It’s been one year since I left Chick-fil-A. I remember September 9th, 2016, well. My team surprised me with cakes, cards, and banners strung across the ceiling over the order line. So many friends came to see me off that day, including my family, my operator, guests that had become family, and even Buffalo Bills fullback, Mike Tolbert and his family – a family with whom I had built a relationship through a little window on the side of the chicken coop.
People often ask, “Do you miss it?! Are you coming back? Are you going to apply for a store again?” I do miss it, sure. But I’m where God wants me right now. And I believe that is the BEST place to be – where God has you NOW. Will I ever apply again? I don’t know. Right now I’m focused on being the best Sales and Marketing Representative for Ryan Homes that I can possibly be. We are settling down in Fort Mill, SC, and have a new home church in Harvest Baptist in Rock Hill, SC.
So I write this brief post to say that there is life outside of Chick-fil-A. When you taste and see and are a part of the culture that is Chick-fil-A, it’s hard to leave. Really hard. But when you realize that God always knows best and that He knows what areas of your life need fine-tuning and stretching, He will find a way to move you, in order to better you.
I stepped into a position at Ryan Homes that has stretched me and is stretching me in every way imaginable. I knew very little about sales, blueprints, construction, etc, but I’m learning daily, and growing in knowledge and experience. It’s fun. It’s a challenge. It’s life outside of Chick-fil-A, and it’s ok. Why? Because personal growth doesn’t just happen in a restaurant. It happens where God plants you.
So I challenge you, my fellow Chick-fil-A’ers who have also been turned down for the Leadership Development Program and/or for Owner/Operator: Step out. Step away. Do something new. Stretch yourself. Just because you aren’t wearing Oobe doesn’t mean God can’t use you!
I’ve learned over 36 years to never say never, but only to trust God and His timing. So let’s never stop learning, never stop leaning, never stop loving, and never stop leading. And simply trust that God has amazing things in store for our lives!
Love you all and am so incredibly thankful for you. Oh, and come buy a Ryan Home from me! 🙂
The IMPACT of a Simple T-Shirt
WOW! God is using the #JustTruett shirt to impact lives all across the country. Just received this note from a Chick-fil-A operator:
“Kent – thanks for the shirts. We were able to do our first Just Truett at our recent AList event. I had invited Mark Cathy to come and share the Cathy family story and some other items with our group of about 400. The guy in the middle is a local Youth for Christ rep that we asked to come and let us interview him on stage about his work in the community. We then surprised him with a $500 check for YFC, a $500 check for his family and lastly free CFA for a year. It really blessed them as well as everyone present. Great night!”
For those of you who have purchased them…. you all are a part of this. I don’t make a personal profit. I make these simply as a reminder to serve, love, and lead in the manner that Truett did. What a legacy!
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The End of an Incredible Journey… or is it?
Most of you know by now that this past week brought the news that I will not be moving ahead in my journey to own/operate a Chick-fil-A. At least not now. This news did not devastate me, nor was I angry. I know the system and how it works, and I knew this going in almost 4 years ago. I simply was not competitive enough. Chick-fil-A has 50,000 individuals per year starting the process to become an owner/operator. I made it to step 5 of 7. The top 400 of 50,000 or so. And I am very humbled and grateful to have made it that far. I am in a tough spot at my age. Mid-thirties with a family makes it difficult to be a solid candidate for the Leadership Development Program (on the road living in hotels for about 2 years opening up/running Chick-fil-As around the country), and I am not in my 40’s or 50’s with a wealth of experience from past employment. On paper…. I don’t compete. And I completely understand that from corporate’s point of view.
The only frustrating part is that I don’t know where I fit in…. or how to become THAT competitive. I feel like I have done everything in my power to become prepared to operate a store, and who I am and the endless energy and passion I have for Chick-fil-A would go far beyond simply making a local business profitable. But I am not upset. I know God has a plan, and I know that it is a perfect plan for me and my family. Sometimes it is God’s timing, or sometimes it is a completely new plan – only time will tell.
I want to thank my wife first of all for everything. And by everything, I mean the sacrifices, large and small, that she has made over the past 4 years. She was my biggest cheerleader, and she was ALL IN just as much, if not more, than I was. She is incredibly strong with a heart of gold. She will make an amazing operator’s wife one day, if that is what God wills. I love her dearly and desperately wanted to reach my goal for her. Love you, sweetheart.
