John Mousseau was perusing LinkedIn when he discovered The Alternative Board® in April 2019. “I hit a button, thinking nothing, and I got a call from them the next day,’’ he said. By Patty Horansky
John Mousseau was perusing LinkedIn when he discovered The Alternative Board® in April 2019.
“I hit a button, thinking nothing, and I got a call from them the next day,’’ he said.
The Alternative Board, or TAB, is the world’s largest franchise system that provides peer advisory boards and coaching to nearly 30,000 business owners worldwide.
Founded in 1990, TAB brings together small- to medium-sized privately-owned companies for an exchange of ideas, experiences and information they otherwise could not access in-house.
With more than 25 years in marketing and operations, from Fortune 500 companies to startups, and his own marketing consultancy in Red Bank, New Jersey, Mousseau’s interest was piqued.
As he explored TAB further, he saw an opportunity to provide small businesses with another important tool. “Marketing planning starts with business objectives,” he explained. “Most of my clients didn’t have business objectives.”
Using the analogy of a bicycle, he said the back wheel is like the company vision, which should be driving the personal vision and not the other way around.
Mousseau then put his consultancy firm on hold and launched The Alternative Board Jersey Shore North.
As a certified peer advisory board facilitator and coach, Mousseau is building his future, and that of his 30-plus members, through monthly board meetings, individual coaching and business planning.
TAB members subscribe monthly to participate, with an average stay of five years. “Having the recurring revenue model was really important,” Mousseau said.
TAB’s franchise model was another draw. “When you apply for a franchise, you get lots of support,” he said. TAB training includes online work, a week at corporate in Denver, and a mentor and accountability coach.
TAB helps owners with everything from an initial launch campaign and field training to setting up a LinkedIn page. “They have a proven system of tools, protocols and a script in place,” Mousseau said. “That was invaluable to me.”
Moreover, he is building an asset – a business he would like to sell in five to seven years, with a goal of joining TAB corporate.
“The community with all the TAB owners, as well as corporate, is fantastic,” he said. “It’s been even better than I expected.”
Patty Horansky