What does it take to scale a franchise brand in a category where the product is not a transaction, but a deeply personal human experience?
In this episode of the Heart and Hustle Podcast, Touching Hearts at Home CEO Todd Treml shares how a 35-year career in franchising prepared him to lead a purpose-driven senior care organization through its next chapter of growth. His conversation explores the leadership systems, Caregiver culture, franchisee collaboration, technology decisions, and core values required to grow responsibly in a rapidly expanding industry.
| Timestamp | Topic | What You’ll Learn |
| 0:16 | From Coaching to Franchise Leadership | How Todd’s original path toward teaching and coaching led to a career supporting entrepreneurs. |
| 2:15 | Finding Purpose Through Franchising | Why helping people become business owners is meaningful work—and why senior care adds another level of purpose. |
| 3:24 | 35 Years Across Franchise Industries | Lessons Todd carried from retail, fitness, food, business services, and experiential brands. |
| 5:40 | Leading Touching Hearts at Home Forward | How Todd built on an established foundation while preparing the brand for its next stage of growth. |
| 8:35 | Why Senior Care Is Different | The human connection behind a business centered on dignity, independence, and compassionate care. |
| 10:05 | Serving Clients and Caregivers | Why quality care depends on supporting both the people receiving care and those delivering it. |
| 11:21 | Retention Starts With Culture | How recognition, flexibility, training, and listening help Caregivers stay engaged. |
| 14:25 | AI Without Losing the Human Touch | How the brand is testing technology to enhance care and reduce operational friction. |
| 17:42 | Experience Is the Real Differentiator | Why innovation only matters when it improves the client or Caregiver experience. |
| 19:18 | Preparing Data Before AI Adoption | What franchise systems need in place before introducing new technology tools. |
| 22:31 | Why Franchising Remains a Strong Path to Ownership | The advantages of a proven model, support system, training, and brand infrastructure. |
| 25:08 | The Mindset Shift for New Franchise Owners | Why following the system is essential—and why the best ideas still come from the field. |
| 27:23 | A Vision for Meaningful Growth | Todd’s focus on expanding the network while strengthening franchisee support. |
| 35:41 | Integrity Over Short-Term Growth | Why leaders must protect standards, culture, and franchisee fit. |
| 40:10 | A Caregiver Story That Defines the Mission | How Caregivers showed up for seniors during a hurricane when support mattered most. |
[00:01] Music: [Music]
[00:16] Host: Welcome back. This time, we have Todd. Todd, I am excited to have you here. You said you thought you would be a basketball coach, and now you are actually coaching entrepreneurs. Together, you are serving people who once helped raise us. Were you supposed to be coaching college hoops instead of running a senior care franchise empire? What really happened? How did you get here instead of on the court?
[00:42] Todd Treml: Maybe it was success by failure. When we are going through college, we are all trying to figure out what we want to do with our lives and what that job is going to be as we get close to graduation. As I was going through college, I really wanted to be a teacher and a coach. I tried to get into different education departments and schooling systems, and I could not get in. I continued to fail the tests to get into the school of education in a couple of different areas. So I simply changed directions and finished a business, economics, and political science degree.
[01:25] Todd Treml: While I was in college, I stumbled into my first opportunity in franchising, which led to a 35-year career supporting franchise owners in their businesses. It is pretty ironic how that happens. I still coach, though.
[01:41] Host: Sometimes, I tell you what, and I do not know if you are a man of faith, but I remember growing up and telling myself that one day I was going to be a host. I thought I was going to be the next Ryan Seacrest, but here I am hosting. This is the stage and the platform. Sometimes it is happening, just in a different way.
[01:58] Host: When did you realize that business could be both successful and meaningful? In reality, it is kind of the same thing as sports. There is so much success that happens in sports, and it is meaningful when you are out there playing with a team and really getting the mix of both worlds.
