7 business reasons why you should watch this movie over the weekend
The movie shows how McDonald's grew from one local store to owning several chain stores across multiple countries around the world.
The movie released in 2016 is a biopic about how Ray turned the startup to a multi-billionaire company, outsmarting the original founders to acquiring the company.
As much as the movie evoked sentiments, it also teaches noteworthy values about life and business. Here are the lessons.
Persistence
The original founders (two brothers) of Mc Donald’s tried taking the business from one location to several within the United States but ended up settling for that one store after suffering some discouragement until one businessman came with a proposal of a bigger picture for the business.
Lesson here: Don’t give up easily at the slightest fail. All the talent and education won’t get you far without determination and persistence.
Flexibility
The founding brothers were not willing to change the formula for which they made their milkshakes after the businessman franchise partner (Ray Kroc in the movie) tried to make them see reason. They paid dearly for it in the end.
Lesson here: Don’t be rigid in business. Consider opportunities and change of status quo
Be willing to listen to others for advice
The one advice Ray took from a financial expert whom he met by chance was the turning point for the business of Mc Donald’s - letting him know he was in the real estate business as much as he was in the food business.
Lesson here: Be open to advice from others. Don’t underestimate where it may come from.
Never strike a business deal with a handshake
The “I give you my word” phrase is played out and doesn’t apply when it comes to business deals. The brothers learnt this the hard way when negotiating their sell out deal at the tail end of the movie.
Lesson here: In business dealings, ALWAYS favour a written contract approved by a lawyer over verbal (oral) agreements or handshakes as was the case with the unfortunate brothers.
Believe in your business vision and sell it to your networks and potential partners
This is pretty straightforward. Ray saw potential in certain people and sold his idea to them because he believed in what he was offering and stopped at nothing to talk about it to as many that would care to listen, particularly those he felt had what it took.
Lesson here: Sharpen your selling skills and believe in that business idea.
Power in the name
Ray who later bought out the company from the founder brothers, at the end of the movie when asked by one of the brothers why he picked interest in the brand Mc Donald’s and not just go and start his own business since he knew the secrets of the McDonald’s business, he said
“It’s not just about the system, it’s the name that glorious name Mc Donald’s.
“It could be anything you want it to be, it’s limitless, it sounds like America, it’s a beauty. A guy named Mc Donald’s is not gonna get pushed around in life.”
Lesson here: Let the name of your business be as catchy as possible, make it sound genuine and nice to go with the vision for your business. There is power in the name!
Marry a person with like ambitions
Ray went ahead to divorce his wife because he fell head over heels for a business partner’s wife. From the religious standpoint, this is wrong by all means.
That being said, Ray also saw the drive ambition and business intellect in this other woman, which partly contributed to why he asked for a divorce from his wife, who was rather too laidback about his dreams with the Mc Donald’s franchise business.
Lesson here: In my opinion I would advise you end up with a woman that is in sync with your business or career ambition and vice-versa, to avoid possible fallout like a divorce.
If you have seen the movie, would you say you agree with my pointers? If you haven’t seen the movie yet, endeavor to.
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