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Kelly Spann is an attorney and entrepreneur who owns and operates three distinct law firms: FortmanSpann (franchise law), TM Law and Associates (trademark and copyright), and True Estate Planning (estate planning and probate). Her expertise lies in franchise law, where she exclusively represents franchisees against franchisors in an industry she describes as having “zero regulation” despite being promoted as highly regulated. This episode explores her unconventional journey from pregnant teen to legal powerhouse, her strategic approach to building multiple businesses, and her refreshingly authentic leadership style that breaks every stereotype about what attorneys should look like and how they should operate.
This episode is essential listening for aspiring entrepreneurs, current business owners, legal professionals, and anyone considering franchise ownership. Listeners will learn the hidden realities of the franchise industry, discover why traditional business advice often fails, and understand the power of authentic leadership and strategic delegation. Most importantly, you’ll gain practical wisdom about pivoting through life’s challenges, the importance of asking for help, and how to build sustainable businesses by being genuinely yourself rather than trying to fit someone else’s mold—knowledge you can immediately apply to your own professional and entrepreneurial journeys.
Professional Background & Journey (02:42 – 36:50)
Business Strategy & Structure (07:10 – 08:35)
️ Franchise Law Expertise (02:42 – 01:01:20)
Client Philosophy & Approach (10:06 – 26:04)
Leadership & Management Principles (43:21 – 48:20)
Professional Insights & Advice (01:06:34 – 01:29:16)
Content Notice
This podcast and all She Lift Project content represents the opinions of Cynthia Kirkpatrick and her guests. The content here is for informational purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice – financial, legal, medical, or otherwise.
Views and opinions expressed in the podcast and across all She Lift Project media channels are our own and do not represent that of our places of work. While we make every effort to ensure that the information we are sharing is accurate, we welcome any comments, suggestions, or correction of errors.
“So I took some deep breaths. I walked out, and I was like, okay, meet a wallflower. Cause your best bet at a networking event is meet another person who’s just as terrified as you. Talk to them on the wall and just start chatting.”
“We often prevent ourselves from doing something that could affect change because we’re afraid of it or we think we need it to happen immediately. But this is like anything, you have to dip your toe into it…And it’s the most magical thing is when people start to make even just little investments. Oh, maybe I’ll add a few new pairs of shoes or maybe I’ll add a few tops here…Their shoulders go back, their body language changes, and that will then influence all the other goals that they have.”
“So many people come to us, and we’re like a mini vacation amongst the chaos of life, which is really cool. That wasn’t necessarily what I thought it was going to be, but to hear that I can drive five minutes and feel like I’m on vacation at a luxe resort. That’s amazing.”
“You gotta feed your own house first, your own four walls. And you can’t walk in, try to please everybody else. Cause you’re gonna walk out busy and broke.”
“I had shoved down that part of myself and that inner wisdom and intuition because I was so busy listening to, like, what the world wanted for me, what my family wanted for me, what success looked like that I couldn’t even hear my own voice anymore. And so it was coaching that really helped me rediscover that again. And for me, it was just totally transformative.”
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