[02:15] Todd Treml: I am very fortunate. All throughout my career, franchising has been about a distribution model of helping people who want to be entrepreneurs, or already are entrepreneurs, come into business ownership. You provide them with a proven operating system, support, branding, and all the things we may get into today. That is meaningful in and of itself. Every day, you can say, "I am helping people reach their dreams and reach their goals."
[02:47] Todd Treml: The next level has been the opportunity to work in a career that is so purpose-driven, in an industry like senior care, which is so meaningful and so massive right now. We are talking about the aging population and how we take care of people who, at one point, took care of us. I am grateful for the opportunity to blend my business, franchising background, and leadership skills with an industry like this and get up every day proud of it.
[03:24] Host: You talked about a 35-year career in franchising. What industries have you touched?
[03:34] Todd Treml: Good question. I started my career with a company called Winmark Corporation, which people may know by its brand names: Play It Again Sports, Once Upon A Child, Plato's Closet, Style Encore, and Music Go Round. I was part of the early management team when we had two locations in one brand, and we built that to 1,200 locations and five brands. That was about fast-scale retailing, supporting franchisees, and there were a lot of lessons, mentoring, successes, and failures that went along with those 20-plus years. That was the retail industry.
[04:08] Todd Treml: From there, I moved into health and wellness when I oversaw development for Snap Fitness, which had 2,000 health clubs across the United States and 20 countries. Another opportunity took me to United Franchise Group. When I was there, we had eight brands. We were in food franchising, coworking space, renewable energy, promotional products, sign franchises, and business services. You name it, we were in it. It was a tremendous experience to touch different industries, but more importantly, to support franchisees in those businesses so they could be successful.
[04:49] Todd Treml: I have also been in the experiential category with brands like Pedal Pub and escape room franchises. I have done a lot of things, and they all have incredible value in my life. Again, the most important part is helping franchisees succeed in their marketplace, helping them reach their personal and financial goals, and helping them serve their community. That is what it is all about.
[05:20] Host: You talked about the value. They all have value, and you took value from every single one and brought that value now to Touching Hearts. What did you bring to Touching Hearts, and what are some of the big surprises or accomplishments you have seen within these 12 months?
[05:40] Todd Treml: It has been a quick 12 months, but it has been fun. When I came into the company, you have to appreciate that the founder, Renae Peterson, and her two sons, Andrew and Ryan, built a company for 18 years, which is hard to do, and put about 60 locations on the map. That in and of itself is not a trivial matter because it is hard to do in franchising. Most franchise companies never get to that level.
[06:03] Todd Treml: All that hard work and foundation had been built. The company was ready to take on the next level. How do we grow from 60 to 100? How do we grow from 100 to 200? How do we do that in an industry that is booming right now? Leadership is the first place you start.
[06:21] Todd Treml: When I came in, I was able to apply my experiences, my learnings, the things I have done in franchise development, and the things I have done in leadership as it relates to leading franchise organizations. We have doubled the size of our team since I came in. We went from awarding zero franchises in the last four years to awarding 20 since I have been here. We have a good chance of doubling that number, maybe not this year, but probably in the next 12 months. That is tremendous growth.
[06:59] Todd Treml: We are putting great new owners into business. We are finding really amazing, high-quality people to become franchisees who share in our mission on the new development side. But the most important thing I believe we are doing today is building a culture of excellence and working with our franchisees to help and support them in every way possible.
[07:23] Todd Treml: We are bringing in things like franchise coaches, enhancing the marketing side of the business, and recently hiring a VP of Operations to oversee training. All of these things are happening to bring more support to our franchisees, and they are succeeding. We are having one of the best years in the history of the company right now. When I speak about the organization, I am talking about the franchise system and network at large. It is really gratifying to see what has been going on, and we are just going to keep pushing forward.
[08:05] Host: Exciting stuff. You are not just scaling a brand; you are scaling dignity for the people who raised us. You mentioned that earlier. What makes this work different from every other franchise system you have led?
[08:35] Todd Treml: The human connection is very different. This is not a transactional business. We are not selling subs or hot dogs at a food mart. We are in a human connection business, and we have very important work to do. If you look at our mission, it is really important to us that we value the people we serve and those who serve them.
