"Colonel Sanders"
On September 9th, 1891, Harland Sanders was born on a farm near Henriville, Indiana, USA. My family is not very rich, but I can get by. However, at the age of 6, his father died, leaving his mother and three children to live hard.
In order to make a living, my mother has to take many jobs outside. She has to peel potatoes in the food factory during the day and continue to sew clothes for others at night. Naturally, she has no time to take care of the young children. Sandoz is the boss, and he shoulders the heavy responsibility of taking care of her siblings and sharing her worries. When his mother was not at home during the day, Dr. Xiao Shan had to cook by himself. After a year, he learned to cook 21 dishes and became a well-known cooking expert. At the age of 12, his mother remarried, but the relationship between Sandoz and his stepfather was not very good. He didn't want to study any more until the sixth grade, and the air at home was so stuffy that Sandoz decided to go to work and change the environment again. He came to work on a farm in Greenwood. Although it was hard work, he was able to maintain personal food and clothing. Since then, he has changed countless jobs, so to speak, he has tried everything, worked as a painter, a fireman, sold insurance, and served as a soldier for a while. Later, he got a degree in correspondence law, which enabled him to be a sheriff in Little Rock, Kansas for a while. At the age of 41, Sandoz came to Kentucky and opened a Corbin gas station. Because there were many customers coming and going to refuel, Sandoz had an idea when he saw the hungry faces of these long-distance travelers. Why didn't I make some convenient food by the way to meet the requirements of these people? Besides, his craft is good, and his wife and children often praise him. As soon as he thought about it, he cooked some daily meals in the small kitchen of the gas station to attract customers. During this period, Sandoz introduced its own special food, which was the prototype of KFC fried chicken, which was later famous in the world. Because of its delicious and unique taste, fried chicken was warmly welcomed soon, and guests praised it. Some people even came not to refuel, but to eat fried chicken at Kebin gas station. At the beginning, Sandoz wanted to expand the business of his gas station, but now the reputation of fried chicken has surpassed that of gas stations. Due to the increasing number of customers, gas stations can no longer hold it. Sandoz opened a Sandoz restaurant across the street to specialize in his specialty-fried chicken. In order to ensure the quality, Sandoz put on an apron and began to fry, and invested in the expansion of a large restaurant that can accommodate 142 people. In this way, he created a primary fried chicken market. In the next few years, he managed and studied the special ingredients of fried chicken (including 11 kinds of herbs and spices), which made the fried chicken skin form a thin, almost unheated shell, and the chicken was moist and delicious. So far, this ingredient formula is still in use, but the number of seasonings has increased to 41. And this is KFC's most important secret weapon, just like Coca-Cola's formula. By 1935, Sandoz's fried chicken was famous far and wide. In order to thank him for his special contribution to the state's diet, Governor Ruby Lafon of Kentucky officially awarded him the rank of Colonel in Kentucky, so people called him "Dear Colonel Sanders" until now.
penniless after World War II
Although business was good, Sandoz was not satisfied with such achievements. He was ingenious and went one step further by building a motel next to the restaurant. In this way, before the famous Howard and Johnson Motels were built, Sandoz became the first enterprise consortium integrating accommodation and refueling. However, with the increase of customers, Sandoz felt his lack of management experience, so he went to Cornell University in new york to study hotel management courses, which enabled him to solve the hotel management problems he faced in the future, but there were still problems. With the growing reputation of Sandoz restaurant and more and more customers, it is not an easy task to fry chicken and serve it quickly for so many customers. He is always scrambling to fry chicken for customers, while listening to the customers who are in a hurry complaining. Sandoz is worried about this. What should he do? At this moment, an accidental pressure cooker exhibition gave him an inspiration. The pressure cooker can greatly shorten the cooking time without burning the food, which is the best thing for his fried chicken. In 1939, Sandoz bought a pressure cooker. After doing various experiments on cooking time, pressure and refueling, he finally found a unique method of fried chicken. This fried chicken under pressure is the most delicious fried chicken he has ever tasted, and KFC fried chicken still maintains this recipe of using pressure cooker. And as he imagined, it took only 1.5 minutes to fry a chicken, and the fried chicken with short time and good taste suddenly became a hot topic of discussion at that time, and many diners flocked to it. Even during the Great Depression in the 1931s, Sandoz's business was still booming. However, the outbreak of World War II gave him a small blow. During the war, gasoline rationing was implemented, and his gas station closed. Since then, Sandoz has concentrated on running his own restaurant. However, changes in the outside world once again threatened his stable life. The plan to build a new transcontinental highway across Kentucky was finalized and announced to the public. The road next to Sandoz's restaurant was passed by the newly-built expressway, which was a great blow to Sandoz and disrupted all his plans. His ambition and enthusiasm suddenly fell to freezing point. He had to sell his assets to pay off his debts, and the income was only half of the total assets before the highway was opened to traffic. In order to pay off his debts, even his bank savings were used up. All of a sudden, Harlan Sanders, a respected colonel in the past, changed from a rich man respected by everyone to a penniless poor man. At this time, Sanders was 56 years old, and all he could rely on was his monthly relief of $115. But Sanders doesn't want to end his life, and this kind of relief money can't sustain his life at all. He still has to rely on himself.
