Its easier to succeed than to Fail

212 Pages·6.282 MB·English

by  Cathy, S. Truett

EASIER
TO SUCCEED
THAN
byS.
Truett
Foreword by
Donald R. Keough
President ^
The Coca-Cola
S. Truett Cathy, founder
Chick-fil-A Company
Company
The secret to success is no secret at
all. It is very obvious, but we are too
often blinded to the truth.
—S. Truett Cathy
IT’S EASIER
TO SUCCEED
THAN TO FAIL
Meet Truett Cathy, a man who has proven
his own words. By selling his car, adding his
brother Ben’s savings to his, and borrowing
the rest from the bank, Truett Cathy began
with a single restaurant, the Dwarf Grill (later
called Dwarf House), in 1946 in suburban
Atlanta. In the early 1960s he began to experi¬
ment with faster ways to prepare great-tasting
chicken. By 1963 he had perfected the right
combination of seasonings and cooking technique.
Four years later, Truett Cathy cautiously
opened a fast-food restaurant in Atlanta’s
Greenbriar Mall and called it Chick-fil-A.
That single restaurant became the cornerstone
of the nearly 400-Unit restaurant chain today.
Truett Cathy was not born into success or
wealth. His mother ran a boarding house to
help support the family. As a boy he showed
no unusual talents—except in one area: a sharp
business sense. By the time young Truett was
eight years old, he had figured out that he could
sell Cokes to neighbors and make five cents
profit on every six bottles he sold. With that
success, Truett Cathy’s business career began.
A trendsetter more than a trendwatcher,
Cathy’s development of Chick-fil-A initiated a
(Continued on back flap)