[08:57] Todd Treml: The people we serve are our clients. Typically, that is the senior who needs in-home care. Those who serve them are the caregivers. You do not have a business without either one. I have never been in an industry or business that has this level of compassion in the everyday work because it is a human-to-human business. We try to match the best caregivers with that client to enhance the quality of care and dignity in their home, help them with their independence, and do all the non-medical things we do within the framework of the job. There has been nothing like this in terms of human connection.
[09:56] Host: You just mentioned serving two different groups: your clients and your caregivers. How do you continue to serve them without ever losing either of them?
[10:05] Todd Treml: It is a great point. We start with the caregiver because that is the most difficult. If we do our job correctly, provide great service to the client, offer them and their families what they are looking for, and give them compassion, empathy, and dignity in their homes, then we have done our job. But the biggest challenge we face in this industry is the shortage of caregivers and labor. It is epidemic at this point because of the growth of the senior population and the need for more caregivers.
[10:51] Todd Treml: Ninety percent of people surveyed over the age of 65 will tell you they want to age at home. The future of health care is shifting to home care, and we have to have people who can support that business. What are we doing? It starts with making sure you have the right culture in your organization, paying fair wages, recognizing your caregivers, and listening to them. Sometimes recognition is really the biggest thing they are looking for.
[11:36] Todd Treml: Flexibility in scheduling is important. Ongoing training is also becoming really important. Many people do not just want to be caregivers; they want to be educated and trained on multiple aspects of care. We are really focused on dementia care training right now. We have constant ongoing training and education for them. These components together will hopefully provide the retention we are looking for so we can continue to serve the market. We do not want to turn clients away because we do not have enough caregivers.
[12:18] Host: If the Heart and Hustle podcast has ever sparked an idea or made you think differently, do us a favor. Share this, post it on LinkedIn, or text that nonprofit friend you have. Whatever works. This is what keeps the conversation going and allows us to grow this community together. Seriously, we appreciate you.
[12:40] Host: That is good. Pouring into those who are pouring into others is so important. Sometimes leaders forget that. In your role, you are pouring out constantly, and sometimes it is hard to pour from an empty cup. Making sure caregivers are fueled and have the knowledge they need allows them to continue serving. Giving them recognition goes such a long way.
[13:06] Host: I had a client recently, and it was so simple, but the way she responded to me was very grateful. She said she had never had a manager care the way I did. It truly makes a difference. That is how you build loyalty and long-term relationships. It is not just that they are coming to a job. You are building relationships with clients and caregivers. I like that you are thinking about how to keep pouring into them.
[13:37] Host: You mentioned hiring a VP for training and making sure training is happening. This is an industry that is booming. We talk about the baby boomers and what is happening in the next five years. You are in a great place, and you are putting the structure in place now, not waiting for the time that is going to happen. You are building those processes and systems now so that when it happens, you are ahead of the curve.
[13:58] Host: Does being ahead of the curve mean implementing technology and AI? How do you grow in a space where it is hard to find talent? Are you implementing AI to help cover that?
[14:25] Todd Treml: It is a great question and a great observation because it is top of mind. Home care is always going to be a human-to-human experience, but that does not mean we ignore technology. In fact, technology and AI are already in place across the board in many home care businesses, whether at the franchisor level or the franchisee level.
[14:46] Todd Treml: We think about it a couple of different ways. First, in almost every facet of idea creation and strategy, you need to involve franchisees because they are the tip of the spear. They are the people out there every day executing in the community. One of the strengths I have learned over three decades is franchisee involvement in everything you do.
[15:11] Todd Treml: The first thing I did was develop a technology and innovation task force made up of seven franchisees. We meet monthly and are constantly testing new ideas, testing AI, and testing remote monitoring technologies. We are looking at anything that can do two things: enhance the client experience and help us become more efficient and productive on the back end. That is where AI is really making a major play for us.
