Entrepreneur and advisor Franne “FranneTastic” McNeal reflects on the foundations that shaped her—curiosity, courage, and learning. She shares how those roots continue to guide her definition of success, her habits, and the legacy she hopes to leave.
Building a Life That Matches the Dream
When You Think About a Life That You Love, What Does It Look Like for You?
Now that I’ve worked a lot with construction folks, I think about the terms build, frames, frameworks, and blueprints. Creating the life I want is largely based on the foundation I had.
When I think about my parents, my mother came from a very large family, one of 13 children and the only one to go to college, while my father was the oldest of three. Both of them deeply valued education and the concept of learning and applying that learning. They believed that once you learned something, no one could take it away from you.
Being the oldest of four girls, I often wanted to share what I learned and maybe tell my sisters what to do. Their response was always, “We don’t have to listen to you. You’re not the boss. You’re not the mother.”
Living the life I want means being able to learn, give, and share, and to do so in an environment where it’s appreciated. When it’s appreciated, there’s usually a need being met, and that allows me to learn from others too. In many ways, the life I have now reflects that foundation.
Success Means Freedom, Not Titles
How Do You Define Success Today?
Let’s start with what isn’t success. At one point in my life, the corporate definition mattered most. I wanted the title.
When I graduated from college and entered a management training program at SmithKline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline), the president at the time was an American history major from Princeton. I thought, I’m an American history major from Princeton too. One day, I’ll be president.
At 21, I believed that was true. It wasn’t. Within two years, I was out of the company. My manager told me, “Someday, you’re going to be an entrepreneur.” He meant it as an insult but I found it interesting.
To me, success is the opportunity to be in positive spaces, to bring in grace, to leave baggage behind, and to enjoy what’s around me. And to whatever degree I can, to make a positive impact.
I think about the thumbprint cookie—it’s just dough, but a little bit of pressure creates an indentation. You fill it with jam, and as it bakes, the sugar crystallizes, making it brighter and sweeter. Each of us has the chance, every day, to make that kind of thumbprint, to leave a mark that allows something good to fill the space and make life sweeter for someone else.
That’s success. Some days, you dance as if no one’s watching. Some days, no one will notice. It won’t show up in your bank account or your 401(k). But it still matters.
The Gift of Listening and Being Present
What Habits Help You Show Up and Do the Work You Do?
My first habit is being curious and asking questions. I’ve been curious since I was young.
Once, while walking the streets of Portland, Oregon, I noticed small businesses and wanted to know—why this business? How did it start? Why these products? What really sells? How do you work here?
In one nail salon, I learned that the current owner had bought it from another woman, who had purchased it from someone else in the community. That kind of curiosity, asking why, how, and what, teaches you so much.
“Tell me more” is one of my favorite phrases. People will always tell you more, and through that, you learn not only about them but about life itself.
For me, curiosity is a habit. Asking questions is a habit. Listening is a habit. And so is appreciating the gift of being alive.
Fighting the Inner Voice That Says “You Can’t”
What Holds Women Back from Opportunities?
What holds women back from opportunities is the voice inside their head.
That inner voice is shaped by whoever raised them, by social norms, and by fear: I can’t, I shouldn’t, I’ll be judged, I’m supposed to.
In my life, I’ve operated in three “zones.” One is as a girl or woman, with the expectations that come with that. I went to a private girls’ school where the message was clear: we were strong, smart, and capable leaders. I entered life with that mindset.
I’m also a Black woman. Often, unless I look in the mirror, I don’t think about that. But others see it, and their perceptions shape how they interact with me.
The third zone isn’t about gender or race but about being that curious kid. Across all three zones, what I believe is this: everything is possible.
It’s usually the world around me that creates limits. That’s why I surround myself with confident women who are doing the things I aspire to do, and with younger people who see life as full of possibilities.
Now, as I spend more time with my father and older folks, I see freedom in their perspective too.
Women are held back by that inner voice and by the lack of tangible, economic support for the many responsibilities they carry. When you give so much to others, your energy runs low. Balancing that is hard.
Leaving a Legacy of Love, Courage, and Possibility
What Legacy Do You Hope to Leave?
My legacy is to encourage others to live with curiosity and courage, to see life through the lens of possibilities, to ask questions, to be grateful, and to truly listen.
Even small actions can create big waves.
In my work with entrepreneurs, if I can help someone shift their perception of what’s possible, or open up to curiosity and support, that’s a big wave. Every entrepreneur, even a solopreneur, impacts others.
If, by being myself, I can inspire others to do the same, then that’s the legacy I want to leave behind.
About Franne McNeal
Franne “FranneTastic” McNeal has helped 886 small business owners generate 15,000 jobs and nearly $11B. As President and Value Builder Advisor she helps business owners increase their company value by 71%, whether they want to grow, scale or sell.
