The secret game changer to a Chick-fil-A restaurant? Build community within the walls. When I took over Hospitality Director, I wanted to be intentional about building community INSIDE the store…. because only then could we truly and genuinely impact the community OUTSIDE the store. This past year we have had two gym nights, played flag football twice, conducted a Sunday afternoon Bible study for 6 weeks, invited two Carolina Panther players (Mike Tolbert and Thomas Davis) to come to the store and sign autographs/take pics to raise money for their foundations, a store Super Bowl party next week, and will be visiting a children’s hospital with plush cows and gift cards wearing our “JUST TRUETT” t-shirts. Hanging out with your CFA family outside of CFA changes everything. It molds and makes you into one team/one group. It helps tremendously with the all-too-common Day vs. Night, Front vs. Back. Communication is enhanced, as well as trust…. because they feel invested in. Try it! It’s a BLAST!
Encouragement. It does a soul good.
Chick-fil-A President and CEO, Dan Cathy, often asks groups this question: “How can you tell someone needs encouragement? They are breathing!” Everyone needs encouraging. That’s just how we all are wired. It provides that “oomph” to keep on keeping on.
I love encouraging people, and I have a keen awareness that people need it. Why? Because I need it. Yep. Even with my incredible energy and love of life… I need it. Especially in the middle of this journey that I am on.
Tonight, I received a facebook message from a Chick-fil-A operator in the northeast:
“I wanted to shoot you a quick note and share with you what an encouragement you are. I am thankful and inspired by your optimism, joy and passion. I don’t know too many guys that live life with your level of Christ-centered energy. So thanks. Even on the hard days.”
Wow! Little did he know that I am in the middle of the operator interview process, waiting for the next step to be scheduled. 2016 is up in the air for me and my family, but we serve a God who is in complete control, and a God who gives friends who encourage. Just at the right time.
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JUST TRUETT.
A few months back, while working mid-day in shift at the home Chick-fil-A, the thought struck me to “JUST TRUETT”. I kind of chuckled to myself and shared it with a fellow team member. A couple weeks later, I went online and made a simple t-shirt with that slogan on the front. Honestly, it was something I did because I told my team member that I should do it, and it would be fun. I finally received the t-shirt a few weeks later, and I posted it on my personal social media sites.
A few days went by, and I began receiving notifications from Chick-fil-A team members around the country asking me where they could get one. I was hesitant. Our founder, Truett Cathy, went home to be with the Lord at the end of 2014, and I did not want this to come across as something trivial, but rather as a unique, creative way to get the message across of what Truett Cathy’s heartbeat was… what he embodied… how he impacted others.
Still hesitant, I emailed Chick-fil-A’s president and CEO, Mr. Dan Cathy, to ask his opinion. Truett was his father, after all, and I wanted his blessing before moving forward. After emailing Mr. Cathy and explaining my thoughts behind the slogan, he responded with: “Terrific idea, Kent! Creative way to get the message across. You have my permission to fulfill all the orders.”
WOW! But now what? I didn’t know the first thing about ordering bulk t-shirts, but I love to learn and I’m an entrepreneur…. so I started doing research. Thankfully, the one who encouraged me to get started and the one whose company did the behind the scenes work for me was a good friend, Keith Rogers, from 323 Sports out of the Raleigh, NC, area.
I never realized how OCD I would be with t-shirts. I rejected the first samples because I wanted a higher-end t-shirt. One that would cost me more money personally, but one that would give Chick-fil-A’ers around the country a quality purchase. After agreeing to the shirt and the font design and size, I put in my initial order for 150 shirts. Exciting!
After setting up a little office in my walk-in closet, and creating a simple google drive order form, I was ready to sell. It’s been 48 hours now, and 22 shirts have been sold. First shipment will be shipped out Monday, January 4. Cannot wait until those who receive them begin wearing them, giving them the chance to share what “JUST TRUETT” means.
This is not about making money. This is not about me. At all. I simply want to #LIVETHELEGACY of Truett Cathy, and continue to serve in the manner in which he served.
So what does it mean to “JUST TRUETT”? When a guest is upset at you…. JUST TRUETT. When you are wrongly accused…. JUST TRUETT. When a fellow team member is going through a tough time…. JUST TRUETT. I like to sum it all up by infusing a good portion of Chick-fil-A’s corporate purpose:
JUST TRUETT.
“Treat each and every person with honor, dignity, and respect. Be a faithful steward of all that God has given to you. Be a positive influence on all those you have the privilege to meet. Love unconditionally.”
If you are interested in purchasing a t-shirt, I’ve posted the ORDER FORM here.
