Mary Jo Larson

When I attended the University of Minnesota, I worked part time as a front desk clerk at an upscale hotel in Minneapolis. The job came with a few celebrity sightings: pop singer Kenny Loggins and fitness guru Richard Simmons both checked in during my shifts. I was also prepped for a visit from former President Gerald Ford, but he was whisked straight to the presidential suite, so I never saw him. The job had perks. One time, a Saudi prince tipped me $20 just for checking him in.

As someone who has interviewed my fair share of franchise investment bankers and financial advisers over the last few years, they are still reporting to me that M&A activity remains tepid. And I write “remains,” because it seems they have been waiting for market forces to improve for three years now. But, as our annual Franchise Times Dealmakers Awards show us once again in this month’s issue, no matter what the market, the interesting and creative deals still get done.

When husband Doug was coaching sons Ben and Sam in both baseball and basketball years ago, I learned a few things as an outside observer and a fan on the sidelines. First, parents get way too caught up in game, and their child’s performance. Settle down, folks. Your kid is not going to be the next Cy Young pitcher. Secondly, to advance in the game, it took a combination of skill, practice and diligence—on both the players’ and the coaches’ part. It was all about commitment.