I posted recently about the moment community became the foundation of how I lead.

Yesterday, I was in Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos and walked past this sign.

I stopped.

“Community is the heartbeat of our lives. It’s where we find belonging, support, and laughter. Together we share experiences, create memories, and make a difference in the world.”

Hand painted. Weathered. On the side of a building in a small island community that has been through more than most, including the devastation of Hurricane Dorian in 2019.

And yet, community is still their heartbeat! 🇧🇸

It made me think about what that franchisee said to me in 2016. He wasn’t giving me a business tip. He was telling me something much more fundamental about what people need.

– Belonging
– Support
– Shared experience

They’re the reason some franchise systems feel like a transaction and others feel like a family.

Sometimes the clearest lessons show up when you’re not looking for them.