Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Kim: Welcome back to Create wealth through Franchising podcast and Kim Daly tv.
So in the Zee Suite, we do a lot of human work. The Zee Suite implies it's for franchisees, but the reality is the work that we do is for all humans. That's why I say we're a non denominational community. We have about 27 different franchise companies represented by about our 50 or 60 students. Thus far at the timing of this recording, it's September of 2026. And so in this conversation today, I've invited somebody who's not a franchisee, but who is greatly benefiting from the human development work that we do in the Zee Suite. His name is Dave Warn. He's a longtime friend of Kim Daly. He's been in franchise development for over 17 years, helping other people realize their dreams, all the while realizing his own. And he's here to share his story of what about the work that we were doing in the Zee Suite appealed to him and how in a very short amount of time, the work has had a profound impact on his personal life. Dave Warn, welcome to the studio of Kim Daly tv.
[00:01:20] Dave: Kim, I'm excited to be here. Thank you so much.
[00:01:23] Kim: Who knew we would end up here one day? Dave, right?
This calling on my life is changing so many things, not just for me, but for so many other people. And Dave is one of them. So, Dave, before we talk about this transformation that you felt and seen and your wife has felt and seen in you in the short time that you've been a part of the Zee Suite, take us through a little bit of your history, your track record in franchise development.
[00:01:48] Dave: Yeah. Thank you, Kim. And once again, I truly do appreciate this opportunity. And you've nailed it. The Zee Suite has been instrumental in personal growth and for a lot of reasons. Too many to list. How Long's our call? 20 minutes. We probably, probably couldn't go through it all.
[00:02:03] Kim: We're gonna get there.
[00:02:04] Dave: We'll get there. 100. So 17 years of franchise development. I was fortunate to, you know, a good friend of mine, matter of fact, he's a franchise consultant. Chris Metzger had left the industry we were in and went to work for a senior care company out of Sacramento, California. And I was fortunate to, you know, interview interviewed with them on a Monday and took the role on a Tuesday. I just did a hard 180 out of the industry I was in because, well, the financial dominoes, the big short, dramatically affected it. So I was faced with the life decision and I tell you, I'm fortunate. I found Franchising.
It's been an absolute blast. I've helped a couple different brands grow to in senior care company.
Two with the senior care space did a hard pivot out of that. Worked for a beauty brand out of Pittsburgh. Believe it or not. Kim, I went from senior care to eyelash extensions.
[00:03:00] Kim: I remember I've been around.
[00:03:02] Dave: Who would have thunk it? But at the end of the day, great, great business models. It's going to be a different owner that plugs into each.
You know, one where there's kind of a heavy B2B where you've got to go out and you know, mix with the discharge planners, the social workers, the case managers, fiduciaries to build book of business and referral sources or beauty. It was brick and mortar, big build out.
You need to be next to amplifier brands. It took a little bit more initial investment to do it, but both models were able to help people realize their dream of entrepreneurship.
[00:03:41] Kim: Now Dave, when you say you, you love franchise development, you've been blessed to be in it, tell the listener a little bit. Why. What is it that's so special about helping other people realize their dream that just gets you so excited?
[00:03:55] Dave: Yeah, so I've got a builder mentality. So not only is it helping people or companies build and add to their portfolio or owner base, it's helping people realize their dream and finding the path to entrepreneurship. I like people.
I get to talk all day. I get to meet new people every day.
I get to not only find about their, find out about their hopes, their dreams, their motivation to get into business, but I get to know their dog's names. And I love dogs.
[00:04:32] Kim: It's why we, all those of us who are enfranchising are obsessed with it. It's for all those same reasons. It's a classic answer and it's so true. I love it and it's timeless.
[00:04:42] Dave: So my dog, my dog, my dog Johnny actually has gotten thank you cards from candidates after they move forward because everybody, if they have a dog, they're going to meet my dog.
[00:04:52] Kim: I love it. Okay, so you, you're in this work for 17 years and you start hearing the buzz in the industry about the Z suite. What was it about the, the, either the positioning or what you were hearing about the Z suite that made you say I wonder if that's for me personal development.
[00:05:13] Dave: I've already, I've done a lot of work internally on myself, whether it be through especially my work with spending time in his word spreading, spending time in service, giving back, active at church, There was something that was just missing. Something was missing was how you spend, how you spend your day.
