November/08: McDonald’s is more than just burgers and fries – it’s in the pantheon of global brands. As the world’s largest restaurant chain, it’s recognized on every continent, praised for its legendary work culture and its recession-proof blue-chip stock, and studied for its attention to changing customer tastes and markets. The alma mater of countless thousands of workers, McDonald’s has honed its organization and leadership to create an unparalleled success story, with literally billions served.
EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT BUSINESS I LEARNED AT McDONALD’S examines the company’s winning strategies. With “ketchup in his blood” from decades of work experience beneath the golden arches, author Paul Facella distills the company’s management strengths with exclusive interviews with executives, franchisees, managers, and vendors throughout the corporation, including company founder Ray Kroc.
Revealing the long-running strategies behind such a monumental brand requires an insider’s view -- and Facella’s life has been intimately tied to McDonald’s for decades. Starting behind the counter at McDonald’s, at age 16, he was promoted to Crew Member, then rose through the ranks to positions of increased responsibility, including Assistant Manager, Store Manager, Director of Training, and Director of Operations for 12-store franchise. By the time of his retirement with the company, he was a regional vice-president, responsible for more than 450 stores and $600 million dollars in sales.
With his long experience and access to company insiders, Facella serves up anecdotes, stories, and recollections that offer Super-Sized strategies, with “Lessons Learned” applicable to every company, at every level.
From the critical collaboration between owners, operators, employees, and suppliers, to management’s continuous push for excellence and recognition, to the power of transparency across the board, these are among the seven principles of a global powerhouse:
Chapter 1: Honesty and Integrity: All in a Handshake
Chapter 2: Relationships
Chapter 3: Standards: Never Be Satisfied
Chapter 4: Lead by Example
Chapter 5: Courage: Telling it Like it Is
Chapter 6: Communications
Chapter 7: Recognition
EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT BUSINESS I LEARNED AT McDONALD’S is a lifetime of leadership and management essentials observed behind the scenes of one of the world’s biggest brands.