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When you take on the CEO role, you expect to face challenges, strategic pivots, competitive pressures, maybe even a recession or two. But nothing quite prepares you for your first real crisis. That moment came early in my tenure and centered around a well-defined, heavily populated market. What unfolded there was a lesson in resilience, strategic decision-making and the importance of protecting the people who count on you most.
At the time, one of our largest geographic territories was struggling. Once a solid and reliable region, it began showing signs of serious distress. We started hearing concerns from franchisees. Clients weren’t