women in f ra nchising
Gloria Plaisted, Franchisee, President & CEO
Fast-Paced Life
D own an U ne x pected L ane us up, we used the lessons they served to perfect our operations and grow the sales,” explained Gloria. It worked. They were the quintessential Mom & Pop operators. The duo was and still is the breed of risk takers in franchising that continues to prove business can stay exciting.
Gloria and Rick
Growing up Gloria Plaisted always dreamed of a life in the fast lane. It wasn’t until she entered her junior year in high school that this dream came into clear focus. “I wanted to be a NASCAR driver.
Franchising USA
In 1970, it wasn’t an easy dream to fulfill in a male dominated sport, but the element of risk compelled me to want it even more. My mind was made up, but my heart took me off course,” said Gloria. After marrying her high school sweetheart the two took the proverbial leap of faith into risk and the fast lane, as a fast-food Dairy Queen franchisee. “We bought an existing location that no one else wanted. But we could see past the grime, the modest inventory and archaic equipment. And in-spite of all the setbacks that tried to trip
In retrospect, Gloria is convinced now that the sacrifices she made to secure a future for her family could have been achieved with less intensity, “I remember the time I apologized to my oldest son Marc for not having more family dinners around the table, while building our company. He reassures me, to this day, that no permanent damage was done.” Work/life balance is crucial. But, Gloria believes she would be remiss if she didn’t point out that, in the first three years of any business start-up, you must factor in a sense of urgency and availability to do what you have to do when you have to do it. “I love all the hats I wear so it’s hard for me to unplug. I’ve recently begun an initiative to purposely un-tether myself from technology during select hours. I’ve also learned to say “no” more, and I’m intentionally spending more time on personal initiatives and interests. Coupled with my strong Christian faith, I’ve found this new healthy regimen of discipline creating a much stronger me,” remarked Gloria.