Lessons from THE FOUNDER - Risk taker, Rule breaker, Change maker

Recently, I joined a group coaching program organized by Juliet OKENE . It's a coaching program intended to help career professionals become careerpreneurs. The word careerpreneur is a coined word used to describe 9 to 5ers or employees who run side businesses.?

Unlike any other program where learning is done primarily by listening to a teacher speak and taking notes, this program also incorporates what I call “learning by observing, thinking and doing”.?

In fact, one of the first assignments given in the program was for us to watch a movie and note the life, business, relationship and leadership lessons within it. The movie is THE FOUNDER, and it’s a story about the birth, growth and expansion of McDonald’s.

The main characters were Ray Kroc (who eventually owned McDonald’s) and the two brothers who originally started the McDonald’s restaurant.?

Having seen the movie and noted the lessons, below are the lessons I learned from the movie. Consider it my Friday/”Enjoy your weekend” gift to you

Business lessons:?

Focus on what sells, eliminate “waste and wait” even if it means reorganizing your entire operations. "A symphony of efficiency, not a waste of motions." - that’s the mindset!

If one approach fails, try a different one and another until it works. The keyword is Persistence

Think value. Think solution! Always ask, “What can I offer to help others expand/increase their revenue?”

By all means hire a good lawyer to draft/read your contracts before signing a deal.?

If you make a bad deal, just renegotiate. Likewise, hire a professional and intelligent accountant. Delegating your business finance to a secretary isn't sufficient.?

Sell by demonstration. Talk is cheap.?

Offer something that lowers cost and increases efficiency - it's the formula for an irresistible offer. Why go for fresh milk when you can get a Insta-Milk shake that can save you time and money?

Ultimately, you’ve got to answer the question, “What business are you really in?”

If you can, own the land & lease it. It becomes a steady upfront revenue stream & greater capital for expansion.?

Excerpts from the movie

"Land, that's where the money is and more than that 'control'". This may include cutting off certain partnerships. "Fortune favours the bold."

Do you know? how to make a contract go away? It's gonna cost you.

"I came up with the concept of winning. I wonna take the future, I wonna win. And you don't get there by being some aw-shucks, nice-guy sap. There's no place in business for people like that. Business is war. It's dog eat dog, rat eat rat." I'm national. You're f**king local. That's brutal.

"It's not just the system Dick, it's the name. It could be anything you want it to be... It's like America."

Life lessons:?

Always practice your sales speech, prepare for possible resistance and tell your prospects what's in for them. Pay attention to what's not working or what you struggle with in your everyday life (like the delays with order delivery). They could be a pointer to the solution you can create.

Consistently listen to words that inspire you to take persistent action. "Speed, that's the name of the game". Stand out by being distinguished - The Golden Arches.?

Remember, it's okay to ask for help. In fact, normalize asking for help.

Sometimes, you've got to put aside your ideal and listen with an open mind to other people's ideas - especially if your ideals haven't gotten you anywhere the last time you checked. So far you aren't internationally harming or deceiving someone, you are good to go.?

Do not disregard red flags. One of the McDonald’s brothers noted Ray was a "hot head", but the other disregarded it.?

In the end, "Good things come to those who wait."

Career lessons:?

Stay on your path.?

Ray was and is always a salesman.?

That's his core strength, and he developed expertise in that by docking on doors year after year selling different products.

Relationship lessons:?

"I want to hear your story".?

One way to start up a relationship and allow people to open up is by asking to hear their story. Sometimes, the people who love us the most are often the ones with a tendency to shut down our crazy ideas - perhaps out of protecting us.?

However, we've got to also prioritize our relationships, so we don't lose them in the pursuit of career or business success. It takes wisdom.?

When others are laughing at your business idea, have someone in your corner who believes in you, someone who can back your claim (For Ray, it was his wife at the club) & help you get the "tell us more".?

It's a good thing to discuss major decisions with your partner before making them - like cutting off your mutual friends or mortgaging your home for business funding.?

Sometimes, you've got to change your circle and go where you can find those who are hungry for success.?

Lastly, you tend to start falling in love with the people you talk to and spend more time with. So, stay in love with your partner by spending time together. This would ensure you don't drift apart slowly.

Leadership lessons:?

Inspire people to believe and find what can motivate them to take action.?

In the words of Ray:

"Do it for your country!"?

"Donald's is family".

“McDonald’s will be the new American church, feeding bodies and souls, opened 7-Days a week.” Model your business like the church, one that meets an endless need or play “The infinite game”? words of Simon Sinek.??

You've got to be able to disagree with others firmly - hanging up the phone if necessary (use cautiously,lol). Ray was fond of doing this.?

Notice employees that do an excellent job at work.?

Ray had a thing for recognizing talents everywhere and anywhere.?

Don’t just sell a product or offer a service.?

Sell a dream

Sell an opportunity to move forward, to advance, to win, to step up, to succeed.?

Sell family/community.?

So ask yourself, “What dream is my business selling?”

Finally, you need people. You need partners to do great things. There are no self-made successes in life.

In summary,

One word, persistence.

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On!' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” ― Calvin Coolidge

P.S. I like the way Ray says "Nope!". He is so good at saying no.