May God bless you all this New Year!!
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I was SHOCKED by God…. but I shouldn’t have been.
What I am about to tell you, will shock you. In an awesome way. But it shouldn’t shock us…. For the past couple of years, I have been driving an old, green 1995 Toyota Tercel with a broken speedometer and a broken odometer. It leaks some oil and doesn’t change gears until the first mile of the day has been driven. I was content with the car. Proudly displaying my Chick-fil-A license plate on the front bumper while using the car as my daily driver to and from work. However, I never carry my kids in that vehicle. There isn’t much room, and I don’t feel it’s a safe vehicle as it’s so small and doesn’t drive through rain that well without hydroplaning. But it was okay for me! I was thankful for transportation, and the gas mileage was tremendous (that gauge still worked).
Yesterday, I was sitting at my computer on Craigslist looking at cars and thinking that it would be nice to have a bit newer car that I could drive that could also accommodate my kids if I needed to take one child and my wife the other. I thought about finances and how money isn’t growing on trees these days… and I definitely didn’t want to touch the money I set aside for my CFA operator fee. Then I remembered something my mom always told me growing up. “Pray specifically that God would provide what you need…. pray that someone will GIVE you a car”… she would say. I kind of chuckled when I remembered that, and though I felt kind of silly, honestly, I prayed that someone would give me a car. I went to work not thinking about it at all, as it wasn’t really a pressing need, per se, just a desire of my heart.
I was about to climb into bed last night around 10:30pm when I received a private message on Facebook from a person that I had met only once in life. In a nutshell, the message said that they had recently upgraded vehicles, and God had told them to give their old vehicle to me…. WHAT!? I read on. It was a 2003 Toyota Highlander. Safe. Room for kids. Reliable. WHAT?! Toyota?? I LOVE Toyota. My mind was racing. It was hard to comprehend it all. You mean to say that I prayed a prayer that morning that someone would give me a car, and by that evening, out of the blue, someone not knowing that I prayed that prayer messages me and wants to give me their vehicle?!
Beyond the incredible answer to my car situation was the fact that at a time where work had been tough, and though I believe I am on the right path with CFA… God, through direct answer to prayer, confirmed in my heart that I am indeed walking the way in which He wants me to go. Shocking?? YES! But what a rebuke. Answer to prayer SHOULDN’T be shocking. God still answers prayer!! Oh me of little faith.
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The Angels from Jersey
Those who work with me know that my favorite position in the restaurant is the drive-thru window. Why? It’s simple. Drive-thru business is the majority of our business, and the window gives me the privilege of seeing the most amount of people possible!
I love people. People aren’t a number to me, but rather living, breathing souls who need encouragement on a daily basis. If I can’t encourage, why am I here?
Then there are moments in life that surprise you.
About a month ago, I was working the window when I saw a black vehicle come around the corner with a yellow New Jersey plate on the front bumper. The occupants inside the vehicle were incredibly friendly, letting me know they had just moved to Charlotte. I ended up recruiting their daughter to work with us!
Over the past few weeks, these New Jersey transplants have become dear friends… and even beyond that, they have become family to me.
I didn’t even realize I needed encouragement, but God always knows exactly what you need, when you need it.
Dan Cathy always asks, “Do you know how you can tell someone needs encouragement? They are breathing!”
Has someone been an encouragement to you recently? Feel free to share your story!
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I’m an open book, and you all play a key role in the story!
I am an open book. Simple as that. The world knows 90% of what goes on in my life. Why? Because, as someone who absolutely stinkin’ loves people… I believe you, and others reading this, play an incredibly important role in my story. Each and every person I meet shapes me in some way or the other.
While many may choose to privately walk the Chick-fil-A journey, I want to share it with you. I am where I am today, and who I am today because of you… and it’s an honor and privilege to include you along the way.
I believe in the power of prayer, and I believe that God has a very specific will for my life. I also specifically feel called to be a Chick-fil-A operator. So I include you, my friend. I include you because I have spent time serving alongside of you, kept in touch via social media, celebrated with you, prayed for you, and loved you.
So I humbly ask for prayer. We head to Kalispell, Montana for a little vacation next week, and Lord willing, I am going to hunker down in the Colter Coffee Shop and begin the application process. I have never applied for a store before, and I need clarity of thought as I seek to put on digital paper my heart for Chick-fil-A and how and why I will take the brand to the next level.
I am confident in God and the timing. I know His will will be accomplished no matter what the outcome. And I thank you, friend, for riding along with us… for loving us… for supporting us… and most of all, for praying for us.
