Truett Cathy was a natural born entrepreneur. Purchasing six-packs of coca-cola as an eight-year-old, loading them onto a little red wooden wagon, he circled his neighborhood providing convenience to his neighbors and made a nickel on every six-pack sold. As a teenager, he was an award winning Atlanta Journal paperboy with his own route. It wasn’t rocket science to this young man that customer service was the key ingredient to success.
He and his brother opened the Dwarf Grill in Hapeville, Georgia, just across the street from the Ford plant and the Atlanta Airport. From the beginning, their personal Christian values dictated the diner would be closed on Sunday, so that their employees could spend time with their families and worship. Although his brother Ben died in a plane crash a few years later, Mr. Cathy’s innate business sense kept the diner going strong.
A discussion with a poultry distributor, helped Mr. Cathy produce the first boneless chicken sandwich at the renamed Dwarf House in 1964. As a child growing up in East Point, GA, just 2 miles away, I had my very first Chick-fil-A, at his original location the year that first year it was sold and although my family rarely ate out, I remember to this day going to eat there with my daddy to try this new sandwich.
Just a few years later, in 1967, the very first mall location opened at Greenbriar Mall just off Lakewood Freeway. Even though we had moved to the very rural area of Henry County by then, that was still our closest mall. Even though I had eaten fast food at the McDonald’s in East Point before moving to the country, my first mall food was the tasty Chick-fil-A.
In high school, living in Clayton County, with no free standing Chick-fil-A or mall close-by, Krystal was our fast food staple. Although, we weren’t supposed to leave campus, we often rushed out during lunch where we could get 1 Krystal and 1 fry with our lunch money, but I digress.
With the passing of Truett Cathy yesterday, my own reminiscing of Chick-fil-A meals is perhaps very similar to other Atlantans of the 60s and 70s.
I was raised in a Christian household, of the Baptist faith, and those values which Mr. Cathy holds are the same values I was raised on, as most of my generation in Atlanta were. In contrast, I was afforded a broad range liberal exposure, after settling into the melting pot of Central Florida during my late teen years.
Although, many don’t, I continue to stand behind and patronize Chick-fil-A as a company. In fact, unless a dire circumstance, it is the ONLY fast food I consume.
Why? Truett Cathy remained true to his beliefs. He treated his employees well. Although controversial, in hiring practices of franchise managers, he made sure those he hired were a true fit for his business model. If I am in the drive-thru line too long, I get an apology and a coupon card for free food. I am always made to feel that my business is appreciated. I’m not concerned about quality, it is consistent. I am always greeted with a smile and pleasantries no matter which location; that speaks volumes to me.
“Truett Cathy and Chick-fil-A are wonderful examples of what’s good about America and our free enterprise system.” -Ken Blanchard, Co-Author (with Truett Cathy), The Generosity Factor
Think about it, the more government proceeds to dictate to businesses the less of a democratic Nation and free enterprise system we become. Now before you get your panties in a wad over that statement, think about that. If you are a LGBT business, do you want the government telling you that you must hire very conservative, anti-LGBT as managers of your business? I doubt it; it goes against your values, and you would feel that your business model would be compromised and at risk. I believe you have every right to choose who you want to represent your company.
“Through his passion for people (especially children), and his boundless generosity matched only by his incredible energy, Truett continues to build a brand that extends far beyond his signature Chick-fil-A sandwich. His values-driven business practices serve as an inspiration for all of us.” – Ken Bernhardt,Regents Professor, Marketing Department Chair, and Taylor E. Little Jr. Professor of Marketing; Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University
I don’t see our lesson to learn about Mr. Cathy and his business as pro-gay or anti-gay. For me, my respect for Mr. Cathy is that he built his business model with a focus on customer service and his values. He stuck with his values throughout decades of change in our Country. He was philanthropic with his fortune, helping the less fortunate near and far. He hired and supported minorities and was good to all of his employees.
That said, I realize there are readers who oppose the conservative stance taken by Mr. Cathy, notably his statements and his company’s philanthropic foundations.
“This loyalty effect, the full range of economic and human benefits that accrue to leaders who treat their customers, Operators, and employees in a manner worthy of their loyalty, is at the core of most of the truly successful growth companies in the world today. And there is no clearer case study of the loyalty effect than Chick-fil-A.” – Fred Reichheld, Author, The Loyalty Effect and Loyalty Rules!
It is true this man stood up for and supported legislation of his belief that marriage should be only between a woman and a man. In my opinion, that is no different than the LGBT community also having the right to stand up for and support their beliefs. I would hold less respect for him if he would have let society dictate him to run his business opposed to his own values. Moreover, I feel the same way that a LGBT business owner can take his fortune and promote his lifestyle of choice as that same right is of course afforded to those of a more liberal stance.
“I believe no amount of business school training or work experience can teach what is ultimately a matter of personal character. Businesses are not dishonest or greedy, people are. Thus, a business, successful or not, is merely a reflection of the character of its leadership.” – Truett Cathy
Weather it is my Christian values and upbringing, my romanticizing as an Atlantan, or as an MBA my own appreciation of a sound business model, as I focus on the passing of Truett Cathy, I choose to honor him for the legacy he leaves:
- Sticking to his guns in keeping and his beliefs that his restaurants should remain closed on Sunday. This is proof in the pudding for me that he was a good man; he wanted the same for his employees as he did himself. He walked his talk. Revenue wasn’t his sole purpose.
- He was of generous heart and time, giving of himself to those who wanted to learn from him. He wanted to touch the lives of others in a way he felt most important, which was bring them closer to the Lord; he taught Sunday school for over 50 years.
- He never was disrespectful of others, he stated his beliefs in positive pro-family stance. He did not take a negative path against gays – therefore, his stance in my book wasn’t anti-gay, but pro-family.
- He was philanthropic in providing to those less fortunate and in need. He provided college scholarships to his own employees and young people in the community. However, he stressed hard work is the answer to success.
- Although controversial, he gave to the organizations that aligned with his values. Just as the LGBT community support their causes, he supported his, and that is admirable because he remained humble in his life, he was accountable when questioned about his support.
- He was also humble in realizing that he did not earn his fortune alone and always recognized those that enabled his success.
- He was not a greedy man. His decision to keep his company private as he realized he would not have to answer to shareholders who may force him to operate outside his own personal values. This again, shows that money wasn’t his dictator.
I could name many other attributes that made up the man of Truett Cathy.
“Nearly every moment of every day we have the opportunity to give something to someone else – our time, our love, our resources. I have always found more joy in giving when I did not expect anything in return.” – Truett Cathy
I only ask that if you are against Chick-fil-A and you read this post, I can leave you with some thoughts to ponder and perhaps offer a new light of appreciation for Mr. Cathy and his business model.
I think the important thing to learn from Tuett Cathy is to practice what you preach. Stand up for what you believe in, even when others disagree. This goes for the LGBT community as well. If this is your belief, stand by it. Be proud of it. Although Mr. Cathy had a different stance on this, his example is one you too can emulate.
If you are a reader of Christian faith and your values don’t allow you to accept the LGBT community, you should not be ashamed of your thoughts, or your decision - like Mr. Cathy, to stand up for your beliefs. Just realize that God gave us free will to live our own lives and we are instructed to love everyone regardless, just as Jesus did.
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