[15:44] Todd Treml: The remote technology piece is interesting because it is difficult to get adoption on some of these products from the client standpoint. They have to trust that there may be a monitoring system in their house. Maybe it is a wristband, or something else in the home that helps the caregiver and family monitor what is going on when there is not a caregiver there. These technologies are important, but they will take time. We are testing them right now and using them at the unit level.
[16:18] Todd Treml: The other area is AI on the back end. How do we automate repetitive, sometimes mundane tasks that can be handled, and sometimes done better, with AI? Then we can take the people who were doing those tasks and reallocate them to areas of the business that are a bigger priority, like customer care, client care, or marketing. We are literally testing things as we speak right now.
[16:54] Host: It is funny you say sometimes AI can do things better. That is not to belittle anybody doing the job. But when people are doing that type of admin work, no one really went to school to do paperwork. They want to have that hands-on experience and human connection, doing things at a higher level. That makes sense.
[17:20] Host: Something you talked about offline was experience. You want people to be put in the right places with caregivers and clients to create that experience. Why does experience matter?
[17:42] Todd Treml: There are a couple of pieces to experience. One is the customer, client, or caregiver experience. Let us call it the client experience. You have to be constantly innovating. If you are standing still, you are going to get left behind. A classic case of that is technology. Senior care has lagged in technology, and now everybody is trying to catch up. Technology companies are trying to make a play for this industry because it is so big and growing so fast.
[18:20] Todd Treml: On the technology side, if the technology is not going to enhance the client or caregiver experience, we are not going to implement it. It does not make sense for us. The bottom line is that companies and franchise companies cannot sit still. You have to innovate, and innovation means constantly looking at your standards, the way you conduct your business, and the operating systems you are on.
[18:48] Todd Treml: It is also about helping franchisees run successful, good, profitable businesses so they can stay long-term in their communities and operate. All of this is ultimately about the client experience. If you treat clients properly and give them a good experience, and we survey all the time, that usually lends itself to a strong, sustainable business.
[19:18] Host: You mentioned technology and the healthcare industry being behind. I think a lot of times it is because they are not digital yet. They are still doing so much on paper. I am seeing organizations that want to implement AI, but they do not realize that data matters. As you are implementing AI, were there red flags or things you realized you had to get together first, such as going from paper to digital or making sure data is organized?
[20:03] Host: A lot of people want to use AI, but they do not know where to start or what to do before looking for a tool or resource. To me, AI is a tool and resource. Whether people believe it is replacing people or not, I do not think it is replacing people. As you mentioned, it is allowing us to operate like a larger team without the huge overhead cost.
[20:52] Todd Treml: There are different places in this ecosystem of franchisor and franchisees. I look at it on the franchisee operating side in their offices. The first thing we look at is whether the tool will help us be more productive. Does it take away repetitive tasks? There are a lot of products you can test and try. One thing we learned is that AI for us is ultimately going to plug into what we already have.
[21:17] Todd Treml: For example, we have an operating system that everyone already operates on. It handles scheduling, payroll, applications, caregivers, reporting structures, dashboards, and more. One challenge was finding AI that could integrate with that, because AI's job is to take all the data and help us with it. Whether it is scheduling, matching a caregiver with a client, payroll, or communications to caregivers, we had to make sure the data in our systems was really good.
[22:03] Todd Treml: We also had to make sure the technology we were looking at integrated with our systems. Some do not, and that is a flag. The technology game is about hits and misses. Ultimately, you keep at it until you find the one that fits.
[22:23] Host: It seems like you are having too much fun, Todd. Why is franchising still one of the best paths to entrepreneurship today?
[22:31] Todd Treml: Franchising is a business model for going into business. Every day in America, a franchise opens every eight seconds. There are thousands of different franchise opportunities or companies you could pursue if you are an entrepreneur. I believe America is built on small business, especially with franchising. There are a lot of people who would never get into business if it were not for a franchise. To me, it is the on-ramp to business ownership.