It means the world!! God bless you.
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An encouraging word goes a long way!
Ever get into a rut? I’m not even typing in the negative sense of the term… but rather a steady routine of sun-up to sun-down. A routine that lends itself to one wondering if they are still making a difference… still being influential.
I have the privilege of being a director for Operator Dean Sandbo. It’s a fantastic place to serve. Though we are not perfect, the place is alive with people who love to love people, and who love to work hard, and strive to be innovative and creative. Business is good!
But on an individual level, sometimes you don’t know if you are still making an impact… still being influential… even though inside, you feel you are giving 110%.
I feel called to be a Chick-fil-A operator one day. I very much believe that God has called me to fill that position when it is His time for me to do so. But as many of you know, the journey can be long and tiresome… and you need that “spark” of encouragement from time to time.
A couple days ago, that “spark” called me over to himself. He was an older man who had stopped in for lunch, and he said these words to me, “You held the door for me and greeted me warmly when I entered the restaurant, and all while I ate lunch, I watched you. I watched when you had your break, and I watched as the kids (my team members) came around to talk to you at your table. That tells me you are a good manager.”
WOW! A simple man with a simple word. But it spoke volumes of encouragement to me. I am not the perfect leader… no one really is the perfect leader. But I trust that one day, when it’s all said and done… that people will say that I was faithful to what I was called to do, and that they felt truly loved when I was around them. It is genuinely my heartbeat.
To you, sir, Mr. Spark of encouragement… Thank you! Thank you for taking the time to breathe into existence words that give me energy and spirit to keep on keeping on!
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A simple note to my team before tomorrow’s interview…
I know I am an open book on Facebook, but I’m usually not this open… I broke down in tears on the way to work this morning thinking about how blessed I am to serve alongside each one of you, and thinking about the possibility of leaving Wesley Chapel in the near future if the interview goes well tomorrow. If I make it anywhere in the corporate world with Chick-fil-A, it will be because of you guys. You guys have invested in me and taught me so much. When I think of the interview tomorrow, I think that the worst case scenario is that I don’t get the position and I end up staying at Wesley Chapel… and I simply cannot imagine a better “worst-case scenario”. Please pray for me tomorrow. Pray that corporate sees my heart and the passion I have for this amazing company, our guests, and most importantly, you all. I love you!
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Interview Information: Please pray!
Many of you know that I will be interviewing for the Chick-fil-A Leadership Development Program this coming Thursday, March 5. I humbly ask for your prayers that day… specifically for the following:
- For those interviewing me to have wisdom and discernment on whether or not I am a fit for the program.
- That I would have a clear mind to adequately and sufficiently express my love and passion for people, operations, and the incredible brand that is Chick-fil-A.
For those interested in praying during my interview, here are the details for Thursday:
- AM flight down to Atlanta
- 10:30am-11:15am (interview)
- 2:00pm-2:30pm (interview)
- 2:45pm-3:00pm (interview)
- PM flight home to Charlotte
Thank you all so much! Whatever the outcome, I rest in God and His PERFECT plan for our lives.
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I’m not Superman.
Ok, so the secret is out. I am not Superman. Sure, my name is Kent… but it’s my first name, not my last. And even though I love to think that I am still 22, the reality is that I am 6 years shy of turning 40. FORTY!!
Chick-fil-A is incredible. You know that. I talk about it all the time. It’s my life. Is it easy? Absolutely not. A wife… two little ones… alarm going off at 4am… long hours… juggling schedules… coming home with lemonade and tea coating my white shirt and tie… chasing around the kids… getting the kids to sleep… trying to find time to spend with my wife… getting a few hours of sleep… back up at 4am… it’s a crazy cycle, but just as Art Terkeurst (CFA operator) says:
I love what I do. I love who I do it with. I love who I do it for.
And then there are those moments like this morning… when I woke up to a facebook message from a team member out of state that I helped train at a grand opening. A team member whom I spent a week with… a team member that I may never see again. And shortly after that early AM alarm sounded, I found myself reading these words:
“Hey I was just wondering how you’re always so happy. You love life so much and you just seem so happy all the time and I can see that God is such a big part of life and I don’t know I just want to know how to let him in, I know this is probably really weird but you seem so genuinely happy and I love it. I want that. I just don’t know where to start.”
And in those simple words… a soul searching for joy and peace… it confirmed in my mind once again that I am where I am supposed to be. God has given me this opportunity to reach people through the life touching life venue that is Chick-fil-A.
I’m not Superman. I am a simple guy who loves people and wants them to know the Jesus I know.
HOUSE OF PRAIN 