Taco Titan: The Glen Bell Story

Glen Bell was a man trying to make his way in the fast food industry and was having no luck until he decided to abandon the hamburger route and start making Taco's. The start of Taco Bell is riddled with California fast food lore and makes for a very interesting read. It is hard to find the birth of Mexican fast food in other books and this really is the best account that we have. It is very well written although it could have used a little less focus on the charity at the end of the book and a little more on future prospects. Again though it is the best we have and well worth reading if you are interested in the fast food industry.

When I was developing my business plan for my brokerage firm, I looked up various autobigraphies of others in the financial industry to get inside their head. One day I stumbled across this book. I was not convinced by the cover to read it, but I grabbed it anyway. Boy was I NOT disappointed!From reading Glen Bell's story I discovered a lot of trivia about the taco business, like Glen Bell's invention of the taco ;)But more importantly I took away five guiding points for my life and more importantly for my business.1. Stay ultimately focused on your vision.2. Keep expanding on your vision, as you grow so should it.3. Don't be afraid to scream from the rooftops by promoting your business big.4. Never let a little thing like money get in your way.5. Those that can't see your vision, needn't be in your vision.Great book for entrepreneurs who think they have it bad and can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, its there, Glen Bell proves it.

This is much more than a book about a business. It's the story of a likeable man whose remarkable success parallels that of American capitalism during the 20th century. The Bell behind Taco Bell is an outstanding role model. Like Horatio Alger's rags-to-riches novels, Glen Bell's life illustrates the virtues of honesty, diligence and perseverance. This book has the potential to positively influence thousands of young people. It takes something they like and are familiar with, and shows why and how it all began. Taco Titan belongs in libraries across America, especially those frequented by high school and college students. Unlike dry business books, Taco Titan puts the founder's life in the context of America's most challenging and prosperous century. We follow Bell from the Depression, through World War II, and his remarkable entrepreneurial achievements with Taco Bell, to his creative response to an enviable dilemma: What should a newly made multimillionaire do with all that money? Taco Titan details every step Bell took, from initial concept to national franchising. We experience his decision making process, step-by-step, including the cloak-and-dagger details of the sale of Taco Bell to PepsiCo. Bell's "Recipes for Success" would make a good Hippocratic Oath for managers and entrepreneurs. They're a basic blueprint for ethical business practices. Taco Titan is entertaining even if you don't care about fast food or starting a business. It illustrates how the principles that made America great can be put into practice. But beyond that, it's fun and easy to read. You follow Bell into a different place and time, one less complex and more innocent, and once there, you don't want to leave.

Who knew? The founder of Taco Bell grew up in poverty, rode the rails during the Great Depression, and had dreams of founding his own theme park (which he eventually did, in Southern California - Bell Gardens.) Bell could have been a celebrity, but he's on the shy side. He never went to college, but ended up wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. Bell's Recipes for Success are the reason he succeeded, and would work for anyone. (For example: "It's tempting to blame circumstances for your problems, but it's a waste of time. Instead, reach inside yourself. You'll come up with ways to cope and take pride in meeting the challenge.") It's refreshing to read about a CEO who refused to compromise his ethics or step on people on his way up. Even Bell's competitors -- including founders of Del Taco and Wienerschnitzel -- recommend this book. Bell's biography details the founding of Taco Bell and the chain's early days, but it is NOT primarily a business book. If you want the nuts and bolts of building a fast-food business, read "Behind the Golden Arches" about McDonalds. What "Taco Titan" IS, is a great read. It's the story of an ordinary guy who, against all odds, did extraordinary things. You're right there with Bell, back in the 1940s and '50s, watching him sweat his way through one seemingly insurmountable challenge right after another. Memorable characters add depth and interest to Bell's story: The the first franchisee, who quit the LAPD because his store took off. Bell's first wife, who insisted Mexican food was a waste of time. An early partner who happened to be Bing Crosby's son. Even Mac and Dick McDonald make a cameo appearance. But the best character is Bell himself, the former hobo who, after he sold Taco Bell, bought an antique railway (complete with several steam engines) and turned it into a family fun park. Bell's biography is encouraging, inspiring and entertaining. It gives a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour of a little known slice of American culinary history. And although "Taco Titan" is not a how-to book, it's a must-read for anyone starting out in business, because it's about what REALLY counts: a CEO's character, ethics and never-quit attitude.

In the '60s, America was on the go like never before, and wherever people went, fast food followed. But in a growing world of hot dog stands and copycat burger joints, one name stood out from the rest: Taco Bell. Yet Taco Bell strained the patience and pocketbook of its founder, year after year. A menu with no buns or mustard was challenge enough. Add the fact that lenders and investors called Mexican fast food a fad.And few people outside the Hispanic community knew what a taco was. "I'll have two TAKE-OHS, please." Clearly, this was a concept ahead of its time. Most men would have quit, but Taco Bell's founder refused to abandon his dream. With grit and determination, he made himself and those who shared his vision millionaires, and turned his little walk-up restaurant concept into one of the most popular brand names in America.This is the story of Glen W. Bell, Jr.As a young man, Glen had no money. During the '30s, he rode the rails and went door to door in search of honest work and a hard-earned dollar.From these hardscrabble root grew the passion and desire of a tireless entrepreneur. A man who understood the customer and worked day and night to build a business backed by little more than the proceeds from the sale of a used refrigerator. A man who poured his own concrete and fried his own tortillas. The business grew, in part because the food was good and different and priced right. But in largest part because Glen--in his quiet, confident manner--had a way of attracting a breed of people who understood his vision. As a result, he helped employees, managers and franchisees carve out their own pieces of the American dream. Today, Taco Bell has some 7,000 restaurants, more than 175,000 employees, and serves millions of customers weekly.Savory, crunchy "TAKE-OHS" have become mainstream American food. Yet Taco Bell remains a rebellious, hard-working, entrepreneurial company that loves to battle the burger, just like its founder taught it to. This compelling portrait by award-winning writer Debra Lee Baldwin includes insights from a self-professed "unremarkable man" who overcame the odds to achieve a remarkable thing. His story and his "60 Recipes for Success" are not reserved for a select few. Rather, a treasure awaits anyone with the passion and determination to pursue his or her dream.As a literary agent, I feel privileged to have worked closely with Mr. Bell and Ms. Baldwin to get this book published.