WOBURN, MA -- (Marketwire) -- 01/14/13 -- Leadership is an elusive quality. Some people say that leaders have to be born, and you can't teach leadership. Others say that leadership is a skill that a person learns throughout life and they are not, in fact, born with it. Regardless of where you believe leadership derives from, there are certain traits that leaders display, and, it could be coincidence, but these are the same traits that College Pro Painters strives to teach its franchise managers.

College Pro Painters is the largest student-run painting business in North America. They have a tried and true system that produces results. Their internship program involves running a franchise from the ground up. This is NOT your average summer internship. Students will gain skills that can be attained in few other places at such a young age. College Pro is for the hardest working and career-oriented students out there. The training and support that student entrepreneurs receive is year round, and develops students into leaders. When the summer painting season comes around, the students own and operate their own painting business.

CNN.com published a CareerBuilder.com article called "23 traits of good leaders." It is interesting to note that the traits listed in the article are all traits that a successful franchise manager possesses or learns during the course of their time at the College Pro Painters franchise opportunity. In the article, Vice President of media relations at public relations agency JCPR, Rachael Fisher-Layne, states that her number one quality in a leader is, "Honesty. Always do the honest thing. It makes employees feel like they know where they stand with you at all times." Honesty is a tenet of the College Pro franchise opportunity. Student entrepreneurs need to be able to conduct all aspects of their business with integrity. Everything from dealing with customers to handling employees requires being genuine.

The article had contributions from a number of high profile business executives and authors. One such author, Nancy Clark, who wrote, "18 Holes for Leadership," opines that leaders, "Leverage team strengths. Part of awareness is 'don't expect people to change.' If you think you can change someone, think again. This doesn't mean you can't help them grow and develop. But don't expect to change anyone (even yourself) behaviorally. We are who we are. Your job as a leader is to understand each person's strengths and place them in positions where they can flourish and grow. If you're good at that, you have a huge part of the equation for success."Student entrepreneurs in the College Pro Painters franchise manager program are groomed into leaders. Their training and their work demands it of them.

The franchise manager program isn't for everyone, but those who have the perseverance and the tenacity for it can go on to accomplish amazing feats. College Pro alumni have gone on to build their own businesses and rise to the top of existing companies. Jeff Wall, for example, is a graduate of the College Pro Painters franchise manager program, and he took the leadership skills that he learned with College Pro to help him now run one of the largest handyman franchises in North America, Handyman Connection.

When you work with College Pro Painters, doors that would be closed to most graduates will be flung open for you. The leadership skills you learn with College Pro will stay with you for life. It's not your average internship, but, then again, you aren't the average student.

About College Pro Painters:
In business for 40 years, College Pro is a North American student painting and window cleaning company that offers residential painting and window cleaning services during summer months in local communities. Student franchise managers and general managers have participated in charity events and donated services equating to over $900,000 to improve community spaces and housing in underprivileged areas across Canada and the United States. The company's core purpose, 'together, realizing potentials,' uniquely mentors and challenges students to become successful community and business leaders.

Find College Pro Online

http://collegepro.com/

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