A few years ago, the Atlanta Falcons coach, Kyle Shanahan lost his backpack before the SuperBowl with the gameplan. Even with that, the Atlanta Falcons were beating up on the New England Patriots early in the game. We all know remember how that ended and it in my eyes made Tom Brady the GOAT.
I even asked “Who was the team that lost their game plan?” early in the game because it seemed like the New England Patriots were the ones that lost their playbook. One of my friends even joked that the coach left a “dummy” backpack with fake plays.
The reason that I mention that is because often the plays are there, the strategy is there and we are always looking for that next thing or the “secret sauce” to what will help us reach our goals outside of just executing our strategy. The 2nd thing I believe that we often don’t want to accept is that its hard work and patience. Granted, there are lots of other factors but sometimes the 2 things that are most integral to our “secret sauce” are the things that we don’t want to face or success. We have to work hard and great things take time.
There is rarely overnight success and often those overnight successes (the people), have put in over 10k hours.
It’s easy to forget that. Especially in this day in age with likes and followers and vanity metrics. You can easily purchase 10k followers tomorrow and not provide any value.
But the playbook is there and we have it and the “backpack” is open. It’s not a secret but we often feel as if we need something else. Something different. The reality is that we need to just continue to “chop at the tree” in the same way and in the same spot with consistency, hard work and patience and it will fall.
There’s no need to pivot or do anything different (certainly it helps to tweak here and there). Ultimately we need to stay the course.
Gresham W. Harkless Jr.131 posts
https://iamgresh.comGresham W. Harkless Jr.
Franchise Broker & Entrepreneur | Founder, Blue Star Franchise
Helping founders and aspiring owners find franchise opportunities that match their purpose, finances, and lifestyle. Host of the I AM CEO Podcast with more than 1,600 interviews.
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About Gresham W. Harkless Jr.
Gresham W. Harkless Jr. is a seasoned entrepreneur and franchise broker based in the Washington, D.C. metro area. As founder of Blue Star Franchise, he helps aspiring and established business owners discover franchise opportunities aligned with their goals, skills, and long-term vision.
With over 15 years of experience in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and business development, Gresham brings a consultative, client-first approach to franchise matching. Through his media company, Blue 16 Media, and the I AM CEO Podcast, which has featured more than 1,600 interviews, he has worked with hundreds of CEOs, founders, and small business owners to accelerate growth and build scalable business models.
His mission is simple: to help people “run their race” by finding franchise opportunities that align with their purpose, skills, and lifestyle.
Credentials & Affiliations
Certified Franchise Broker - Franchise Broker Association (FBA)
Founder - Blue Star Franchise
Founder - Blue 16 Media
Host - I AM CEO Podcast (1,600+ episodes)
Featured in 50+ Black Marketers on the Rise & Influencer & Media Innovators (2022)
B.S., Business Administration - Howard University
How Gresham Helps
Franchise discovery & matching consultations
Franchise investment and financial fit analysis
Franchise development guidance & onboarding support
Speaking engagements & media interviews
Business growth advisory through Blue 16 Media
I AM CEO Podcast
With more than 1,600 episodes, the I AM CEO Podcast features conversations with founders, franchise owners, authors, and business leaders.
Gresham shares real, actionable insights to help entrepreneurs grow, scale, and lead.
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Contact & Bookings
Email: gresham@bluestarfranchise.com
For franchise inquiries, speaking engagements, or media interviews, send an email or use the consultation link.
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