1119 failures
Sandoz pondered how to get out of trouble. The most valuable thing he has is fried chicken, which is a huge intangible asset. Suddenly, he remembered that he once sold fried chicken to a restaurant owner in Utah. The boss did a good job, so several restaurant owners also bought Saunders' fried chicken as seasoning. They paid Saunders 5 cents for every 1 chickens they sold. Sandoz, who is in trouble, thinks that maybe someone else will do this, and maybe this is a new starting point for his career. In this way, Colonel Sanders started his second venture. He took a pressure cooker and a 51-pound cooking bucket and drove his old Ford on the road. Wearing a white suit and BlackBowKnot, a white-haired colonel dressed as a southern gentleman stopped at the door of every restaurant, from Kentucky to Ohio, peddling the secret recipe of fried chicken and demanding that the boss and the clerk perform fried chicken. If they like fried chicken, sell them a franchise, provide ingredients and teach them how to fry it. At first, no one believed him, and the restaurant owner even thought it was a waste of time to listen to this strange old man's nonsense. Sanders' propaganda work was very difficult. For two years, he was rejected for 1119 times. Finally, when he walked into a restaurant for the 1111th time, he got a "ok" answer. With one person, there will be a second person. With Sandoz's insistence, his idea has finally been accepted by more and more people. In 1952, the first authorized KFC restaurant in Salt Lake City was established, which was the beginning of franchise of catering in the world. Then, to the surprise of more people, Sandoz's business snowballed. In just five years, he has developed 411 chain stores in the United States and Canada. In 1955, Colonel Sanders' KFC Co., Ltd. was formally established. At the same time, he accepted the invitation of a talk show on a Colorado TV station. Being busy with work all day, he had to find out the only clean suit-white palm suit, put on his black-rimmed eyes for many years and appear in front of the public. The image of the veteran Southern Colonel cooking fried chicken soon attracted many reporters and TV hosts. The 71-year-old Sanders was surrounded by people clamoring for cooperation with him, and restaurant representatives who wanted to buy concessions were still flocking. To this end, he set up a school to let these restaurant owners come to KFC to learn how to run a franchise fried chicken shop. In 1964, an investment group composed of john brown, a 29-year-old young lawyer, and Jack Mercer, a 61-year-old capitalist, was deeply moved by Sandoz's career. They wanted to buy the business with 2 million dollars. At that time, it was a lot of money. Although they were extremely reluctant, considering that they were 74 years old, Sandoz agreed to leave the next career to the next generation.
