Ingredients

The Everything I Know About Business I Learned at McDonald’s Recipe for Success

Mix the 7 leadership principles together in a large bowl to supersize your management skills in any industry.

For the full recipe, buy the book!

1. Honesty, integrity, and transparency

2. Relationships, trust, and mutual respect

3. High standards, and a never-be-satisfied culture

4. Values-driven leaders who lead by example

5. Courage and risk taking

6. Consistent messaging and open communications

7. Frequent recognition and rewards 

• A Culture of Opportunity

  McDonald’s has made more millionaires, and especially black and Hispanic millionaires, than any other economic entity, ever.

• Growth Potential

  73.5% of worldwide top executives and mid-management started their careers as crew.

• Never Be Satisfied

  McDonald’s nearly messianic determination to keep raising the bar is illustrated in the practice of “dumpster diving.” Store managers are encouraged to look through the garbage to see if they can find out which foods customers are throwing away.

• Building a Culture of Trust

  In 1974, McDonald’s launched the first ombudsman program in the industry, where owners/operators as well as corporate employees could air complaints to an unbiased party without repercussions.

• Building Entrepreneurs

  33% of franchisees and 63.6% of company restaurant managers started out as crew.