Colonel Sander’s ‘secret recipe’ was called ‘Kentucky Fried Chicken’
New Delhi: Tired of facing rejections in life? Looking for motivation? Well, look no further. This story is about one man’s persistence in the face of adversity and rejection. We’ve all seen the KFC sign, and those who enjoy non-vegetarian food have probably visited the establishment frequently. The man featured on the KFC sign, with his infectious smile, is responsible for Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). Colonel Sanders, the man behind the KFC recipe, did not lose hope despite numerous rejections, and his perseverance eventually paid off. Today, KFC is not only a staple in the US, but also has a presence across the world, including India.
KFC’s journey and Colonel Sanders
Colonel Sanders had an early life filled with hardship, having lost his father at the young age of six. He dropped out of school in the seventh grade to work as a farmhand and support his family. At age 16, he joined the U.S. Army by faking his age. After being honorably discharged a year later, Sanders found work as a laborer on the railroad. However, he was fired after getting into a fight with a coworker. While working there, he also studied law, but his legal career ended abruptly after another altercation. Sanders then moved back in with his mother and took a job selling life insurance, only to be fired again, this time for insubordination. Despite these setbacks, he refused to give up.
At age 40, Sanders put his culinary skills to use. He began selling chicken dishes at a gas station. Looking to expand his business, he began placing advertisements in the newspaper, which did not go down well with his competitors. The unfair competition led to a fatal shooting. Four years later, Sanders purchased a motel, but it was destroyed in a fire. Undeterred, he rebuilt and continued to run a new motel until World War II forced him to close it.
Faced 1009 rejections
Undaunted by adversity, Colonel Sanders kept trying. When he was looking to franchise his restaurant, it is said that his recipe was rejected 1,009 times. But he did not give up. In the end, his faith paid off and his recipe was named “Kentucky Fried Chicken” and quickly became a hit.
However, the success of Sanders’s burgeoning restaurant was dampened when a new interstate highway opened nearby. Faced with this setback, he decided to sell the restaurant and focus on his dream of expanding KFC franchises and hiring workers across the country.
After years of struggles and setbacks, Sanders finally achieved massive success. KFC grew internationally, and he sold the company for $2 million (equivalent to $15.3 million today). Sanders remains a central figure in the KFC brand, and his face still appears on its logo. His iconic goatee, white suit, and western-style bow tie still represent the delicious country fried chicken loved around the world.
At age 90, Sanders died of pneumonia. By then, there were about 6,000 KFC locations in 48 countries. By 2013, that number had grown to about 18,000 locations in 118 countries.
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