“You have to choose your hard—and then embrace it.” On the latest episode of Stars of Franchising, we sit down with Jamie Lavigne—franchise development leader at Ever Smith Brands—to dig into what separates great franchisors from the rest. With nearly two decades of experience across legacy and emerging brands, Jamie shares candid insights into the franchising journey—from how the best franchisors build strong support systems and evolve their training, to the critical importance of transparency, due diligence, and unit economics. She also pulls back the curtain on franchise development, describing it not as selling—but as guiding candidates through a structured process to determine true fit. Along the way, Jamie challenges common misconceptions, highlights the risks of being “too entrepreneurial” in a franchise system, and explains why understanding how you might fail is just as important as knowing how to succeed. Listeners will walk away with practical advice on evaluating franchise opportunities, building resilience, and embracing the reality that entrepreneurship—whether independent or franchised—is never easy, but deeply rewarding when approached the right way. Jamie also holds a position on the Board of Directors of NEFA: https://newenglandfranchiseassociation.com Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stars-of-franchising/id1704178616 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ca14JU6Zmuwr06SP0vJeG?si=25fcb9cee9c14fc3