I was $35,000 in debt. Starting over with a broken mower, a rusted trailer, and $24 to my name. That $24 went into printing flyers. My wife and I walked the streets for days, stuffing letterboxes and hoping the phone would ring. It did. Work started to trickle in. Slowly.

Retail Food Group and vulture capitalists buy franchise brands then rip off franchisees blind. Make them buy supplies for double what they cost at Coles. Sell pizzas for less than ingredient costs. Evil exists in business. Choose your side.

I was pathetically bad at selling. So bad I'd hire a professional salesperson and pretend to work on the computer while he did the selling. Then I learned the greatest business lesson of my life: Stop worrying about what I was going to get and start worrying about what the

Went to see an advertising executive for advice. For 30 minutes he told me about advertising - not his business. At the end: "Jim, you don't really need an advertising agency yet." I walked out knowing if I ever needed one, I'd go to him. He sold me by not selling me.

Started using the "selling by not selling" approach. Guy asked me: "Which is a better business, that one or yours?" I analysed both and said, "That's a better business. Go buy that one." He came back and bought from me. Happened three times. All three bought from me. Ethics

Most service businesses: 90-95% attrition rate in first year. We used to lose 17%. Introduced our 2-day training program. Attrition dropped to 10.5% immediately. One-third fewer failures just from better training. Education is the ultimate competitive advantage.

Go to jimpenman.com.au and try Digital Jim. Over 1.5 million words of everything I've said. Ask it a question, get a plausible answer in line with what I think. By the time I'm gone in 20 years, it'll be so good you won't need me. You'll just use Digital Jim to make

This is a major problem in franchising.

Brands are extraordinarily transferable. Look at Virgin - record store, airline, whatever. Once you've got recognition, it almost doesn't matter what you do with it. The Jim's brand works because people trust the quality behind it.

The key to business isn't starting with the sharpest mind or hardest work ethic. It's looking at your business every day asking: "How can I improve?" Good people are endlessly self-critical. Poor people blame the system, clients, economy when things go wrong.

Here's hoping Taylor and Travis spark the next baby boom! 💍💒👶 In a cosmic alignment, The Institute for Family Studies has a study out today finding that, contrary to what a lot of people think, married women and mothers are happier, less lonely, and more likely to have a sense of purpose in life.

My PhD was a complete disaster. Couldn't get a single academic job. Turned my student lawn mowing into a backup plan. That backup plan became 5,500 franchises. Sometimes your biggest failure is your biggest opportunity.

My overdraft was tens of thousands past its limit. Massive debts I couldn't possibly pay. Considered selling everything and quitting. Inst,ead I kept one thing: belief in my mission. Now we serve 1 million customers annually. Desperation is just clarity in disguise.

5,500 franchisees have my direct phone number. They can call me anytime. One called me on Christmas Day just to chat. I respond within minutes, not hours. Most CEOs hide behind assistants. I made accessibility my competitive advantage.

My father wanted me to be a doctor. Or an engineer. Or a lawyer. Inst,ead I became a lawn mower man. He thought I was a disappointment. I built something bigger than any profession.