Page 119 - Everything I Know About Business I Learned

4 Lead by Example

Leadership means developing and demonstrat-
ing to the people underneath you that you are
first of all entirely sincere, and that you are hon-
est and that you will subject yourself to any-
thing that you ask them to do, or you have
already proven yourself . . .

—Ray Kroc

Ray Kroc was an established legend in the food
service arena by 1978, the year I first met him.
It was a night I will never forget.
On this particular occasion, I learned Ray was coming to
New York, and as was his practice, he liked to visit with the
regional folks whenever possible. Because the zone manager was
busy, and at the time there was no regional manager, it was
decided that I, as the director of operations, would be having
dinner with Ray. Ray’s secretary called me personally and let me
know the details. He would be staying at the UN Plaza hotel in
midtown, and would have Al Golin, his longtime public rela-
tions resource, with him. We would dine at the renowned 21
Club, a former speakeasy in Manhattan. In anticipation I imme-
diately started thinking about which suit I would wear and how
to handle myself.
Arriving at the hotel at the appointed time, I was all spit and
polish, anxious as to how the evening would go. I watched as a
large stretch limo pulled up and out bounded Ray himself, finely

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