[23:21] Todd Treml: For the vast majority of people who own a franchise, it is their first business. The importance of entering into a relationship with a franchisor and a brand is that they get an existing brand, a proven operating system, an operations manual, training, marketing, and technology support. With good franchise companies, that support never ends. It is always there and is constantly being looked at and innovated on.
[23:52] Todd Treml: At the end of the day, that new person coming into business has all of those advantages without having to create the wheel themselves. They get to plug in and go. It sounds easy. It is not easy. It is still business. It is still hard work, and you are still wearing a lot of hats every single day, but you have a huge head start as a business owner. I absolutely love the model of franchising.
[24:25] Host: If we are talking to new owners who are thinking about franchising, what is the biggest mindset shift they should make, and how do you help them get there? What I love about the franchise model is that it almost feels like you have a parachute when you take that leap of faith. It helps guide you so you do not fail, as long as you listen, execute the plans, and follow the guidelines. It is a proven concept. How cool is it to go somewhere where they are holding your hand toward success? What is the biggest mindset shift new owners should make?
[25:08] Todd Treml: You said the whole thing and articulated it well. Today, we have 79 territories. We have been in business for 19 years. We know the model works. We have iterated on this concept over time to continue innovating and to make sure we are where we need to be in the marketplace. We have success everywhere you turn in this business, and we have people who can support you.
[25:29] Todd Treml: Once a franchisee is qualified and there is a good fit both ways, we want them to follow the operating system. That is something we will not yield on. We look at it and say, you have invested in this proven operating model and this brand. Follow the system. Do not get off the track. Follow it for a few years, and you will be successful.
[26:09] Todd Treml: We are not trying to put people into business to be robots. You get into this business, learn it, succeed, follow the model, and you will come up with new ideas. Share them with us. The best ideas always come from the field. They do not come from us sitting around corporate headquarters trying to think of the next best idea. The mindset is sometimes letting go a little and saying, "Yes, I trust the business model."
[26:50] Todd Treml: There is one other area I see if you have not been a business owner: people underestimate themselves. Do not underestimate yourself. I have seen people with very few resources come into franchises and have it change their lives. It has absolutely changed their lives through generational wealth and happiness. Do not underestimate what this can do for you. That in itself is the mindset.
[27:23] Host: When you took on this role, did you have an internal mission? Did something come to mind like, "I want to see this many locations" or "I want to be able to do this"? Where do you want Touching Hearts to be?
[27:48] Todd Treml: I love that question. It is something I think about all the time. From the day I walked in here, I was not arrogant enough to think I knew what we could do right out of the gate until I got to know the business really well. Twelve months in, I am still a rookie and a student of this business. I am learning this industry inside and out every day. I am listening to podcasts, learning from industry experts, and educating myself.
[28:24] Todd Treml: I also did not initially come in and say, "We are going to do all this in the first 30 days." I listened to our franchisees, called and talked to every single one of them, and listened and learned. Once I knew I understood where we were, there was no doubt in my mind that we were going to do three things.
[28:39] Todd Treml: Number one, we are going to grow this network. Our biggest competitors have 400 to 600 locations. We are going to hit 100 locations, and that will happen within the next 12 months. Then we are going to hit 200 locations. Then we will hit 300 locations. We are going to continue to grow this brand. These are not just dreams and visions that we cannot attain. We absolutely believe we can attain them. We know it because we are seeing it and doing it every single day.
[29:19] Todd Treml: It takes people to do that. It takes experience. It takes great franchise owners with strong financial performance who can validate this concept. Our goal in the next five years is to get to 300 locations, and we are on track to do that right now.
[29:38] Todd Treml: Number two, we are going to build a support team for these franchisees because every single day when we walk into this building, every employee thinks one thing: How do I make my franchisees better today? How do we support them even more? What do we give them? Ultimately, that is what matters: the relationship between us and our franchise owners. When they are successful, we are successful.
[30:01] Todd Treml: The third thing is building a world-class team. I have doubled the size of the team here, and we have passionate, experienced individuals who understand franchising and home care. That is a great combination. They are very committed and dedicated to supporting our vision and mission, and we have clarity in our purpose.
