Tiger was always the traditional business owner. For years he had managed the same business, nearly the same employees and did things the traditional way. But right outside his door there were new businesses coming in that didn’t want any part of the traditional life he had built in his business. They were unique and creative. Tiger, he thought, needed to be like these business minds if he ever wanted to get a paw up on things. Over the next few months he completely broke out of his mold and started to tweak his business from traditional to exceptional.
Lesson: This lesson is inspired by the Rescue a CEO Post “Business Owners Reveal How They Think Outside the Box in Business“
Gresham W. Harkless Jr.https://iamgresh.comGresham W. Harkless Jr.
Franchise Broker & Entrepreneur | Founder, Blue Star Franchise
Helping founders and aspiring owners find franchise opportunities that match their purpose, finances, and lifestyle. Host of the I AM CEO Podcast with more than 1,600 interviews.
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About Gresham W. Harkless Jr.
Gresham W. Harkless Jr. is a seasoned entrepreneur and franchise broker based in the Washington, D.C. metro area. As founder of Blue Star Franchise, he helps aspiring and established business owners discover franchise opportunities aligned with their goals, skills, and long-term vision.
With over 15 years of experience in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and business development, Gresham brings a consultative, client-first approach to franchise matching. Through his media company, Blue 16 Media, and the I AM CEO Podcast, which has featured more than 1,600 interviews, he has worked with hundreds of CEOs, founders, and small business owners to accelerate growth and build scalable business models.
His mission is simple: to help people “run their race” by finding franchise opportunities that align with their purpose, skills, and lifestyle.
Credentials & Affiliations
Certified Franchise Broker - Franchise Broker Association (FBA)
Founder - Blue Star Franchise
Founder - Blue 16 Media
Host - I AM CEO Podcast (1,600+ episodes)
Featured in 50+ Black Marketers on the Rise & Influencer & Media Innovators (2022)
B.S., Business Administration - Howard University
How Gresham Helps
Franchise discovery & matching consultations
Franchise investment and financial fit analysis
Franchise development guidance & onboarding support
Speaking engagements & media interviews
Business growth advisory through Blue 16 Media
I AM CEO Podcast
With more than 1,600 episodes, the I AM CEO Podcast features conversations with founders, franchise owners, authors, and business leaders.
Gresham shares real, actionable insights to help entrepreneurs grow, scale, and lead.
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Contact & Bookings
Email: gresham@bluestarfranchise.com
For franchise inquiries, speaking engagements, or media interviews, send an email or use the consultation link.
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Connect with Gresham
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluestarfranchise
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bluestarfran
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BlueStarFranchise
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bluestarfranchise
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@bluestarfranchise
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bluestarfranchise
