Reading Reflection No.3

Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald's ... by Ray Kroc

It was interesting learning of how Ray Kroc began his entrepreneurship. Learning how he began at such a young age, simply selling paper cups 19 hours a day, made me think back on how something huge must always start very small. Of course Kroc did fail countless times before reaching high success, but his perception of the world around him pushed him into being a great business man. Kroc saw business opportunities as endless, all around him, just waiting to be opened up and shared with the rest of the world. I admire him for this. Although, if I had to choose something about him that I least admire, is that Kroc often took the credit for founding McDonald's...when he surely did not. Similarly to myself, each time Kroc failed, he learns from it and builds himself up to be even better, even stronger, even more hardworking. He had a goal, to build an empire, and he would stop at nothing till he ruled. 

I noticed throughout the book that Ray Kroc was an excellent worker, he worked hard and diligently until his work became what he wanted it to become. He was 52-years-old when McDonald's became an international success, thus his persistent determination truly paid off; it was only a matter of time. Moreover, his character makes him stand out, being able to talk with others and be well liked is an important quality to possess as a businessman. One last thing, he knew how to manage his stress well, which I admire because I am not the best at that. It was incredible to read how Kroc believed in himself so much that he spent the first half of his life just setting up his success by benching on himself. Loans and meetings and money he did not have and deals that really were horrible, everything led him to eventually being the great American hero who established McDonald's all over the world. 

It was confusing to me that the brothers who started McDonald's had little to do with the success, although that doesn't surprise me. What confused me the most was how these "great" businessmen made such terrible deals on their way to success. There were so many bad calls that could have resulted in utter failure, even though they did not. The businessmen/women character qualities are what truly pull one person from another, but all the men involved in creating McDonald's should have at least been smarter about the business cycle!! 

I would ask Kroc about his twenties, I would ask if he saw the light at the end of the tunnel that early on and if so, what was the initial step that brought him out of the darkness and into the light. I want to know this because that is where I am at in my life right now and would like some advice from my McDonald's king. I also want to know what the heck he thinks about where McDonald's is today! The sensation that we all know. 

I think his idea of hard work reflects mine because throughout his life he never gave up on himself and always believed in what he wanted to accomplish, which he finally ended up succeeding in. I hope too to have this drive and reach my end goals of making a difference.