And you know, although when you have a lot of candidates, like we're working with, you know, dozens and dozens and dozens of people, you put a lot of time and energy on this desk, what, what you do when you step away from it.
I found myself kind of taking that with me every day and I just needed kind of a reset. I need, I know I needed something.
So, you know, getting on my knees and answering, you know, asking for a path forward.
And you and I have talked a couple times about this and finally I said, you know, it's, you know, let's do something, let's just go. I think I approached you and said, okay, Kim, it's not a matter of if, it's when. Sign me up for the Z Suite. And, and here we are. And I could tell you this, it has been a dramatic difference in the day to day by having a process. Franchising is all about process, right?
Well, what's the process about? Self development? What's the process about resetting your, your mind every day by having clarity and focus. That's what the ZC provides. It provides a process to begin with the end in mind, to be clearly defined goals, but also to not let yesterday carry in today.
You've said, thoughts become things. Thoughts become things. And if that's the case, if my thoughts today are going to be tomorrow's reward, well, that tells me I control my own destiny, I control my own future.
And that's pretty exciting.
[00:07:25] Kim: It's exciting and it's also endlessly complicated, right? Because when I built the Z Suite, I built it for franchisees. But because my closest friends are developers and other consultants, it was natural that they wanted to participate because this is human work, not just franchisee work, as I said at the beginning of the show. And so that's how I've sort of developed these two separate communities now, where we have franchise CEOs, we have developers, we have many franchise consultants, all coming to level up their own mindset because they spend their days helping other people realize their dreams. But who's helping them get clear and focused about their own dreams? How do we not, as Dave said, take the anxieties and the fears and the worries from yesterday and carry them forward to today, knowing that our thoughts are things. And if we carry those thoughts from yesterday into today, then we create the exact same day today as we had yesterday. And so this is the whole point of trying to help everybody, especially business owners, not Carry yesterday into today. Because if they want to create a future that doesn't look like their past, you have to break the cycle and you have to be willing to do the work. The work that literally changes everything.
So, Dave, how long has it been? I think. How long has it been since you joined the Z Suite?
[00:08:55] Dave: Well, I want to say 45 days, right. Up for maybe 50.
Long enough to notice the difference. Very quick.
[00:09:04] Kim: Short enough that it's not even two months, but long enough that he, he, he feels a dramatic difference. And when Dave said to me, my wife is noticing a difference in me, I said, ooh, come, be my guest. Let's talk about these differences that your wife has noticed. So share with us a little bit of what your wife has noticed in you.
[00:09:25] Dave: Yeah, if you look at. Once again, you know, thoughts become things. And I know we always compare our mind to, like a garden. Right. And we, and we, we're going to blossom what we plant. Well, when we do that, we also need to cultivate that field. We need to make sure that we're taking care of it. Not only providing water, but you need to sometimes pull weeds. You need to cultivate, you need to fertilize. And if you don't do that, yes, you're still going to reap a harvest, but it's not going to yield a full harvest. You're going to. Once again, you've got to cultivate that field. And, and life alone has challenges. You know, it's not meant to be simple. So if we can have a process that kind of resets that mind every day with clear intentions, cultivating that field every day.
When I get up from my desk, I could tell you, I just, I just don't bring any of that with me.
And then I get to start the next day off with, with, I would say, a clear field.
[00:10:26] Kim: And how is that translated then to what you carry into your night when you're with your wife or you don't carry.
[00:10:35] Dave: Yeah, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's. Once again, it's a complete reset.
You don't carry any of the.
No anxiety.
And sometimes, I know fear, especially with, with dealing with people that are looking to make not necessarily a leap of faith, but it's definitely a hop. It's going to be a hop of faith.
There's fear. You're talking about it all day.
Not bringing any of the fear when I, when I do leave the desk.
[00:11:04] Kim: Correct. Taking on the emotions of the dozens and dozens of candidates that we all, as you know, high performing developers in franchising, we're working with so many people and they are stepping into the unknown and there is always fear. And we have to be their guide. We have to be able to be inspiring and encouraging and help them figure out whether this is their time or not.