[30:26] Host: As the growth continues, and you mentioned elevating your caregivers, are you looking at them as potential business partners one day? Could they eventually invest in themselves and get a franchise? Is that part of the model?
[30:48] Todd Treml: I love the idea. I have been part of companies for many years where it is great to see an individual working at a restaurant or in a home care business who ultimately has the dream of owning their own business. They are in it every day, and they can say, "I can do this." I have seen that happen throughout my lifetime, and it is really gratifying.
[31:10] Todd Treml: We do not have a written-down specific strategy for converting caregivers or administrative staff into franchise owners, and the administrative staff is equally important because they support the caregivers. At some point, we will find a path for those individuals to become owners of a business and continue to work in communities and serve those communities. That is a really great point and something we have been talking about.
[31:48] Host: No one knows better than the people doing the work. When you bring that experience into a leadership role, you speak from experience, not just from a book. The best learning is when you are actually doing the work. I think about caregivers being in homes and seeing so many different avenues of life. They bring so much knowledge to it.
[32:44] Host: One thing I love about you, Todd, is that you are asking every person who is part of Touching Hearts: What do you think? What can we do better? Where are you today? That allows people to be creative. But as you are pouring out, who is pouring into you?
[33:16] Todd Treml: I have really important people around me. First, from a business standpoint, I am a huge believer in mentors. I have probably had six or seven important mentors in my lifetime just on the business side. In almost every company I have been in, I have sought out people I can learn from, talk to, and who can help me get better every single day. My business acumen has been developed not just by experience, but also by working with important mentors.
[33:50] Todd Treml: On the personal side, I believe in surrounding myself with really positive people. I do not have time for negativity. I look for people who want to be lifters, not leaners. I have people like that in my family, among my friends, and among my coworkers. I have a relatively small circle of people I interact with, but they are the ones who lift me up and nourish me because there are good days and bad days. You need people like that to pick you up and lean on. My faith is incredibly important to me. I lean on that every single day.
[34:36] Host: The best line I heard this past week is that a faith-led business will teach you more than hustle ever will. We all want to hustle, but if we bring faith into it, that changes things. Todd, this was a leap of faith. You went into a whole new world of working with the elderly, and you were willing to learn. It looks like you are really excited you made the decision, but I imagine there were some tough times.
[35:27] Host: What is one bad thing you have seen a leader do that you were able to learn from?
[35:41] Todd Treml: Great question. In our business, I think it is about integrity and holding to standards. I have seen leaders cave on their standards and make a deal, or deals, for financial gain instead of making the right cultural and core value decisions. For me personally, when we make decisions every day about what franchisees to bring into our system or what investments to make in technology or other systems for franchisees, I think about those core values every day.
[36:29] Todd Treml: I have seen leadership over the years put money first and decide to sell as many franchises as possible because it is all about top-line growth and driving fees, rather than having a holistic look at whether we are a good fit with the individual we are helping put into business. More importantly, are we going to support them? Are we going to support their growth? Those good and bad lessons have shaped where I am today, and I do not yield on those things. We make sure we do things the right way and stand behind our core values.
[37:10] Host: Everyone will need senior care one day, or be the one providing it. This matters to all of us. For someone considering a mission-driven business, why should they look at senior care?
[37:26] Todd Treml: As a business, the first thing people look at is growth. The growth is absolutely off the charts. We do not have enough facilities, whether skilled nursing, assisted living, or hospice, to support all the people who need care and compassionate caregiver support. That is a huge opportunity.
[37:52] Todd Treml: Second, people looking into senior care understand that it has a relatively low barrier to entry. You are not buying inventory. You are not buying food. You are not building out a brick-and-mortar store or business. You are not buying a lot of assets, so it is relatively easier from an investment standpoint compared with other things.
[38:08] Todd Treml: Third, if you look at a franchise model and say, "I want to be in this business," you get everything we have already described. You get a brand, support, training, marketing resources, national conferences, and a peer network, which is incredibly valuable. That is why people are looking at getting into this business. The business is a good business.
