance of volunteerism and illustrate that associations need to rely on the engagement of their members to ensure their success. It goes like this. There were four people named:…
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Smack in the middle of the COVID-challenged 2020 NFL season, Inspire Brands sealed the deal to acquire Dunkin’ Brands International for the phenomenal price of $11.3 billion. Congratulations to all the players on these two (soon to be one) teams. A new owner is taking over an established and successful franchised brand. What could possibly…
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Over the course of a 30-day period back in August/September, there were announcements from the White House on three separate peace agreements: Israel and the United Arab Emirates; Serbia and Kosovo; and lastly Bahrain and Israel. Without invoking any kind of political opinions in this presidential election year, these agreements are significant milestones on the…
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What a difference a day makes. Or to update that rhetorical message, what a difference three months makes. Yes, it was just three short months ago when states like Florida, Texas, Arizona and a host of others across the south and southwest were seemingly enjoying some inexplicable level of immunity from the coronavirus pandemic. Businesses…
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Before the coronavirus worsened and jeopardized the 2020 baseball season, there was much discussion about the Houston Astros and the sign-stealing scandal that may have fueled their 2017 World Series Championship. Since the scandal broke, a number of people have lost their jobs, including the Astros manager and general manager, as well as the manager…
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Every two months, the staff at DDIFO convenes an editorial meeting to decide the theme, focus and content of the next issue of Independent Joe. As we contemplate and discuss various possibilities, we do so with one eye on the timeliness of the potential subject matter. Our discussions are always geared toward which subjects could…
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The idea of a Hall of Fame has its roots in Norse Mythology, but it was really brought to fruition with Ludwig I, who was the King of Bavaria, in 1842. He commissioned the building of a memorial called Walhalla to hold plaques and statues honoring great Germans. The Hall of Fame for Great Americans,…
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Last month, I visited the 9/11 Museum and Memorial at the site of the World Trade Center towers in New York City, which were knocked down by terrorist attacks 17 years ago. The memorial is a stark but solemn reminder of that horrific day when America came under attack. During my visit, I recalled how,…
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