Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lisa Franz. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Lisa, thanks for joining us today. We believe kindness is contagious and so we’d love for you to share with us and our audience about the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?
Four years ago my longtime partner was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and given under 2 years to live. The shock that came with the diagnosis was immeasurable. It was a before and after moment. I had walked into the doctor’s office one person and left an entirely different one. Everything had changed.
What followed was a whirlwind of new information, sleepless nights and surrendering to this new life. I said to my brother that day, that life was going to look much different from now on, and it does, but not in the ways I was afraid of. I know those days are still ahead of us but I have stopped trying to predict what this disease will do. There isn’t a cancer template and there isn’t predicting, even in the best of scenarios what tomorrow or the next year will bring.
The first months of this journey were. like a freight train that wouldn’t stop, it was fueled by terror and was inconsiderate of feelings. Looking back I am glad I didn’t know what was in store, because I would have pushed up against the reality and it would have rolled over me in ways that would have rendered me useless to him. As it stands now I am always prepared, Prepared for the next scan, for the next ER visit. These events are familiar now, even in their inconsistencies. I am reminded daliy that I can’t control everything, that life itself is unpredictable so why would cancer be any less forgiving.
My new role as cancer care coordinator had become all consuming and left me little time for my business or myself. All thoughts and energy went into this new job and I was determined to be the best at it. Being a caregiver changed me, once a social person I was now cocooning and withdrawing from my previous self, my previous life. It was in this transition that people either showed up or quietly faded into the background. Of course people would reach out and ask about David and the latest medical update, but there were only a few who called me and asked about me. These people went out of their way to call and ask me how I was doing. Not asking about David, not about the latest scan, about me. How I was holding up? What am I doing for myself? They offered more than the blanket statement of “”Let me know what I can do?” And instead said “I am doing this for you”. I didn’t need another thing to organize or plan, and they recognized that and just showed up in ways that proved more helpful than they could know. These are the ones that even today are my foundation and my favorite people. They are the ones who showed up and called to check in. The ones who gave me space for me, gave me hope and a respite from the isolation that comes with being a caregiver. Four years out from a terminal sentence and David is thriving. Scans still happen and there issues from chemo and the disease that we still deal with, but now they are tolerable and we look to the future with more hope.
Also I had My Manager at Frank’s, Gwen in my corner. She showed up for me by keeping the doors open and operations moving ahead. She handled leading people in my place and gave me peace of mind and the space to focus on David. She held me literally and figuratively through some of my worst moments and reassured me that my best was enough and she put me at ease that the business was safe in her hands. I am just now getting back to having the time and the energy to refocus on the shop and I wouldn’t have had the time and the space if it wasn’t for her and the community that gathered around me.
The people that held me up showed me kindness, the type of kindness that I didn’t know I needed. Kindness that even now seems hard to repay.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I grew up on a ranch in Steamboat Springs into l long line of strain and independent women who had traversed the mountains in the late 1880’s and settled in the valley. I attended CU Denver and got my degree in theater before finally finding my passion in the hair industry.
I got into indusrty because I love team work and collaboration. I fell in love with the idea of ever evolving change and building relationships.
I opened Frank’s in 2017 with the idea of merging the best aspects of the barber industry and the salon environment. Creating a space that goes above and beyond in offering a full array of spa and barbering services. The shop caters in everyone, from all walks of life, genders and lifestyles. We provide a cozy lounge to hang our while sipping on our local coffee or beer. Every haircut includes a shampoo and scalp massage topped of with a steamed towel for the face. It truly is a space dedicated to relaxation and community.
We are proud of our curated line of retail products. We carry many local and women owned brands. Brands that after time feel like family. We like to support small business in and around Colorado and the west.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
The best source of new clients for us is word of mouth. We have a referral program that focuses on our loyal clients sharing what they love about Frank’s. We encourage our guests to share their experience with their friends and family. We are also sure involved with the community in the Ballpark neighborhood and I serve on the Board for Ballpark Collective.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Books I have read that have helped shape my leadership style are Dare to Lead, By Brene Brown and Energy Leadership by Bruce Schneider. Both have prove valuable and I often return to them. The book that has helped me most personally has to be Option B by Sheryl Sanberg about grief and resilience.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.FranksDenver.com
- Instagram: FranksDenver
- Facebook: FranksDenver