Colonel Harland Sanders : The creator of KFC

KFC, when we all heard this title we automatically think of a grandpa with a pair of glasses perched on his nose, a white suit, and a black string tie with a cane. The man we know as Colonel Sanders had an interesting life with many ups and downs. Even in bad times, he never gave up on accomplishing his vision. He used his life skills and developed one of the most recognized fast food restaurants. 

This lovable grandfather figure is the creator of KFC and his name is Colonel Harland Sanders. Colonel Harland Sanders is known around the world for his famous "finger licking good" Kentucky Fried Chicken. His chicken, made from a special recipe that includes eleven herbs and spices, is served every day in restaurants. These establishments span the United States. You can even find his chicken in more than a hundred and twenty other countries. Kentucky Fried Chicken is one of the largest fast food corporations in the world.

While most successful men start their careers at an early age, Harland Sanders' story actually begins when he was sixty-five years old.

Harland Sanders' life began in September of 1890.  He was the son of Harold Sanders. 

His father died at the age of six, and he was the oldest child in a family of five. His father's death left the responsibility of supporting the family to Mrs. Sanders. So, she took a job in a shirt factory. That left young Harland at home to take care of his younger brother and sister. His mother taught him how to cook the family's meals. One of the meals she taught him to make was her incredibly delicious fried chicken.

He quit school at the age of 12.When the he were elementary school, his mom remarried.

Unfortunately, his stepfather hated Sanders. He was often beat by his stepfather.

So, Sanders left the house at an early age and found work as a streetcar conductor while he was still just a teenager. After that, Sanders took a job as a fireman on the railroad. 

He continued to be a hard worker and in 1908 when he was 28 year-old he started his own family and married his first wife. At first, it was a happy home.

BUT

His work life was not always easy. Once after he returned from a business trip, he received a pink slip from the company that he was working for at that time. His wife left him. She took all the furniture and contents of the house to her mother’s. Soon after that his wife's brother wrote him. He told Sanders that there was no possibility that his sister would ever stay married to an unemployed, incompetent man.

Sanders felt defeated and that his existence was pathetic. He was lonely and sad that all he seemed to try to achieve was in vain. However, he continued to work very hard and many years later things began to change.

1930, when he became 50 years old, he was able to purchase a gas station in Kentucky.

At that gas station he sold some food, Sanders utilized the recipes and the cooking skills his mother had taught him to feed hungry travelers. His special meal was, of course, fried chicken. He seasoned the poultry with his original blend of eleven herbs and spices.

By the time he was 65 year-old, his recipe had become famous in his town. He created a “secret trick”, which used "pressure" to cook the chicken faster. He named that chicken 

                                         KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN. KFC

BUT

The government started develop the highway far on the gas station of Sanders. His gas station began to experience a rapid decrease in sales. He saw the writing on the wall so, he decided to become a "recipe" salesman in the United States.

He put his old fryers on old truck and kissed the cheek on his wife at the time to travel the United States aimlessly, selling his family’s recipe. He was still 65 years old at the time.

He was rejected 100’s of times.

They said

"Grandpa. Why don’t you just go home and sit on your couch.”

"We don't want this kind of recipe" 

"You are not even young .. What is this all meaning for?"

The 200th restaurant did not accept. 

Nor the 500th...700th....and 1000th.

Sanders continued to change with the times. Finally at the 1009^th restaurant, 

he met Dave Thomas a restaurant owner,

who eventually became the president of Wendy’s. 

At first Dave rejected Sander’s recipe. After many attempts, Dave accepted the recipe and helped Sanders grow his business into a worldwide success. 

KFC had more than 600 franchises in the United States and Canada at that time.

And now...

United States 4,600

 

Japan 1,200

China 4,400

And so far is total of 120 countries and operates 18,000 stores. 

The KFC story is full of meaning and there is much to be learned from Sander's determination. We should never give up and be aware of all the great opportunities that exists in the US. I think we sometimes give up too easy and blame others for our failures. We are all capable of accomplishing our own visions with hard work and determination. We should always avoid negative people and stay in control of our own lives. 

Thank you for reading.  Ceha Lee