[38:45] Todd Treml: One of the most important metrics we look at as a franchisor is renewal rate. That means that after 10 years, the franchisee and franchisor each decide whether they want to continue together. We are at about a 100% renewal rate right now. Everybody who has been here wants to keep going with us.
[39:08] Host: As we start wrapping up, where can people find you and connect with you? Are you on social? Share the websites for those who want to see what is going on with you.
[39:23] Todd Treml: From a company standpoint, if you are looking for senior care, visit touchinghearts.com. It will lead you to exactly what we do, who we are, and all of our locations across the United States. If you are looking at a potential business opportunity and may want to become a franchise owner, you can find us at touchingheartsfranchise.com. If you would like to contact me personally, I love when people reach out to me for questions or help. You can find me on LinkedIn under my name, Todd Treml.
[40:01] Host: Love it. Now it is time for the blind question. Are you ready?
[40:09] Todd Treml: Yeah.
[40:10] Host: What is one big moment, big or small, when a caregiver reminded you why this work really matters?
[40:18] Todd Treml: I have so many of those. Back in October in Florida, around the time of the hurricane, we had owners in Gainesville and Tampa who were heavily hit. Our corporate offices were kind of taken out. Everybody became remote and decentralized really quickly. There were a lot of seniors in those communities who needed support and help, and we were trying to figure out how to keep the business going through the hurricanes.
[40:58] Todd Treml: Our caregivers drove out and made sure they were with those seniors, on their own, in hurricanes and everything else, to make sure the people they were taking care of had somebody there. That is a powerful example of the importance of caregivers and what strikes me as incredibly motivational and inspirational. I probably get a story like that every time I visit a franchise location.
[41:28] Host: I bet that is what fills your cup - hearing these stories and knowing you are part of this work, even in a small way.
[41:45] Host: What is your blind question to the next leader, Todd?
[41:52] Todd Treml: From a leadership standpoint, I would ask the next person: What is the most underrated skill that leaders need to develop right now?
[42:05] Host: That is a really good question. It makes you think about where you need to continue growing your skill sets. Listening, right?
[42:21] Todd Treml: It always continues. As long as you want to grow, you should always be thinking like that.
[42:30] Host: Todd, it was a pleasure. I want to go back to one thing: everything you said you are going to do, you did not say, "I want to do" or "we hope to do." You said, "This is what we are doing." I love that you spoke that into existence. It hits differently when you say, "I am going to do that," because there is confidence behind it.
[43:00] Todd Treml: Thank you very much. That is intentional, and it comes from a core belief that it is going to happen. Your franchisees, your staff, and your teams begin to buy into that. They see that you mean it, and we mean it, and we are in this all together. It is not about one person.
[43:16] Host: Todd, we appreciate you. Continue to like, subscribe, and comment. Senior care is not going anywhere. It is something we are all going to experience, and it is a conversation we should all be having about what that actually looks like. Too many people wait until they are already in it. You can also be part of it early if you want to own your own franchise. How cool is it to have someone like Todd, who has so much experience in franchising, helping other franchisees move from fear to success? A lot of times, people go in with fear and then realize, "I should have done this sooner." Todd, we appreciate you. My name is Efrain. This is Todd. We will catch you on the next one. Thanks. Take care. Bye-bye.
Senior care is a growing category, but its real value goes beyond market demand.
For the right entrepreneur, it offers the opportunity to build a local business that creates meaningful employment, supports families, serves older adults with dignity, and makes a lasting difference in the community.
Touching Hearts at Home is looking for mission-aligned leaders who want to build strong teams, follow a proven model, and help bring compassionate home care to more families.
Learn more about owning a Touching Hearts at Home franchise: Learn More
Eric Redden serves as the Director of Franchise Development for Touching Hearts at Home. With years of experience supporting both emerging and established franchise brands, Eric helps entrepreneurs discover meaningful paths to business ownership. He is committed to guiding new franchise owners with clarity, confidence, and heart.
