Set priorities, be courteous, expand your business cautiously and do not burden yourself with debt. Those are among the keys to success that S. Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, enumerated in his book titled, “How did you do it, Truett?”
While he was quick to explain that those might not be the keys others use for success, Cathy, who died this week at age 93, used them to build a company that claims 47 straight years of sales growth.
And although he modestly refers to the need to set priorities, one of Cathy’s big priorities in life was to remain true to his Christian values. On that score, he did exceptionally well, resisting business trends that otherwise would have led him to compromise.
Perhaps most notable among these trends was the need to remain open on Sundays. When he and his brothers started their first restaurant in 1946, there was nothing unusual about closing restaurants and retail stores on Sundays. The concept of a Sabbath day, observed in Christian, Jewish and other faith traditions, was commonly observed and accepted as a way to rest from worldly cares for a day. As times changed, Cathy was happy to adapt to consumer trends. Among other things, his company launched a memorable ad campaign involving cows supposedly urging people to eat chicken rather than beef. But he never compromised his principles in the pursuit of profits. Rather, he proved that principles and profits are not in conflict, even in the modern world.
Today, Chick-fil-A has more than 1,800 stores in all but 10 states, and the company says its sales topped $5 billion last year, according to the Wall Street Journal. An Associated Press story on Cathy’s death said company executives are fond of saying the chain of restaurants makes as much money in six days as others do in seven. Employees, meanwhile, know they always have Sundays off.
But Cathy’s devotion to principle went far beyond Sabbath observance. He funded youth scholarships and formed youth support programs through his WinShape Foundation. He took pride in helping people obtain their first job, which he hoped would teach them the value of work and give them the ability to pursue other dreams.
The Associated Press described how he declined to press charges against two girls who had vandalized one of his homes and caused $30,000 in damage. Instead, he worked out a deal with the parents in which the girls were forbidden from watching TV or playing video games, while also being required to write the phrase, “I will not vandalize other people’s property” 1,000 times.
With Cathy’s passing, many are watching the Chick-fil-A corporation to see if it begins to change. A more interesting observation would be to see whether other fast-food restaurants begin copying Chick-fil-A’s keys to success. Principled leadership and an adherence to religious values are not in conflict with successful business management. That’s a big part of the legacy Cathy leaves behind.