Week 25 – I Didn’t Do This Alone (And That’s the Point)

The most valuable resource in this franchise? Experience I didn’t earn the hard way:

This week I caught myself saying, “I think I’ve really figured this out.” Then I stopped mid-sentence—because the truth is, I didn’t “figure it out” by myself. I’ve been guided. Coached. Steered around potholes by people who’ve built multi-six and seven-figure inspection businesses. And without their help? I have no doubt I’d be buried under mistakes right now.

What I’m realizing, 25 weeks in, is that the most valuable part of this franchise isn’t the software or the logo or the checklist templates—it’s the lived experience of the people who’ve done this *before* me. That’s the safety net. That’s the cheat code.

The things I avoided without even realizing it:

Every time I got pricing guidance, marketing feedback, or report review advice, I sidestepped a mistake. Bad hires. Bad vendors. Undercharging. Over-promising. Missing insurance details. Going rogue on language that could have created liability. I didn’t “win” by being smart—I avoided losing by getting smarter people to weigh in first.

And the craziest part? I probably don’t even realize half of what I dodged. The cost of a good franchise system isn’t what you pay—it’s what you *save* in money, time, and hard lessons avoided.

What Curt said that stuck with me this week:

“Some people hit a year or two and start to think, ‘I did this myself.’ But they don’t realize the 100+ silent landmines the system helped them avoid.”

That landed hard. I don’t want to be that person who thinks this growth came from luck or hustle alone. I’ve hustled, sure—but I hustled in a lane that was already cleared for me. That’s the difference between random trial-and-error… and following a real, proven path.

The franchise tools are great. The brains behind them? Better.

Every tool I’ve used—Snapshot summaries, CRM automations, inspection templates—works because it was shaped by real-world feedback. The system isn’t just “corporate guidance”—it’s knowledge built on thousands of homes, hundreds of inspectors, and years of figuring out what works *and* what doesn’t.

And every time I reach out to someone who’s done this before, they don’t give me fluff. They give me real answers. Sometimes blunt. Always helpful.

Next step: keep learning like I don’t know it all

I’m keeping my coach on speed dial. I’m watching what top performers are doing. I’m asking questions before making assumptions. Because staying coachable is the only way to keep growing without breaking what’s already working.

What I’ll absolutely keep doing forever:

Giving credit where it’s due—and treating franchise advice like gold. I didn’t build this alone. And if I want to keep scaling, I better keep leaning on the system that got me here.

→ Next up: Week 26: Halfway Point — Wins, Mistakes, and What's Next

← See the tools that made my life easier: Week 24: Automation Tools I Now Rely On (and What I Gave Up On)

Curious what it’s like to build your own home inspection franchise from the ground up?