Shortly after making this photo of Truett Cathy, Chick-fil-A put me on retainer. For the past eleven years, I have had the privilege to work with such a wonderful organization.

I have learned a great deal from Truett Cathy, and here are some tips for you.

Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, had a Bible verse he used as a compass for his life.

Proverbs 22:1 — “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favor than silver and gold.” [King James Version (KJV)]

Here is a more modern translation from The Voice that I prefer, “A good reputation is preferable to riches, and the approval of others is better than precious silver or gold.”

Every time I was around Truett, I was inspired and entertained. He loved to have fun as hard as he worked.

Here are some quotes from Truett that I think every business person should adopt and would make them more successful.

“Fall in love with your work, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”

Truett would follow up with this comment: If you are not having fun, then you are not doing something right.

One of the keys to understanding this principle is learning the difference between GIVING and GETTING.

Too many people are focused on themselves. It’s not all about you. Once you understand this, it is easier to experience the joy of life.

“My riches are my family and my foster children. I try to store any material wealth in my hand, not my heart, so I always feel free to give it away when the opportunity arises.” 

Being around Truett, you see he was very frugal, and when he did spend money, he often got a great deal. I heard more stories about a great deal Truett would get, and I was always impressed.

“Nearly every moment of every day, we have the opportunity to give something to someone else—our time, love, resources. I had always found more joy in giving when I did not expect anything in return.”

No strings attached was the way Truett operated. He was the first to put a restaurant into a mall, and to get people aware of his Chick-fil-A sandwich; he gave away free samples.

If you met Truett, you most likely were given a BOG—Be Our Guest card. All you had to do was go to a Chick-fil-A restaurant and provide them with the card, and they gave you a sandwich. You don’t have to buy anything to get it.

“My business grew on my understanding that customers are always looking for somebody who is dependable and polite and will take care of them.”

Every day, Chick-fil-a checks to see that their standards for food preparation are at the highest they can be. First, they hire consultants to come into their restaurants and measure the operational side of the business. Then, they look for ways to improve the experience for the customer and cut waste.

Chick-fil-A has a training program that helps train and retrain everyone to keep the customer always first.

“Many of the unexpected opportunities we encounter are small but significant.”

Words are carefully analyzed so that the customer feels appreciated. Truett Cathy trained the entire workforce that when someone says thank you, the proper response is “My Pleasure.” I learned more about this little phrase through the years.

I have talked to many struggling photographers, and the most common thing I hear from them is I know what I should do, but I don’t get around to doing it.

Truett learned his work ethic from his mother. Truett teared up during an interview. The person interviewing Truett asked if he was OK. Truett said he just realized that he only saw his mother’s eyes closed when she was in the coffin.

While Truett worked very hard, we will most likely remember him for the blue signs for Chick-fil-A on the highways, which also say, “Closed on Sunday.”

“Businesses are not dishonest or greedy; people are. Thus, a successful or not business is merely a reflection of the character of its leadership.”

Years ago, one magazine wrote about the success of Chick-fil-A, making about 1.5 Billion that year. They said closing on Sunday left half a billion dollars on the table. When someone asked Truett about it, he disagreed.

Truett believed by giving all his employees one day a week off; they worked harder those six days. The restaurants that never close drain their employees. They need a day of rest to be with their families and attend church if they choose.

“Why would I retire from something I enjoy doing? I can hardly wait to get here.”

Truett was in his forties when he invented the Chicken Sandwich. He was 46 when the first Chick-fil-A restaurant opened in Greenbriar Mall.

Truett was 52, the same age I am, when he started Team Member Scholarship Program and was 63 when he began the WinShape foundation.

At 92, Truett was still working and opened Truett’s Luau in Fayetteville, GA. A new menu, a new concept, and a new restaurant were what he created.

Truett passed the baton to his son Dan when Truett was 92 years old. This past Monday, Truett Cathy passed away at the age of 93.

Here are a few more quotes for you from Truett:

Like wealth, poverty also has the power to build us up and make us appreciate what we have, or it can break our spirits. 

By ‘staying small,’ we also remain sensitive to the needs of others around us. 

As long as you are being kind to your customers, why not be kind to each other? 

I realized the importance of doing a job and doing it right, pleasing your customers, and enjoying what you’re doing. 

I worked hard for a C, but I had to work. I find that the most successful people are C students. 

I say C students rule the world cause I was in that category; I didn’t get to go to college because I was drafted when I finished, soon after I finished high school. 

More tips from Truett

Eleven Dos and Don’ts of Proven Entrepreneurial Success by S. Truett Cathy