Everything I Know about Business I Learned at McDonald's: The 7 Leadership Principles That Drive Break Out Success

I've been doing a lot of research on McDonalds over that past 6 months by studying everything I could find, what they have done, how they did it, what makes them so successful and on and on. I was pleasantly surprised to find this book on the book shelf and bought it instantly. I read and studied this book as the other materials in a very scrupulous manner and found this book to be one of the best. As I made my way through it, I found myself underlining sentence and paragraphs and sections like none of the others. In short, this is one of the best books on success I have ever read and I've been reading for the past 16 years on practically a daily basis. In my high tech career I must say most Managers don't follow the principles that are taught in this book and as a result end up being mediocre at best. However, usually they hinder the potential growth and success of their department and ultimately the company they work for. After having read the book, I'd rather work for McDonalds than any high tech company because the way people are treated and fairly rewarded based on what you do. Even if I start off as a grill or fry guy, I can move up to either owning a store or being part of corporate and the nice thing is that your potential success is unlimited. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who has people who work for them and wants to enjoy a new level of success that they never knew was possible. The key of course is putting the principles taught in this book to work in your business. Just reading it won't get the results you desire. The book is very enjoyable to read and has tons of very interesting tidbits to keep you entertained. Happy reading!

I found the book by Paul Facella both interesting and learning and I recomend that other CEOs of fast food resturants also learn from it. Many of its principals can be used for other types of business. But most of all I enjoyed reading of the success of one individual from the bottom to the top; which tells me that anyone who applies him or her self to the workings of McDonald's cannot fail.

This should be mandatory reading for any college student about to enter or already working in the customer service industry. The basic principals Mr. Facella so aptly articulates provide a roadmap to how individuals should conduct themselves in LIFE. When headlines dominate the news of unscrupulous CEO's profiting at the expense of employees, McDonald's treats all within its' system as a stakeholder. Who could refute ideals such as standards, integrity, honesty and loyalty. McDonald's success is in their ability to include everyone on the team; from the grill person to the supplier to the owner/operator. And everyone has a stake in that success. Like a sports team trying to win a championship, no one person can do it on their own; from the coach down to the waterboy. Most, if not all executives, didn't go to Yale or Harvard but grew in the system from the floor up. McDonald's places very little value on a person's pedigree; rather, and more importantly, what have you achieved at the company. In an era when loyalty to a company has all but disappeared, McDonalds seems to have found the "secret sauce" to hold onto and nurture their best talent. The US has hundreds of franchises in all sorts of industries, but how many can claim that any owner/operator can call the CEO and get a reply within 24 hours. Remarkable. After reading the book it's easy to see why McDonald's is so successful. Those companies struggling to hold onto their top performers, and losing their customer base, need to take note and create the family oriented atmosphere that McDonald's has maintained from the very beginning.

The book is unique in that the management principles are all related to someone's real life experiences at an entity that everyone is familiar with and can relate to. It is not an academic-oriented book and thankfully it doesn't have a single chart or diagram. What it does have are relevant stories that make the ideas more concrete. While the principles apply to a large multinational company, they are equally as relevant for a five-person jewelry store or a ten person manufacturing company. I suppose non-profits would benefit as well. Additionally, this is a management book that can be read by the president and the manager, as well as the employee at the bottom of the ladder. It probably should be read by all at the same time in order to get everyone on the same page in any organization. It is easy to read through, and the summaries and bullet points are helpful when you need to refer back to something that was previously read.

I enjoyed reading this book on 3 levels; first, as a friend who was excited to read about "stuff" that has happened to the author that I did not know about and remembering things that I did, second, reading it as an "ex" Mickey D alumni that brought back fond memories that helped form my path in life and business, and third, as an interesting business tool that gives insight to successful planning, coaching, and action guides that offer accountability and positive long lasting results. The author is successful on all three levels. The anecdotes in the book keep it fresh,interesting, and personal. A must read for all who would like to have an insightful guide to being a respected leader who gets results, inspires loyalty, and maintains long lasting relationships.