Spread success by planting small, repeatable habits first

At the luxury hotel chain, one tiny ritual set the gold-standard for service. Employees learned the 10/5 Way—smile within ten feet, speak within five—and performance surveys soared. That one simple step rippled through every lobby and guest room. Local hospitals, desperate to lift morale after Katrina, borrowed the idea. Administrators trained doctors and nurses to greet patients with eye contact and a warm “Hello,” even in scrub gowns and surgical caps. Soon, patient satisfaction scores jumped 5%, return visits climbed, and the hospital’s reputation blossomed. The ripple effect from a single replicable habit was staggering: a potential $30 million boost in annual revenue.

This is the power of franchising success. You don’t need massive programs or budgets—just one high-impact behavior and a clear script for sharing it. Whether it’s quick smiles, public praise, or a gratitude handshake, each small habit you teach multiplies across teams and communities, turning positive actions into a viral movement. When every person becomes a micro-champion, success doesn’t trickle—it cascades.

Spot one micro-practice that lifts spirits or sharpens results—maybe a two-second smile at every customer. Show a teammate how easily it can fit into their day. Check in after a week to compare energy levels or feedback. As more people catch on, the one habit transforms into a culture of small, contagious wins.