The Secret Of Chick-fil-A
In 1946, a young cash-strapped entrepreneur by the name of Truett Cathy opened the Dwarf Grill. It was tiny! The restaurant consisted of ten counter seats and four tables.Cathy dedicated the business to God. As a part of this commitment the new owner refused to open up for business on Sundays. Over time Cathy honed skills, focused company efforts, and perfected the chicken sandwich. The Dwarf Grill became Chick-fil-A, the company that battles beefy burgers for fast food dollars.
Chick-fil-A’s annual sales topped $100 million by 1978. Then the tough times came. Recession hit, dining dollars dwindled, and the cost of chicken went up. For the first time in thirty years business declined.
Financial crisis loomed and Truett Cathy faced a dilemma: should he open his doors on Sundays? This simple move would add at least sixteen percent to revenues. Perhaps this was the way out of his financial fog.
The opportunity was enticing, but Cathy determined that he was going to honor his commitment to the Lord. He would stay closed on Sunday in the good times and the bad times. Was it a good decision? Today Chick-fil-A has more than 1480 locations with over three billion dollars in annual sales. Truett Cathy is living proof of God’s counsel in the book of Proverbs:
“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. ”
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. ”
The secret of Chick-fil-A is not in the chicken. It is in the dedication.
Truett Cathy took his business and held it in an open hand before God. “God, it’s yours!” Are you willing to do that with your business, your dream, your family, or your career? How about your day? Are you willing to hold what is precious in an open hand before God and with a sincere heart say, “God, it’s yours. I’m going to do it your way!” Perhaps it’s time to put the secret of Chick-fil-A to work for you!