Auntie Anne's is a modern-day business miracle that never should have happened.

I never went to college. But the structure I grew up with was planted so deep that when it came to doing business, I knew how to be disciplined, create teamwork, and persevere. It set me up to be an entrepreneur and a successful franchiser.

I didn't build Auntie Anne's alone. That would have been impossible. From the very beginning, we had a team around us that was exceptional. Our company was successful because of the dedicated people who worked for us.

My philosophy is: Life is hard, but God is good. Try not to confuse the two.

To overcome adverse circumstances, you have to learn to overcome your own hang-ups, values, and idiosyncrasies in order to value other people, cultures, and ideas.

Discovering your purpose doesn't have to be complicated. Look at what you do and why you do it. Is it to support your family? That's your purpose. Is it to make a difference in your customer's life? That's your purpose.