Executive Summary
As we enter the 21st century, the world is full of opportunities for entrepreneurs. The opportunity is what many entrepreneurs chase after. Just the idea of starting a business excited them. Entrepreneurs are people who have characteristics of a high need for achievement, a willingness to take moderate risk, strong self-confidence, and a passion for the business. We all question what is the best age for getting started. There is really no simple answer to that question. Most businesses require some background knowledge. A certain amount of time is usually required to gain the education, experience, and financial resources of starting a business. According to the textbook “Small Business Management” by Longenecker, Moore, and Petty, research conducted by Paul Reynolds reveals that the highest percentage of startups is in age group of 25 to 35 years old; Truett Cathy was a natural entrepreneur at the age of 8.
In this context is a quick overview of Samuel Truett Cathy’s life as a child, experiences as an adult, education and training, personality characteristics, and entrepreneurial activities.
Introduction
Have you ever wondered what it takes to be successful? Some people are not born into success or wealth. Many successful entrepreneurs had a vision they turned into reality. Samuel Truett Cathy is one prime example of a man who lived out his convictions. An inventor of the beast-of-chicken sandwich, mall counter service in the days before food courts and Sunday closing as a policy, Truett Cathy celebrated his 80th birthday in 2001. Many might think of him as a true modern-day role model and hero. Some sees him as the Chick-fil-a man. From his book “It’s Easier to Succeed than to Fail”, Cathy represented a real-life case history showing that a determined and energetic entrepreneur can overcome anything. Cathy stated, “ The secret to success is not secret at all. It is very obvious, but we are too often blinded to the truth.” (Cathy, p. 191)
Background
Samuel Truett Cathy, born in 1921, is founder and chairman of Chick-fil-A, Inc. Cathy started the business in 1946 when he and his brother, Ben, opened an Atlanta diner known as the Dwarf Grill (later named Dwarf House). Today, Chick-fil-A is the third-largest quick-service chicken restaurant company in the United States...
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...sion, and dedication are the essential ingredients to a fruitful life. Reading the book, “It’s Easier to Succeed than to Fail,” touched my heart. The book was written very simple and from the heart. It contained valuable lessons and inspirational challenges that will inspire young and old people to strive for the very best. I love the book. It is truly a must read book. I highly recommend the book. It will make you glad to be in a world with people like Truett Cathy.
Conclusion
Truett Cathy not only presides over one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains known as Chick-fil-A in America, but he’s also a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather. It is evident that through WinShape Centre Foundation, WinShape Homes, and Camp WinShape he has always had a special place in his heart for young people. He has been a role model to many thirteen-year olds boys he has taught in Sunday school. Through the years Truett and his wife Jeannette have been surrogate parents and big brother and sister to many. He has helped many young people to prepare themselves for leadership in the world. Truett Cathy has been an inspiration to many people he has touched.
In 1946 two brothers, Ben and Truitt Cathy, opened a diner in Atlanta Georgia called the Dwarf House Grill. The Dwarf House served a variety of typical grill food that included everything from burgers to hot dogs. All of that changed in 1961 when a poultry supplier stopped buy and sold Mr. Cathy chicken breast that were too large for the trays that they typically cooked the chicken on. Truitt Cathy decided that he did not want to throw out the chicken so he breaded the chicken and put it in the pressure fryer. He realized that he could cook the chicken in the same amount of time that it took to cook a hamburger and it tasted great. He had hamburger buns and pickles in the restaurant already and this is how the first chicken sandwich was made. In 1967 the first Chick-Fil-A store was opened in Atlanta’s Greenbrier Shopping Center and in 1986 the first freestanding franchise was opened. Today there are more than one thousand seven hundred Chick-Fil-A restaurants in thirty nine states. One of the ways that Chick-Fil-A has been able to make their company a success is through their unique approach to customer service. They are able to provide excellent customer service by turning individuals into team players. Teams can be seen in the hiring process, community involvement, national sponsorship, knowing what customers want, and cooperate culture. All of these different teams lead to excellence in customer service.
He first focused on recruiting for the culture and how it is important for Chick-fil-A to select not only the best talent, but the best fit for the company. Chick-fil-A processes their selection based off of three C’s: character, competency, and chemistry. Kruse then focuses on how Chick-fil-A nurtures the talent that they have selected by telling them the truth when it comes to performance, expectations, and other things of that sort. The final point is about how Chick-fil-A engages their guests in their unique culture. Kruse (2015) states that Chick-fil-A wants customers and any guest that walks through the restaurant’s doors to be “treated with honor, dignity, and
That exact statement makes me or any reader feel that failure doesn’t always have to be perceived to be negative. Failure can improve personal growth. We are always scared out the outcome failure will bring, but that is the silver lining for our personal growth. If we concentrate more on the effort we put into a certain task, we can grow by the steps we take along the way. Anyone can succeed, no matter their
Chick-fil-A has become a very successful company throughout its history till today. Many different events have occurred throughout the history of Chick-fil-A. The owner of the first Chick-fil-A, Truett Cathy, opened his restaurant in Hapeville, GA in 1946. Later on the first Chick-fil-A acquired the nickname the Dwarf House. Later on Truett Cathy invented the first chicken sandwich by using a pressure cooker to cook a boneless chicken breast as fast as a burger. This simple process began the famous Chick-fli-A chicken sandwich. Chick-fil-A’s overall mission has always been and continues to be “Be America’s Best Quick Service Restaurant.” Chick-fil-A has been quite successful in living by and fulfilling this simple but effective mission. In
...ew from Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy's desire to "shape winners" by helping young people succeed in life. Today, the foundation provides several programs focused on creating strong youth through leadership programs and supporting families and enriching marriages (O'Connor).
Johns-Treat, C. V. (1994). More than ever, companies need visionary leaders and highly motivated workers. The Business Journal, V11 n40, p 19. City Business/USA Inc.
The biggest downfall of Chick-fil-A is the fact that on Sundays they are never open. Chick-fil-A is family owned restaurant built on Christian beliefs that discontinues all business operations on Sundays. Others suggests that the fact that Chick-fil-A reserves a day out of the week for religious purposes over the temptations of monetary value is rare in the food industry and therefore is highly respected. Chick-fil-A has maintained its moral values that people have learned to appreciate, even though some groups boycott the practice. Chick-fil-A continues to dominate sales beyond other fast-food restaurants even while only operating 6 days a week. Chick-fil-A chicken is so great tasting that they have had record breaking sales. According to Business Insider, Peterson H. argued that “The fried chicken chain generates more revenue per restaurant than any other fast food chain in the US,” (Peterson, 2015). Chick-fil-A food chain has even surpassed the sales of KFC and
Truett Cathy was a devout Southern Baptist; his religious beliefs had a major impact on the company. Chick Fil A’s corporate purpose is “To glorify God by being a Faithful Steward of
In the book “Think and Grow Rich,” the author, Napoleon Hill, provides a set of principles that he calls the key to financial success. The idea at the center of these principles is that one becomes what he or she frequently thinks about, in this case success (i.e. rich). Hill lays out a method he created to translate one’s thoughts into reality, creating an insatiable hunger and drive within an individual to succeed. Using the examples of his son and some of America’s legendary iconic business leaders, of which Hill studied and interviewed, including Edwin C. Barnes, he demonstrates that anything one puts his or her mind to can be produced and conceived.
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