And trust me when I tell you that that can wear on you over time. If you're not replenishing yourself, if you're not filling yourself back up every day, you will burn out from that, from that job and the pace of the lives that we lead. There's so many developers that would be like you, you know, you call a developer and they'll be like, hey, it's liquid lunch day. Right? Because meaning they're back to back to back to back to back all day long helping other people and they don't have any time to help themselves by even stopping to take a lunch break. And that is no joke. Dave's smiling so I'm sure he know knows pretty pretty, you know, I'm sure he knows what I'm talking about 100%.
[00:12:11] Dave: Yeah. Yeah. You say in franchise development we only work half days and you get to pick which 12 hours that is.
[00:12:18] Kim: It's so bad, but it's so true. Yeah, so. So you've been in the Z Suite for 45 days. You're discuss dis. You're describing it as a process, a reset.
Is it what you thought it was going to be when you were on the outside? Is it tell us a little bit about now that you're on the inside, what you, how that changed from maybe what you thought it was going to be before you joined.
[00:12:46] Dave: Yeah, it's actually a whole lot more. I mean the tools that you've provided, once again, that process to come in with clear intention, but also beginning with the end in mind. And what is the end in mind? The end in mind could be a goal. You know, just like I tell people in franchise development, I think the model needs to fit unit economics day in the life. Got to have a great team to support you. But that fourth box, the other reason is so big. The other reason to get into business. And same with developers. What is the other reason? So having goals beyond goals and looking at the big picture, I mean I could close my eyes now and see that a frame in front of a lake with a sunken living room with the fire burning and the smell of wood. Now, did I grow up a home in a home like that in Alaska 100.
Is that my dream down the road? Eventually I know I'M gonna have it. It's not a matter of if, it's when. And that's what the whole lot more is. It's having the other reason, those lofty goals. But every day, coming in with clear intention, resetting the mind.
I tell you, Kim, your daily reset, I told you, it's like a multivitamin for me because I know we do it, we do it in the morning to clear.
I've seen myself do it two and three times a day.
[00:14:12] Kim: Well, listen, in 45 days, if you build that super clear vision of what your, your future, you know, grand dream is and you can, you can close your eyes and you can smell the fire and you can see the lake. I mean, you're doing the work. I, I could be the guide, but you're doing the work. So I mean that, that's the thing, right? This is the work that changes everything.
But in order for it to change everything, you have to do the work.
[00:14:41] Dave: Yeah. And I think with freight, with, with franchising, once again there's a great process to build a business. But I think it equally important to have a process to build the mind and to clear the mind every day.
[00:14:55] Kim: So let's talk about. So now that you are on the inside and you, you more fully grasp what I have going on here inside the Z Suite, this is kind of a.
The double. The second reason I wanted you on the show because if there, if there is a franchisor out there who doesn't know what the Z suite is, who's listening to this show, or another developer even, what is your message to them? So when you think about the, the franchisee and their typical mindset, the day they sign their franchise agreement and then as you see changes happen within six months and nine months and 18 months. Now that you understand the resource that the Z suite can be to franchisees, what is your, what are your thoughts or advice for franchisors out there who are not yet participating or don't have any, any of their franchisees in the Z Suite?
[00:15:47] Dave: Yeah, I think it's. Once again, I think the work that's done here is, is priceless. If you look at an operations manual for, for launching a business, everything's clear cut paint by numbers approach to building a business. And this is exactly that. For once again building that mine. You know very well a business is challenging. It's not simple. I kind of compare it to. It's almost like flying a kite on a beach with no wind. You got to run.
You got to run to get that Kite airborne and every once in a while the wind stops. You got to go run again. You have to have the mental mindset and the vision once again of that end goal to be able to get back out there and run.
I don't know if that's any. In any, in any in. In any operations manual. So I think this is definitely an amplifier to anybody that's in business.
Yeah.
[00:16:42] Kim: And other developers who.
What's the benefit for them that you've seen in your own life?
