“There Is No Time to Be a Leader” — Why More Executives Are Choosing Franchising

Hire Yourself Podcast with Pete Gilfillan

Where have all the leaders gone?

In this episode, Pete Gilfillan dives into a powerful Wall Street Journal article, "Where Have All the Bosses Gone?"—highlighting a sobering reality: today’s executives are so stretched that they don’t even have time to lead. With flattened org charts, endless admin, and looming layoffs, corporate life is no longer a safe bet. Pete outlines six compelling reasons why senior leaders are leaving burnout behind and turning to franchise ownership for freedom, control, and long-term security.

In this episode, Pete discusses:

1. You’re Spread Too Thin to Actually Lead
As org charts flatten, leaders are managing more people, doing more tasks, and losing time to actually coach or mentor.

2. Leadership Has Been Replaced by Overload
Executives are now individual contributors drowning in metrics, admin, and pressure—with no time for vision or strategy.

3. You’re Always One Reorg Away from Being Replaced
If you're over 50, you're in the highest-risk group for layoffs—and ageism only makes it harder to bounce back.

4. The Stress is Hurting Your Health and Your Family
70% of execs report that work is damaging their mental health. Pete shares his own story—and how business ownership changed his life.

5. You’re Building Someone Else’s Dream
In corporate, your hard work benefits the shareholders. As a franchise owner, you’re building equity—for yourself.

Key Takeaways:

• Corporate life used to be stable—it’s now stretched, stressful, and uncertain.
• Executives are losing control over their time, energy, and future.
• Franchising offers a proven path to freedom, ownership, and long-term wealth.
• It’s not about working less—it’s about working for yourself.
• Don’t wait to get pushed out—build your exit strategy now.

“You’re not too old. You’re too valuable to keep building someone else’s dream.” — Pete Gilfillan

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🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petegilfillan/
🌐 Website: https://www.hireyourself.com/

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