How to Build a Franchise Empire Without Losing Your Mind (or Cash Flow) with Bennett Maxwell

Leadership & Mindset

Bennett Maxwell shares his journey of turning Dirty Dough from a small cookie business into a growing franchise with over 80 locations. He opens up about the challenges of managing cash flow, building a strong team, and the hard lessons learned along the way. Bennett also dives into his approach to handling stress, from ice baths to breathwork, and explains why being willing to share equity and lean on advisors helped him scale quickly. This conversation sheds light on the real grind behind entrepreneurship and what it takes to succeed in a high-growth business.

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Why Your Hard Work Isn’t Special: Bennett Maxwell's Bold View on Success
• 00:01:52 - From Candy Bars to Cookies: Bennett Maxwell’s Entrepreneurial Roots
• 00:02:48 - Surviving COVID: The Start of Dirty Dough’s Franchise Journey
• 00:05:18 - Burning the Candle at Both Ends: How Bennett Ran Two Companies at Once
• 00:08:22 - From Stress to Strength: Ice Baths, Saunas, and Building Mental Resilience
• 00:11:18 - Hiring a CEO and Giving Away Equity: Why Bennett Chose to Share the Pie
• 00:16:50 - How Sharing Your Business Secrets Could Make You More Successful
• 00:19:35 - Why You Should Stop Worrying About People Stealing Your Ideas
• 00:24:28 - The Free Will Illusion: Bennett’s Philosophical Shift
• 00:28:12 - Grace and Compassion: How Bennett Lets Go of Mistakes and Moves Forward
• 00:33:26 - Staying Grounded: The Power of Luck and Letting Go of Pride

Links and Resources

• Bennett Maxwell
• Bennett on LinkedIn
• Bennett’s LinkTree
• Andrew on LinkedIn
• Andrew on Twitter/X

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