Have it YOUR way…at McDonalds…
Sometimes a story is so good, it often becomes so part of our culture or society, we hardly even notice…or perhaps even know or realize the significance of the WHOLE story. The story of brothers Richard James “Dick” McDonald and Maurice James “Mac” McDonald I believe is one such story…
Wikipedia reports the story of McDonald’s Corporation’s humble beginnings, yet amazingly innovative concept this way…
Originally from Manchester, New Hampshire, the McDonald brothers began franchising their restaurant chain in 1953, beginning in Phoenix, Arizona with Neil Fox. At first, they only franchised the system, rather than the name and atmosphere of their restaurant. It has been said that when Richard went to check on Fox, he was shocked to see an exact replica of his San Bernardino store, right down to the name "McDonald's". When he asked Fox why he had kept the same design and name, rather than calling the restaurant "Fox's," Fox said "Why change it? It's great as it is". From then on, the brothers started franchising the entire concept.
In 1954, Ray Kroc, who was a milkshake machine salesman at the time, became inspired by the evident financial success of the brothers' concept, immediately grasping the restaurants' enormous potential. He partnered with the brothers, and within a few years turned their small idea into the huge franchise that would become the McDonald's Corporation. The franchiser took only 1.9 percent of the gross sales, of which the McDonald brothers got 0.5 percent.
Kroc became frustrated with the brothers' desire to maintain only a small number of restaurants. In 1961, he purchased the company from the brothers for $2.7 million.
The agreement was a handshake agreement between the parties. Kroc insisted on a verbal agreement due to his desire to keep the full royalty price from the investors he had lined up to capitalize on his purchase.
Although Kroc turned McDonald's into a global giant, its guiding principles remained largely unchanged from those the McDonald brothers had developed in
I have to admit that even I had not dined at a McDonald’s restaurant for quite some time until TODAY when I was VERY pleasantly surprised and delighted after realizing my decision to purchase an Angus Mushroom and Swiss 1/3 pounder combo meal was PURE GENIOUS. And quite amazingly, my child-like wonderment did not end there either. As I began to take in the innovative array of desert displays (which effectively lured me to inquire about, and later INDULGE in an extremely delicious Frozen Strawberry Lemonade McCafe, of which FREE SAMPLES are offered EVERY FRIDAY currently), the amazingly FAST and FREE Wi-Fi, the KidZpace Interactive “Game Zone”, and the clean, spacious and very well designed environment, I realized this was a company that had made a decision some time ago to Hold On to what was important…Old Fashion Ingenuity, Hard-Work and Excellent Customer Service ....let SOME of the Old and Outdated Looks, Taste and Feel GO and embrace the NEW Demands, Needs and Preferences of Our Society, while strategically and simultaneously avoiding the alienation of one type of customer while attracting quite another…like me, for example.
It is my opinion that it is ONLY this type of company…this type of individual…that will Ultimately Survive…One that is willing to NEVER forget the principles, innovation and hard work OUR GREAT NATION was founded and built upon while being extremely proactive, diligent and insistant upon finding NEW, EFFECTIVE and MORE EFFICIENT ways to do things AND being ever mindful to NEVER get “stuck” in a rut, or MIND SET which blocks, stifles or destroys Creativity, Innovation or Growth…Because when this happens…DEATH soon follows…and we certainly do not Need or Want any more DEAD GIANTS…’cause not only do DEAD GIANTS lead to Canibalism, but also lead to a strong sense of insecurity, instability, and FEAR, which generally leads to to overall chaos, and completely irrational behavior.
Thank you McDonalds for making my day, and not only allowing me to have it MY way, but CHOOSING to REMAIN a Friendly Giant who has stoically, admirably and consistently demonstrated stability, passion, and innovation, not just “Yesterday”…but “TODAY”…
Dan Getz is a Blogger and Owner and Operator of Dance4One and More Green Consulting, both firms being committed to ACTIVELY CONNECTING Art and Creativity to Business through Faith. The Daily Blog at http://www.dance4one.blogspot.com/ focus’ on Econmoics, Politics, Relgion, Society and Every Day Life.
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