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Q/ You founded your business in 1946 with the Dwarf Grill, but it wasn’t until many years later that you invented the Chick-fil-A sandwich.
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When people say, “Look how much money you lose by being closed on Sunday,” I answer, “You’re wrong, because we generate more sales in six days than our competition does in seven.” I don’t condemn businesses that are open on Sunday, but it’s just not for me. People are responsive to this-they may not attend church, but they appreciate that we stick to our convictions. Our Sunday policy has been a great advantage in attracting the caliber of people whom we like to attract.
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We worked 24 hours a day, six days a week, so it was easy to decide to be closed on Sunday. It was easy to make that decision, because our first restaurant, the Dwarf Grill, was a small place with four tables and chairs and 10 stools at the counter. At the time I did it because I was in the habit of going to Sunday school and church and being with my family. Q/ You’ve put your faith into practice with your policy of being closed on Sunday, a big business day for fast-food chains.Ī/ That’s a decision we made 56 years ago, and it’s probably the best business decision we ever made. It’s a constant reminder to me of how I need to conduct myself each day. We inscribed that motto on a large plaque and placed it outside the entrance of the building. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.” In 1982, when we moved into our current headquarters, I called a meeting of our executive committee to ask ourselves some important questions: “Why are we here?” “Why are we in business?” “What is our corporate purpose?” We established the purpose that drives our company: “To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. We believe that God is glorified in the service that we render. A lot of people come out to eat who aren’t even hungry they’re just looking for a pleasant experience.
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I believe that being in the restaurant business is an opportunity to serve people-their physical and emotional needs, and sometimes their spiritual needs.
Chick fil a bible verse on sanwich how to#
In the Scriptures we learn how to handle our businesses, how to give customers good service and how to treat employees. I say, “Not at all, but we ask that you make your business decisions based on biblical principles.” There seem to be no conflicts when we tell people of various faiths how important it is to stick to the Scriptures in business decisions. Q/ How have you been able to integrate faith and business at Chick-fil-A?Ī/ Sometimes people ask if they have to be a Christian to work at Chick-fil-A. What we say is important, but what we do is more important. It’s not something that you just have and that you keep automatically.” I said, “A reputation is something that you have to earn every day. One boy asked, “Suppose you already have a good reputation?” I teach Sunday school, and one time I asked my class, “How many of you would like to have one million dollars?” All hands went up! Then I said, “Let me tell you something better than that-to protect your reputation, to establish a good name and to be consistent about it.” A person can have a pleasant experience in a restaurant 50 times, be disappointed once and never go back.
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Doing that, I believe, has been paying dividends for me even now, because in the restaurant business we have to do things right each and every time, not just sometimes. I’m always conscious of keeping my name in good order. With help from my mom, I selected Proverbs 22:1. Students were required to bring a Bible verse to homeroom on Monday mornings, and one student’s verse would be selected as the verse for the week. Why did you select that particular passage?Ī/ I memorized that verse, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,”(1) in elementary school-which was a public school. Q/ I understand that since childhood you have used Proverbs 22:1 as your life verse. Read an interview that first appeared in the October 2002 issue of Decision Magazine. Truett Cathy, founder and chairman of Chick-fil-A, Inc., believes that business people can be honest and successful at the same time. Truett Cathy's faith impacts every part of his life, including his business decisions.
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