[00:16:49] Dave: Well, any developer out there that knows those that has any type of pipeline knows exactly what I'm talking about. When you wake up each day and it's, you don't want that. You've got to go into every day with a clear mind, clear focus. And our goal is to help people and it's the right people. I think just like we were talking about the avatar and making sure that we find that we're looking for owners that plug well into our system. It's not for everybody. Just like senior care and lash extensions. And now with Buzz Franchise brands, we've got four brands under umbrella. Service Based Business. Learn to Swim. Not for everybody, but there is somebody that definitely will plug in and check all the boxes, including the most important, the other reason for that individual because at the end of the day, it's about helping them find their blue sky. Helping them find their. A frame may not be an A frame on a lake. It could be a beach house. It could be to buy a bass boat, it could be to buy a farm. It could. There's a lot of other reasons to get into business, but I think, I think with developers, I think you know exactly what I'm talking about. When you look at the, the load that we take on and the benefit of resetting every day.
[00:18:11] Kim: I love what you said. I want to go back to that. Ugh. In the morning because it's, it can be so very true for a franchisee looking at their, you know, workday ahead.
A corporate employee, you know, going into an office, the CEO of a franchise facing a lot of challenges and early growth pains or just growth pains in general from building a business with other people's money and stress and time. It's for every level, no matter where you're at. You can look at your calendar and have that dreadful feeling. But when you're in a position of leadership, whether you're again the CEO, a developer who's managing a team of people that are on the phones every day talking to candidates, whether you're a franchise consultant on the phone every day, working with candidates, whether you are the owner of a franchise and you have a team of people that you wake up and through their, you know, through their daily efforts, your business is being built. No matter what level you're at, if you're waking up to a feeling of dread, how effective do you believe you're going to be?
Not very effective. Because once you come into the Z suite and you start to learn where the result of your business comes from, from, it doesn't just come from picking up the phone and making a hundred phone calls. You can certainly do that.
And by blind luck, you might be a little bit successful or you can do the work that we do inside the Z Suite, which puts you into alignment. And it's that alignment that then makes you way more effective. And so you'll be able to help more people in a shorter amount of time. You'll be able to accomplish your own dreams in a shorter amount of time. You'll be able to elevate employees to higher and higher levels of leadership in a shorter amount of time. Because there's a ripple effect to what we do at any layer of that. So I love that you said that. And I think that when I said I want to have you on my show, that was one of the pieces I wanted to come out. And I'm glad that it came out just along with people realizing that, you know, while we all think we're so unique and different and we are, we're all incredibly the same.
The human struggle is the human struggle. And it's part of why when a franchisee raises their hand and says, kim, I really need you, can we do a one off call? I used to fall for it and do it. And then five minutes into the call I'd be like, oh my gosh, why? Why aren't we at least recording this? Right? But no, I'm not going to do this one on one anymore. Because everything you're saying, 14 other people in the Z suite need to hear. And if I had said come to office hours and share your struggle, a lot of other people could have benefited from hearing you and feeling validated in their own right for that struggle. But then hearing me as the mindset coach, helping you place that into a better position so that you can see the positive in it and then you can work through it. So, Dave, I appreciate you so much. I mean, I'm so happy that after, you know, 45 days, 50 days, whatever it's been, we're already recording your testimonial. I'D love to have you come back, you know, six months or a year from now to see what the impact of the Z Suite has been on your overall effectiveness as a leader in your organization, as someone who's helping other people realize their dreams. And then, of course, as we help other people realize their dreams, we're realizing our dreams. And I'd like to check in and see how close we are to that. A frame house.
[00:21:44] Dave: Kim, I could smell the smoke.
[00:21:47] Kim: I love it.
You're an A student. Well, for those who are out there who may be curious about what this Z Suite could do for you, this is your call to action. Please follow the link in the description below to book a time on my calendar, because I really can't wait to understand. What are your growth goals? What are the goals that you have deep in your heart that you don't even dare whisper out loud for? They're too bold. They're too audacious. They're the kinds of dreams that other people in your life told you do that can't happen for you. Well, when you come to Kim daily, we're gonna dust off those dreams and we're gonna put them back, front and center in your life. And we're not just gonna dream the dream, but if you do the work that changes everything, one day you're gonna find yourself smack dab in the middle of living that dream. I don't share this because I've read it in a book. I share it because my life is living proof. And Now I have 50, 60 students who are all on the path, and they're all getting inching closer and closer to living their own dreams if they're not already. So if this is your time, follow the link in the description right now, because I can't wait to be your daily mindset coach.
