Purpose, Grind, and Growth

My son started working at Chick-fil-A a few weeks ago, and I’ve become increasingly fascinated with the business. Every time I drop him off, I see multiple drive-through lines full of cars and a small army of teenagers smiling and engaging positively with customers. It’s clear there's much to learn from this company.

I just finished reading Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People by S. Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A. The book was both inspiring and convicting. My biggest takeaways were the importance of having principles, the necessity of hard work, and the vital nature of growth.

In 1982, Chick-fil-A was experiencing tremendous growth, primarily operating in shopping malls. Then, the economy took a dramatic dive, and interest rates soared to an astonishing 21%. Cathy faced many sleepless nights, fearing the loss of his business.

The economic stress led the leadership to clarify their purpose. Making money is great, but it’s not a lasting purpose. They ultimately defined their corporate purpose as Glorifying God by being faithful stewards of all that is entrusted to them and having a positive influence on everyone who comes in contact with Chick-fil-A.

Several years ago, at a conference in Atlanta, a friend and I chose to skip the venue’s snack bar and walked to a nearby Chick-fil-A. We weren't the only ones avoiding nachos and pretzels; the place was packed. Despite the crowd, I watched a group of teenagers serve hundreds of conference goers with smiles, laughter, and genuine joy. Even nearly a decade later, the impressiveness of that experience remains with me.

Cathy shares a story about ending a phone call with a rude man by hanging up on him, later realizing his failure to live the purpose of having a positive influence on everyone who contacts Chick-fil-A. It's fascinating to trace the lineage from his admitted failure and desire to grow and improve to the teens I saw in Atlanta years ago to my son and his coworkers being kind to rude, angry customers in a hundred-degree parking lot. It’s amazing that 42 years later, I continue to see this purpose lived out despite less-than-optimal conditions.

Purpose is powerful, but it’s not easy—it takes work, and that work leads to growth. If our purpose is strong and our commitment solid, who knows what four decades from now will look like?

Leaders, what’s your purpose, and are you willing to grind?