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Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald's Mass Market Paperback – April 15, 1992
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Few entrepreneurs can claim to have actually changed the way we live, but Ray Kroc is one of them. His revolutions in food service automation, franchising, shared national training and advertising have earned him a place beside the men who founded not merely businesses but entire new industries.
But even more interesting than Ray Kroc the business legend is Ray Kroc the man. Not your typical self-made tycoon, Kroc was 52 when he met the McDonald brothers and opened his first franchise.
Now meet Ray Kroc, the man behind the business legend, in his own words. Irrepressible enthusiast, perceptive people-watcher, and born storyteller, he will fascinate and inspire you. You'll never forget Ray Kroc.
- Print length256 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherSt. Martin's Paperbacks
- Publication dateApril 15, 1992
- Dimensions4.33 x 0.66 x 6.85 inches
- ISBN-100312929870
- ISBN-13978-0312929879
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“Columbus discovered America, Jefferson invented it, and Ray Kroc Big Mac'd it.” ―Tom Robbins, Esquire magazine
“A marvelous, zesty read, filled with the optimism and enthusiasm of Ray Kroc.” ―West Coast Review of Books
“He was past fifty before he ever thought of getting into the fast food business. Within a decade he was a millionaire, and his odyssey is a classic success story!” ―Philadelphia Sunday Bulletin
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Product details
- Publisher : St. Martin's Paperbacks; Reissue edition (April 15, 1992)
- Language : English
- Mass Market Paperback : 256 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0312929870
- ISBN-13 : 978-0312929879
- Item Weight : 4.4 ounces
- Dimensions : 4.33 x 0.66 x 6.85 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #469,348 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #304 in Restaurant & Food Industry (Books)
- #672 in Hospitality, Travel & Tourism (Books)
- #738 in History of Technology
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The book fills in, and clarifies, all the missing blanks the movie "the Founder" leaves out.
Reading this book, you realize that it took a team of visionaries to build this multinational company. Not just Kroc and his team, but a cast of thousands... from executives to suppliers...participated in the building of an international icon.
McDonald's dominance was never baked in, it was through years of gathering the right people, and a lot of risk taking that Mr Kroc was able to sell the concept of winning to the world!
This book is a must read for anyone looking for personal motivation in a sales career, or any fan of McDonald's.
If you aren't a McDonald's fan, this book is likely to make you one! I never viewed McDonald's as the scrappy underdog until I heard the story from Ray Kroc's viewpoint.
I never understood that McDonald's actually upped the game by adding standards and consistancy that had been nonexistent in American drive in restaurants. McDonald's was the new, higher standard in a sea of low quality... Something we now take for granted.
Everything about McDonald's is meticulously planned and researched, from the fiber in Ronald's wig, to the noise the straw makes when you poke it through the plastic lid.
McDonald's is a fascinating history on it's own, and an interesting case study of a successful business empire.
Grinding it out is a page turner, I finished it in a 4 hour sitting.
The first chapter is by far the best, about when he met the McDonald's brothers in San Bernardino, California. It really gets you pumped to hear what you think will be a wonderful story. Unfortunately, it never really gets going again after that. It seems like he wants to give a pat on the back to every buddy he's ever had in the business. There are some good moments like when he talks about how the Filet-O-Fish or Big Mac was first conceived. But these are short anecdotes and most of the rest feels like fluff. He will wear you out with his self-congratulatory style never forgetting to tell you about how right he's always been. It gives you a strong feeling that Ray Kroc wasn't the greatest guy to be around. Honestly, if you are interested in the McDonald's story you should watch the film The Founder. If you are like me and watched the movie first, save yourself some time and skip this book.
In reality he jacked alot of people and supposedly made tons of enemies, much of it due to his alcoholism; but none of that is ever mentioned. Thats the bad part.
But the good is getting to peak into the mind of a bonafide visionary. A true business genius. If your interested in the mechanics of what makes you successful as a businessman you will really enjoy this book. I would have given it a 5 star if it just had a little more detail. Gets a little borong towards the end when he told his story and then had no gas left in the tank but all in all if you saw the movie you will really enjoy the book.
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It is the story of rags to riches.
The story of a smart salesman - who took risks and worked hard to create his own luck.
Contrary to the movie, Ray was a successful milkshake salesman before he went to McDonald - he was success at everything he did, and there was no reason for him to move to a highly risky venture of setting up a burger franchise - he was earning well. But he saw the potential and did everything to make it happen. He worked two jobs while setting up McDonalds in his local area.
Note that other people saw what the McDonald brothers were doing but failed to replicate their success.
This is an entertaining read - a page turner - that will inspire you - to work hard and take risks in business or your job. A must read
This book is written in an easy to read manner making it approachable for pretty much anyone a bit like McDonald's. However it is important to take the information from this book with a pinch of salt because it is an autobiography so the author is likely to be biased in certain aspects. Nevertheless anyone interested in management should definitely read this book as it makes you realise why certain companies succeed and others fail!
The founder of McDonald's Ray Kroc (helped by Robert Anderson) recounts his visit in 1954 to San Bernardino near San Diego to call upon the McDonald Brothers who owned a small 200 feet square food outlet. He was visiting them hopeful of selling them one or more of the milk shake machines he was hawking wherever he saw an opportunity but what he found was at the age of 52, an idea that he instantly thought would be a great business opportunity if 'rolled out' by way of company owned branches or franchises across the States.....low cost quality hamburgers (in those days selling for fifteen cents) with well sourced and cooked fries, a milk shake, and little else. He tried to persuade the Brothers to go into business together with the intention of expanding the business but were only interested if Ray Kroc was solely responsible for the opening of all new outlets as they were quite happy with their lifestyles and didn't want the additional aggravation. A contract was drawn up and at the age of 52 with diabetes and incipient arthritis he found himself embarking upon a business for which he had little experience.
The outcome of this entrepreneurial 'gamble' is well known and just about everybody is aware of the phenomenal success of the McDonald business but this book in a very 'folksie' narrative fills in the way the McDonald very simple and straightforward philosophy was evolved, and implemented across the whole business of fast food retailing from ingredient sourcing, preparation, staff attitudes, interior design, imaging, marketing and advertising.
Whilst this book was completed in 1977, just 7 years before Mr Kroc died aged 82, and only obviously deals with the company's progress until that time, it certainly very comprehensively 'paints the picture' and explains the whole ethos by which the company based and still bases it's success.
A truly inspirational book that would be of great interest and benefit to the casual reader, a McDonald's aficionado, or any established or intending entrepreneur already in or wanting to be in the fast food business.
It tells the story of how a middle aged salesman spotted a great product invented by two slightly unambitious characters and then set about world domination.
Due to the time in which it was written, it has a few comments which would now be seen as sexist (for example he employed a man as a secretary so he could also send him out as a salesperson), there is a lot to be learnt from this book.
However, like many books by successful businessmen one thing stands out as the key ingredient to make success- and that is hard work and dedication above all else, or as Ray liked to say; "Grinding it out".




