Page 228 - Everything I Know About Business I Learned

Everything I Know About Business I Learned at McDonald’s

myself cared about me. And it showed how the top people could
have such impact on the folks in the field. It was a thrill to meet
Ray for the first time and have a chance to speak with him. I
began to realize just how big this organization was, but how
small they kept the feeling of family. And I sure felt a part of the
family of McDonald’s.

One on One with Fred Turner
n interviewing Fred Turner for this book, I was privileged to spend
Iseveral days with him. If we were in the car and he got a phone
call, he’d ask the caller to guess who he was with, and after a few
seconds, say, “Paul Facella,” and hand me the phone to say hello.

198 Maybe two of the callers really knew who I was. Other times, he
insisted upon introducing me as his “senior partner” to the folks
he knew. My knee-jerk reaction was, “Fred, Ray was your senior
partner, not me.” He just smiled at me on that. It’s not like Fred
really thinks I’m his senior partner. Yet, he made me feel special.
Here I am with one of the legends of the company, and he’s calling
me his partner. For Fred, there still is no class distinction. We are
all equal, all part of the family. What a way to give recognition!

Lesson Learned
Praise from the top—the very top—is the kind of recognition
employees bask in. Give it to those who are truly deserving,
and make it a celebration. Encourage the highest levels in your
organization to become part of the process of recognition, and
make it a ritual. They will enjoy it as well.