“It’s Easier to Succeed Than to Fail is a rags-to-riches story by a
real American entrepreneurial hero. Truett Cathy is tangible evi¬
dence that it is easier to succeed than to fail. We all can be better
people by adopting his philosophy. Great reading!”
Max Cleland
Secretary of State, State of Georgia
“I hope that people will learn from Truett Cathy the virtues that
have brought him remarkable success in life. He has dedicated
himself to service in the broadest sense, following Christian prin¬
ciples, not only in his personal life, but in his relations with his
customers and employees. ”
Jimmy Carter
Former President of the United States
“I highly recommend Truett Cathy’s warm and inspiring book of a
great American success story that’s based on a winning formula of
solid Christian principles and values.”
Vince Dooley
Former Head Coach, University of Georgia
“It's Easier to Succeed Than to Fail is as warm and wonderful as
the man. Truett Cathy’s business success is a reflection of his suc¬
cess at life. He has given more than he has received. His common
sense approach to daily living, guided by his decency and exem¬
plary values, comes through clearly.”
D. Raymond Riddle
President, First National Bank of Atlanta
“Truett Cathy knows how to win in business. More importantly, he
knows how to win in life. The story of Chick-fil-A is truly a^great
American success story. It is also proof that following biblical
principles is the surest way to find success.”
Jerry Falwell
“Truett Cathy acquired wisdom by learning from almost everyone
who touched his life, and from each new experience. He became an
exceptional teacher in managing a complex enterprise by using a
penetrating precept and a considerable dose of example.... Truett
Cathy is truly God’s man.”
Jasper Dorsey
Syndicated newspaper columnist; adjunct Professor of
Management, University of Georgia and Kennesaw State
College
than
“I enthusiastically re<
even children read thi
wisdom, and experienc
Ronald W. Blue
Managing Partne
“The story of Truett Cauiy s lire is a story of faith, compassion,
hard work, and true entrepeneurial spirit. This book can inspire
others with Mr. Cathy’s generosity and good works which comple¬
ment his deep faith in God.”
Gloria Shatto
President, Berry College
“To know Truett Cathy is to understand what being a good busi¬
ness person is all about. Building on basics and committed to do¬
ing proper things properly, Cathy’s highly successful Chick-fil-A
effectively indicates that nice folks really can be winners. ”
Michael H. Mescon
Dean, College of Business Administration,
Georgia State University
“Truett Cathy’s It’s Easier to Succeed Than to Fail is a book that
belongs on the ‘must read’ list of every Christian business
person.... I know Truett Cathy and have always admired him as a
self-made man. Now I realize this is not quite the case—he is first,
last, and always a God-made man. ”
W. Clement Stone
PMA Communications
“Mr. Cathy knows people, Scripture, and chicken. And his book,
It’s Easier to Succeed Than to Fail, has some great recipes on how
to successfully mix those secret ingredients in all walks of life.”
Marabel Morgan
Author
“I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Truett Cathy’s life is an inspira¬
tion to anyone who believes in the free enterprise system and what
you can accomplish if you are willing to work and persevere and be
sure of your goals. ”
Carl E. Sanders
Attorney at Law
“I have admired [Truett’s] entrepreneurial spirit, his Christian
conviction, and his restaurant business for several years. His book
exemplifies the . . . Christian Spirit. ”
Andrew Young
Mayor, City of Atlanta
“[Truett Cathy’s] story is a splendid example for the many young
people he has assisted and serves as a reminder to all that initia¬
tive, vision, and dedication are essential ingredients to a fruitful
life.
James T. Laney
President, Emory University
“Truett Cathy’s life can be an inspiration to any citizen anywhere
in any country who wants to know if hard work, perseverance, and
faith in a better future can pay off. ”
Newt Gingrich
U.S. Representative, Sixth District, Georgia
“Truett Cathy has proven that it is possible to build a highly suc¬
cessful business by putting people before profit and by seeking to
honor God above pleasing men.”
Pat Robertson
President, The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc.
“A real-life case history showing that a determined and energetic
entrepreneur can overcome anything. A very good read. ”
Philip B. Crosby
Chairman and Creative Director,
Philip Crosby Associates, Inc.
“[Truett Cathy’s] influence in the life of so many young men ... is
heart warming .... My son Ritchie is one he has encouraged. I
enthusiastically endorse this book. ”
Bobby Richardson
Baseball Coach, Liberty University
“[Truett Cathy’s] strong Christian commitment shows clearly in
every business decision that he has made. I commend the book. It
will make you glad to be in a world with people like Truett Cathy. ”
William L. Self
Pastor, Atlanta
“A real-life story of the perfect blend of Christian principles and
American entrepreneurship.”
Harry S. Downs
President, Clayton State College
“The most compelling theme of Truett’s story is that success is a
spiritual journey before it is a corporate achievement. There is a
consistency of management style . . . that pervades every decision
and action.”
R. Kirby Godsey
President, Mercer University
“Here is a man who has lived out his convictions. He is a true
modern-day role model and hero. ”
Joe Edwards
Chairman of the Board,
Christopher Edwards Companies, Inc.
“[Truett Cathy] has made Christian principles and values synony¬
mous with Chick-fil-A .... His story is fascinating and inspiring. ”
George Busbee
King & Spalding
“S. Truett Cathy inspires all of us to a higher call than what can
simply be measured by the standards of this world ..... What an
encouragement and challenge for all of us!”
Sandi Patti
“Reading It’s Easier to Succeed Than to Fail is like having a per¬
sonal conversation with Truett Cathy. It’s real advice from real ex¬
perience. I loved it. ”
John Wieland
President, John Wieland Homes
“I hope [Truett’s] words will serve as a catalyst for success for
scores of young men and women, just as Truett’s personal relation¬
ship with me has had a profound and lasting impact on my life. ”
Gary Gettis
Chick-fil-A Operator, Gwinnett Place Mall
“Everyone who reads this book will have their heart warmed, their
life challenged, and their faith renewed.”
Charles “Tremendous” Jones
Presbyterian Life Management Services
“I have been personally blessed by this [book].”
Norman Vincent Peale
“Fascinating .... [It’s Easier to Succeed Than to Fait] is another
great ‘Horatio Alger’ story. ”
Art Linkletter
“In [this book] is a wealth of information that we all need .... I
want to recommend this book to all, men and women, young and
old.”
Mary Glynn Peeples
Successful Stress Management
“Recommended reading for Americans, a book by Truett Cathy,
who proved his point before he wrote the book.”
Paul Harvey
“Eloquent in its simplicity—profound in its directness—loving in
its message—and moving in its impact ... It’s Easier to Succeed
Than to Fail is a treasury of common sense which gives its readers
real hope with solid believability by virtue of the integrity of its
author, Truett Cathy. ”
Zig Ziglar
ITS
/
EASIER
TO
QOCCEED
°THAN
TO FAIL
S. TRUETT CATHY
Founder and Chairman, Chick-fil-A, Inc.,
and the Dwarf House Restaurants
G. Allen Fleece Library
Columbia International University
Columbia, SG 29303
m
A Division of Thomas Nelson Publishers
OLIVER NASHVILLE
NELSON
Copyright © 1989 by S. Truett Cathy
All rights reserved. Written permission must be secured from the
publisher to use or reproduce any part of this book, except for brief
quotations in critical reviews or articles.
Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Oliver-Nelson Books, a division of
Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from THE NEW KING
JAMES VERSION. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.,
Publishers. Scripture quotations noted KJV are from The King James
Version of the Holy Bible.
Every effort has been made to contact the owners or owners’ agents of
copyrighted material for permission to use their material. If Oliver-
Nelson has included copyrighted material without the correct copyright
notice or without permission, due to error or failure to locate owners/
agents or otherwise, we apologize for the error or omission and ask that
the owner or owner’s agent contact Oliver-Nelson supplying appropriate
information. Correct information will be included in any reprinting.
For ease of reading, the term Chick-fil-A is used interchangeably to refer
to Chick-fil-A, Inc., Chick-fil-A restaurants, Chick-fil-A products, and the
Chick-fil-A organization.
Printed in the United States.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cathy, S. Truett.
It’s easier to succeed than to fail / S. Truett Cathy,
p. cm.
ISBN 0-8407-9030-9
1. Cathy, S. Truett. 2. Businessmen—United States—Biography.
3. Chick-Fil-A Corporation—History 4. Fast food restaurants-
-United States—History. I. Title.
HC102.5.C36A3 1989
338.7 '6164795 '0924—del 9
[B] 89-30181