Thank you also to the many Operators, Grand Opening Supervisors, trainers, Corporate staff, friends, guests, family, etc who cheered me on since day 1. I never once had someone tell me that I would never make it as an operator, but rather hundreds, if not thousands, telling me to keep going…. that they would love to help me and serve with me one day.
Though I am at peace and trust God with corporate’s decision, guests of mine are crushed. I returned to work this past Friday, and guest after guest walked in shocked – I don’t know if they were more shocked at the decision or that I had a smile on my face. Many operators reached out to me. Some told me they cried, while others expressed that if they had to go through the process today, they would not even make it.
You know what all this tells me? That this journey was not in vain. The people I know now that have impacted me, and that I may have impacted…. I wouldn’t have met them 4 years ago. The massive amount of support and outpouring of love during this journey and after the news came last week has been humbling. I don’t deserve any of this…. but God, in His goodness and grace, allowed me precious time with individuals all across this country. These moments are priceless to me!
I love Chick-fil-A and I will always love Chick-fil-A. As of now, I am still serving at my local CFA as a director working 50-55 hours a week. And until God moves me, that is where I will be. Is the journey over? I honestly don’t think so. I try to force myself to lose the desire to own my own store… and then I clock in and do life with my team, and after hugs and high fives and accomplishing goals together…. I realize I can’t stop pursuing my dream. It’s what I do. It’s who I am.
Many have asked if I am upset or mad. Almost telling me with their eyes and tone of voice that it would be ok to say yes. But no. I am at peace. I am at peace knowing that God is good all the time. Never is He NOT good. And though people all around the chain know I would make a tremendous operator, the one person who could say no, did say no. And they did their job well. They have to make sure they choose the best fit for every opportunity. To play God and to judge their decision would be foolish. To trust God and wait on His will and timing is obedience. So I choose to obey. I choose to wait. I choose to continue to be full of joy. I choose to keep on serving faithfully.
I leave you with this story from this past Saturday.
A mom and her little girl were getting into line to order when I walked by them to grab something from outside. She stopped me and told me that she had used me as an example when teaching her kids a lesson that week. I recognized the mom, but didn’t know her personally. She went on to explain that her 9th grade boy was telling her how his friends in the same grade were out partying/drinking and making poor decisions. Her son then said that he doesn’t have to hang out with that crowd and wants to make wise decisions. I bent down and asked the little girl what the mom had said about me. The little girl looked up at me and said, “Mommy said that she wants me to marry someone like you one day”. I was shocked, as I had never spoken to them before. The mom then began to tear up and told me that she can tell simply by the way I serve people in the restaurant that I am someone that she wants her boys to look up to and her daughter to marry. It was all I could do not to get all emotional! WOW! Do I deserve those comments? No. Any good in me is by the grace of God alone. But God used that instance, just mere days after receiving a “no” answer, to keep that flame burning inside of me.
To you that have followed this journey…. thank you! You are appreciated far more than you will ever know. I truly hope this isn’t the end. I have insane faith that it is not. In fact, I Â check my email throughout the day thinking that I will receive one saying that they have changed their minds and have a store for me. But if that day never comes, I thank God that He used CFA to bring you into my life. May God bless you. #JUSTTRUETT
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Pro Tip: Build Community INSIDE first!
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!
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The Future takes Faith… and a lot of it!
As I’m sitting here at my computer, reflecting back on yet another incredible Chick-fil-A Grand Opening, this time in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, where we poured out and invested in another generation of team members who are going to make a REMARKable difference in people’s lives… I can’t help but to rehearse in my mind the interview I had with Chick-fil-A corporate a few weeks ago. I think back on how God opened the door for me to interview, and though the answer came back that I was not a fit for the Leadership Development Program, God gave me special moments with 6 staff members to share my heart and passion for growing and developing people and growing and developing Chick-fil-A as a business.
Many couldn’t believe I was/am not upset about not getting into the LDP. Here’s the simple answer. When I genuinely trust God to give wisdom and discernment to those making the decision to choose the best candidates for the program, I have complete peace and confidence knowing that God alone knows my future, and what He has in store for me ALWAYS beats what I think is the best route or path. Period!
I have many options within Chick-fil-A going forward. Options that require much thought and prayer. Options that will stretch, grow, and prepare me for what the future holds for me and my family.
Thank you all for riding along with me on this journey! It’s not over. Not even close. God is good!
The Grand Opening Supervisors in Broken Arrow, OK – John Pence, Jeremy Stouder, and Kelsey Collier.
HOUSE OF PRAIN 