Previous Review: The Founder

 

McDonalds, McDonalds, McDonalds, what a success! Well, all credits go to a man named Ray Kroc.

 

In the mid 1950’s, after numerous attempts to sell milkshakes to restaurants, Ray Kroc suddenly got introduced to a well performing California Hamburger Stall that was getting a lot of attraction from customers. He later was able to convince its owners to franchise it and was able to turn it into the Godzilla of fast food brands. Throughout the movie, Ray Kroc stumbles upon many challenges and debates with the owners but always manages to overcome them given his supreme persistence behavior. As the franchise grows bigger, he gets greedier yet more persistent and clever. Eventually, he went on to becoming the founder of the biggest fast food restaurant in the world.

 

This movie/documentary offers amazing insights into the world of franchising and the challenges that come with it in terms of competition, sales and creativity. One of the concepts showcased in the movie and emphasized upon is the importance of evolving and changing in business. Ray Croc who started as a partner and franchisee of the Mcdonald’s brand was always an enthusiast of adding new ideas, products, innovations and services. Whereas, the McDonald’s brothers (The Founders) were satisfied with the status quo and against any idea proposed to enhance the business and innovate on the products and service. We all know that businesses that fail to change and innovate die one way or another for change is the only constant.

Another concept of importance was the value of customer service and satisfaction, Mcdonald’s was one of the innovators in terms of Total Quality Management. This was mainly through the way the kitchen was designed, the division of labor inside the kitchen and the speedy service to the customers who by the way got their food by waitresses to their cars.

This bright, absorbing biopic – in a very real sense, a monster movie – sets out how he did it. It’s eye-opening, well-acted, and darkly entertaining.

 

 

 

Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.   “Napoleon Hill”

Family Business in a Nutshell

Picking a career is a struggle that we have all went through, and having the opportunity to work for a business owned by a family member does not make the struggle any easier. By the time I was getting done with school, the most common question among every group of friends was your career choice. Every time someone asked me what I was planning to do, I smirked and said that I’m planning to work for my dad, selling construction materials. At the time I thought working for your parents meant waking up when you have gotten enough sleep, and going to bed right after you’re done with whatever nonsense you were doing; regardless if it is doing you any good or not.

College years passed quickly, and even though I had already decided that I’m going to be working with my parents, I did pretty well. A few decimal points away from distinction while double majoring in Accounting and Finance is not bad after all. I was very excited to start my career to the point where I was ready to submit a petition allowing me to take 22 credits during my final semester in order to graduate alongside all of my friends and finally start working. Who doesn’t want that right?

I wouldn’t have, had I known what working for your own establishment and having huge plans meant. It has been two years since I started my career and it was very far from my expectations. Having your own establishment does not mean waking up whenever you want, at least not if you want to go bankrupt soon, and it definitely doesn’t mean going to bed late at night. It didn’t take me long to learn that, and I started working real hard shortly after entering the industry. My alarm is set at 5:30 am every single day and my bed time is rarely before 12 – 1 am. But I have Saturday and Sunday to myself right? Absolutely not! One of our secrets is that Saturdays and Sundays are no different than other days of the week. Fatigue becomes your companion and coffee your only friend. You could see your social life deteriorate in front of your eyes because eventually your friends give up on asking you to go out every single night, and your associates become your friends.

As worn out as I may sound, if I get the chance to go back I’d do it again and again. I couldn’t imagine having to wake up in the morning and not do what I have grown used to do every single morning.