1119 failures
Sandoz pondered how to get out of trouble. The most valuable thing he has is fried chicken, which is a huge intangible asset. Suddenly, he remembered that he once sold fried chicken to a restaurant owner in Utah. The boss did a good job, so several restaurant owners also bought Saunders' fried chicken as seasoning. They paid Saunders 5 cents for every 1 chickens they sold. Sandoz, who is in trouble, thinks that maybe someone else will do this, and maybe this is a new starting point for his career. In this way, Colonel Sanders started his second venture. He took a pressure cooker and a 51-pound cooking bucket and drove his old Ford on the road. Wearing a white suit and BlackBowKnot, a white-haired colonel dressed as a southern gentleman stopped at the door of every restaurant, from Kentucky to Ohio, peddling the secret recipe of fried chicken and demanding that the boss and the clerk perform fried chicken. If they like fried chicken, sell them a franchise, provide ingredients and teach them how to fry it. At first, no one believed him, and the restaurant owner even thought it was a waste of time to listen to this strange old man's nonsense. Sanders' propaganda work was very difficult. For two years, he was rejected for 1119 times. Finally, when he walked into a restaurant for the 1111th time, he got a "ok" answer. With one person, there will be a second person. With Sandoz's insistence, his idea has finally been accepted by more and more people. In 1952, the first authorized KFC restaurant in Salt Lake City was established, which was the beginning of franchise of catering in the world. Then, to the surprise of more people, Sandoz's business snowballed. In just five years, he has developed 411 chain stores in the United States and Canada. In 1955, Colonel Sanders' KFC Co., Ltd. was formally established. At the same time, he accepted the invitation of a talk show on a Colorado TV station. Being busy with work all day, he had to find out the only clean suit-white palm suit, put on his black-rimmed eyes for many years and appear in front of the public. The image of the veteran Southern Colonel cooking fried chicken soon attracted many reporters and TV hosts. The 71-year-old Sanders was surrounded by people clamoring for cooperation with him, and restaurant representatives who wanted to buy concessions were still flocking. To this end, he set up a school to let these restaurant owners come to KFC to learn how to run a franchise fried chicken shop. In 1964, an investment group composed of john brown, a 29-year-old young lawyer, and Jack Mercer, a 61-year-old capitalist, was deeply moved by Sandoz's career. They wanted to buy the business with 2 million dollars. At that time, it was a lot of money. Although they were extremely reluctant, considering that they were 74 years old, Sandoz agreed to leave the next career to the next generation.
The image of KFC forever
In everyone's eyes, the retired Sanders should have a good rest, but this tireless old man started another job by sucking his fingers at the original chicken
. Since his appearance on TV, his dress has become a unique registered trademark of KFC. When people see him, they will naturally think of Colonel Sanders' legendary experience and the way he always smiles. For this reason, Sandoz often joked: "My smile is the best trademark." Although he sold all his exclusive rights, considering his great reputation, these new owners paid Sanders a lifetime salary and asked him to continue to be the spokesman of KFC fried chicken and publicize it widely. With the joining of enterprising new managers, KFC fried chicken has developed at an alarming rate under the rapid development of American fast food industry. In the following five years, sales increased by 96% on average every year, reaching 211 million dollars in March, 1971. In the same year, nearly 1111 new branches were opened, most of which were franchised. In 1971, with the consent of the colonel, Brown and Mercer sold this promising business to Huberline Company. At this time, KFC's annual turnover has exceeded 211 million US dollars. Although the business of KFC has changed hands and changed continuously since then, the way of franchising has not changed. Although there are more and more ingredients for fried chicken, it will always be formed on the basis of the most classic 11 kinds of raw materials. Of course, its image will always be that Colonel Sanders with white suit, white hair, black-rimmed glasses and always smiling. Sandoz's life is a typical American legend. He did all kinds of jobs, but only at the age of 41 did he find the starting point of his career in the catering industry. After setbacks, he made a comeback at the age of 66 and re-created another glory. With his "franchise", KFC today will be the largest fried chicken chain group in the world. Sandoz, on the other hand, has devoted all his life to KFC. Shortly before his death at the age of 91, he had to travel as long as 251,111 miles every year and sell KFC fried chicken everywhere. His age and wealth have not affected his enthusiasm for work, and he still manages his career tirelessly. When people asked him why he still worked so hard, Sanders replied, "People rust more because of idleness than those who are exhausted. If I rust because of idleness, I will go to hell." In 1981, Colonel Sanders died of leukemia at the age of 91. His body was laid in the state legislature for people to pay tribute to. Although he left, the fried chicken business he founded brought eternal charm to Kentucky. People can't help but know the name of fried chicken KFC. He changed people's diet world with a chicken.