The Messenger On Delta's Dinner Flight!
My favorite flight from Dallas was …
?????Delta’s Dinner Flight.
I was ready for a relaxing flight home for a few days.?
We had opened two of the six new restaurants scheduled for 1972.?By the end of the year, we would reach our goal, a grand total of seventeen Chick-fil-A mall restaurants.
The seats were comfortable and widely spaced, even on coach, where I always traveled.?
Delta’s dinner meal on this flight was excellent!?In those days the coach meals were better than anything you get today in First Class.
A friendly, smiling elderly lady sat down beside me.?
Always, I carried a book and read on my many airplane flights.?Of course, it was impossible to read and eat at the same time.?
It was obvious that I would not read much on this flight.?The elderly lady wanted to talk.
Soon we were having a pleasant and enjoyable chat.?
She was from Corpus Christi.?Two years before, I had been there with my family to open our first restaurant in Texas.?Yes, we were there when Hurricane Celia hit the day before we were to open.
She was a member of The First Christian Church.?Yes, my family and I had attended worship services at her church. We had been in Corpus Christi several weeks preparing to open the restaurant in Padre Staples Mall.
I asked her if she knew our Chick-fil-A Operator.?He had told me last year that he his family had transferred their membership to her church.?Yes, she knew them.
“We certainly are sorry that they have moved out of town.” she said.??I replied, “The Operator told me he was moving.?It is just to another subdivision there in Corpus Christi.”
“No, they have moved to Austin.” she said firmly. “You must be mistaken,”?was my firm reply.
“I’m not mistaken.?We gave them a Bon Voyage Party at the church.” She described the party in detail.
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I was stunned!?
And … speechless!
I really liked that Operator and his wife and his family.?I had been very pleased to have recruited him as the Operator.
I had … trusted him!
When the plane landed in Atlanta, first I bought a ticket for the next morning to Corpus Christi.?Next, I called Truett Cathy to tell him I would be leaving on the earliest flight the next morning.
Then, I told him about …
???????The Messenger on Delta’s Dinner Flight!
How do I know …?
??????The Lord called me …
?????????????to help Truett Cathy build Chick-fil-A?
Now ... you know.?
Watch for more of the story.
--- Jimmy Collins?
Like ideas for your stories? My latest book?Jimmy’s Stories?is available on Amazon: https://a.co/5wfFRaKThe Messenger On Delta’s Dinner Flight!The Messenger On Delta’s Dinner Flight!The
Career advancing principles are in my book,?Creative Followership. Available on Amazon: https://a.co/gu8jeFE
Head of Operations @ AquaSonic Car Wash | Leading #AmericasSmartestCarWash
2 年Great story Jimmy.
Executive Coach and Director of Business Development
2 年And then you have Rex a chance, right?
DNJETC
2 年Being a Chick-fil-A Operstor is an honor, very rewarding and extremely difficult to obtain.....I know, I tried in 2016 and flunked after the first interview! Can't imagine what could have caused that Operator to resign. The business you and Truett created is The shining star of fast food in every respect!
Assistant Manager at Jason’s Deli - Beaumont
2 年Probably a bittersweet moment knowing that God had confirmed his calling in your life, but also knowing the conversation you were about to have to have.
?? Advises and coaches small business owners ($250k - $25M) to sell their business confidentially. Serves others with valuation resources, marketing and advice to reach towards their next venture.
2 年An amazing story. It pays to be prepared with your book, but it also pays to listen to those God orchestrated interactions!