Is Everybody Happy!?!: Creating Culture Where Success & Happiness Thrive- The Chick-Fil-a Way

By C. Scott Overcarsh

Is Everybody HAPPY!?! is an account of the history and principles that allowed the Chick-fil-A Restaurant chain to nurture a culture where success and happiness thrive. The author looks at the influences in Truett Cathy's life that led to twenty principles contained in the book, principles anyone can apply to their life and/or business. The reader will discover how a child of the Great Depression took lessons learned from his mother's boarding house and his first restaurant, The Dwarf House in Hapeville, Georgia and built a restaurant empire that puts other people into the restaurant business with very little investment and creates millions of positive interactions with customers every day throughout the U.S.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Aug 13, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543948424

Book preview

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Copyright © 2018 by C. Scott Overcarsh

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Printed in the United States of America

First Printing, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-54394-841-7

C. Scott Overcarsh

329 Decatur, GA 30030

[e-mail]

Website: www.iseverybodyhappy.net

Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Photographs, with the exception of the author, property of Chick-fil-A, Inc and used with permission

Author photograph by Barry Williams

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Contents

Introduction

The Journey

Chick-fil-A’s beginnings

The Pioneers

Getting a brand off the ground

Growing the Brand

The Early Years

Chapter Two

Learning to Prosper Without our Founder

A Final Thought

The Principle of Happiness

20 Guiding Principles/Practices

Appendix

HAPPY Life Study Guide:A Biblical Perspective

About the Author

I dedicate this publication to those who have influenced my life and contributed to my happiness for more than 60 years- my awesome parents, Betty and Boody, who kept me out of most trouble growing up and taught me the values of unconditional love and hard work; Jody, my wonderful, understanding, and supportive wife of more than 37 years, whom I love dearly and who has helped me grow as a husband, father, and person; my three children, Bryan, Beth, and Emily, who have contributed to my happiness in so many ways, are using their talents to serve others, and have handled the sacrifice of a traveling Dad all of their lives, with patience and love; my best friend, Mac Baker, whom I have had the pleasure of working with throughout my Chick-fil-A career and who has made me laugh more than any other human being.

Foremost, I want to dedicate this memoir to S. Truett Cathy, who inspired me as he did so many others through his life, faith, encouragement, and love. Truett, as he preferred to be called, helped thousands of people discover happiness by using their talents, sharing their resources, and serving those around them. His positive influence lives on through those who knew him and, I hope, those who will learn about him, contributing to their happiness and the betterment of our world.

Truett sharing cows and enticing smiles

As I head toward the end of my Journey, I will always be H-A-P-P-Y for the love, encouragement, and opportunities provided to me by Truett and his amazing family, especially his children Dan, Bubba, and Trudy.

Mark Twain once said, The two best days of our lives are the day we are born and the day we discover ‘why’. Every life begins with potential to be discovered and unleashed. Understanding what you are capable of and pursuing it with all your energy can make the difference between potential unfulfilled and a life rich with satisfaction, meaning and joy. Few people ever become truly wealthy, but everyone can become rich once they discover their ‘why’ and determine to live their Life Journey committed to fulfilling it.

This is true for individuals and businesses alike. The secret is applying a ‘how’ that allows the ‘why’ to prosper. S. Truett Cathy did just that as he built Chick-fil-A into a very successful business for more than half a century. You are about to gain insight into Truett’s ‘how’ as you explore many of the principles he applied to his life and life’s work.

Mark Twain understood the value of discovering and living your ‘why,’ leading to a life of ‘best days’. I would rather live that life than one that continually asked the question, Why?, wouldn’t you?

As we live our individual stories, opportunities sometimes allow us to interact with truly great people. Those people influence the world around them and the individuals whose paths they intersect. Why is it that some people have a special impact on the world they live in beyond what most of us are able to do? I believe the way some people live, the way people feel in their presence, and the results they achieve cause others to say, I’d like to be more like them. I met such a person in February of 1977, my senior year of college. That individual was S. Truett Cathy.

When I first met Truett, I was impressed not only with his personality but more so with his spirit. Truett was about average in stature but way above average in character and influence. Truett seemed always to be more interested in others and how they were doing than in himself and whatever he was doing.

Truett had a very positive influence on others throughout his life as he encouraged them to: do their best, think positively, act carefully, work diligently, give generously, encourage others continuously, and find happiness in helping others get what they want in life. That is quite a list, but it is exactly the way he lived. Truett helped me grow as a leader, at work and home, and provided the foundation to create a life of significance in a work environment where success and happiness could flourish.

Mother Teresa said, Spread love everywhere you go, let no one come to you without leaving better and happier. Truett embodied this message throughout his life. As I got to know Truett, I realized he lived by key principles he had discovered along his own Life Journey. As he lived by those principles, they influenced the decisions he made in business, and the instruction he would give others.

Truett also created a Culture of HAPPY in the business he founded and led, Chick-fil-A.

In this book, I will share with you a number of those principles that cultivated that culture, and led to a company where success and happiness thrive. If that sounds like something you could use more of, I invite you to consider allowing Truett to influence your Life Journey in this telling of the Chick-fil-A Story and the ways Truett made a positive difference through it. Look for opportunities to embody these principles in your work and personal life. I believe you will be better equipped to fulfill the potential you were born with and make the most of your ‘why’.

On September 8, 2014, the Chick-fil-A family said goodbye to the author of this amazing brand when Truett passed away at the age of 93. He was the inspirational inventor, founder, and cheerleader for America’s Most Beloved Restaurant Chain.¹ Truett was a role model and friend to most everyone he met. He was also an excellent restaurateur!

Truett’s wisdom, imagination, determination, inspiration, unconditional love, and encouragement, are embedded in the DNA of one of the most successful family-owned