Different risks are involved when going into the world of entrepreneurs.
“Entrepreneurship results in the creation, enhancement, realization, and renewal of value, not just for owners, but for all participants and stakeholders“ (Adams, Spinelli, 2021). You not only have to stress about how you are going to get your idea or business to work, but you must also factor in the ideas of how those decisions will affect your life and family overall. Jeff Madison, owner of the Shawnee Chick-Fil-A location knows this best; when it came to deciding a new career venture after 26 years in the military, Madison wanted to open up a franchise.
The idea of owning a Chick-Fil-A franchise came from Madison’s younger daughter and after that, the rest was history. The process of owning a franchise is a bit different than owning your own business. For Madison, it was a process that took about five years for the selection of the Shawnee location and required competing with 50,000 other people who wanted to be a franchise operator. The interesting part of owning a franchise is the freedoms that come with the business. The company provides different consultants for the business but ultimately the operator has the last say on the decisions made in the establishment.
Technology has certainly made a big impact on how business is run and this is no exception for Chick-Fil-A, as the company provides a mobile app, Chick-Fil-A One App. The app is not only a new way to market but also gives users access to order/pay for their meals from their mobile devices. For Madison, it is very important to know who his customers are and to find ways to reach new customers who have never had Chick-Fil-A before. The help of this app and providing free sandwiches at different events has become a really big marketing technique for Madison.
When it came to finding the right people to work at Chick-Fil-A, Madison looks for certain qualities in his employees. The employee has to have character, chemistry, and work ethic. “You have to look people in the eye and you have to smile, it’s more than a transaction, it is genuine.” (Madison, 2020) This is very important because Chick-Fil-A is not just a place that sells chicken, but it is a place that is focused on serving. Learning how to balance work life and family was very hard for Madison, especially when he was in the military, but with the franchise, he now has a new opportunity to spend more time with his family. From this interview with Jeff Madison, I learned that whatever we do we must reflect Christ and should have a heart that is always ready to serve. I also learned that becoming an entrepreneur requires a lot of dedication and character.