Inspiring but Limited
Ray Kroc gives an engaging account of his life, including significant insight behind the founding of McDonalds. Kroc is willing to detail both his successes and his mistakes, which allows the reader to truly feel like an 'insider'. The book is filled with interesting snippets of advice based on these successes or failures that Kroc backs up with anecdotes. He's a great story teller, and he uses that talent to expound his life philosophy of working hard and getting things done at almost any cost (in his view determination is the most important quality for any successful person to possess).
Kroc seems like a man that in real life folks probably either love or hate - but i think most readers interested in business and even some just interested in good life stories will like this book. He's willing to be audacious and politically incorrect which is definitely entertaining.
The book's biggest flaw is that it leaves the reader (or me at least) wanting more insight behind the success and rapid growth of McDonalds in the late 50s and early 60s. It seems like Kroc is really struggling in the mid-late 50s financially with the business and then a few pages later it's the mid 60s and McDonalds is taking in hundreds of millions. This is one of the central reasons many pick up the book probably - so it is a major flaw. Also, Kroc touches enough on his personal life to make it interesting, but then restrains himself from making it a tell-all, which again leaves the reader wanting more. For example, he hardly mentions his relationship with his daughter or how her death affected his business life.
Overall, this is a worthwhile, inspiring read, filled with great anecdotes and some good advice. It's amazing what Kroc accomplished, starting McDonalds and risking all at the late age of 52 (late for the '50s - starting a company today at 52 is not such a big deal). As the back of the book states - Ray Kroc is someone you will never forget - but unfortunately we're stuck with only 210 pages. He took the other 100 or so with him to the grave.
Supersize
Broach the subject of the great entrepreneurs of the twentieth century, and Bill Gates comes to mind for making the computer a reality in the average household. Donald Trump for his self promotion of his hard-ball real estate negotiating. William Ford for putting a car in the garage of the average citizen.
But Ray Kroc's story is so captivating and so meteoric, that it dwarf them all. McDonald's is so woven into the fabric of our nation and our diet, that it almost taken for granted in almost any city or town. The golden arches dot our landscapes, and sit so prominently in our conscienciousness, they are almost anonymous.
Yet, at this writing, this brand is only fifty five years old. Most baby boomers saw this brand in their, and its infancy.
Ray Kroc was a fifty two year old product salesman when he made this company happen. He had a vision for the product, and a structure to bring it to America and the world. This is his autobiography, and it is told in his upbeat, positive and forthright words.
Mr. Kroc was a trailblazer in a world that is increasingly geared toward the middle aged. He demonstrated that dreams are not only for the young, but also for the mature. He was a visionary, canny and charismatic leader.
Whether or not you like that the brand that McDonald's has become, the fact remains that it has stayed remarkably true to Mr. Kroc's vision and the structure he created for it.
Mr. Kroc is a man to be remembered with admiration. He lived a life of integrity raised the standards of an entire industry.
I have a copy of this book and I would just like to review it.
Ray Kroc was a winner, albeit, it took him some time to become one, but some of the best winners take the most time. That is what I love about his story, his winning was like a fine aged wine aged at warp speed when it was happening. This may not be the best review, but it is the best I can do, because it is a highly emotional subject in a way for me. As the reviewer before me said in a way: This is a viable idea at its finest when normal people can use their resources to create financial independence for themselves through his model of ingenuity and self-starting. It is why I recommend this book, as the nuts and bolts logic of what it means to really win in life no matter what.
GRINDING IT OUT
How can this seller even begin to think about asking 50 plus dollars on a this book? GAD!!!!!
Inspirational on many levels
I highly recommend this book for any business person. It is a very fast read and very inspirational from both a business and a personal perspective. The story behind McDonalds is very interesting and shows that in order to be successful you need to have a deep passion for what you are trying to accomplish, focus on the details, hire the best people and to think outside of the box. I have read scores of business books yet I tend to shy away from the biography end of this genre. This book is an exception. Ray Kroc's personal story really humanizes the McDonalds story. His passion led him to build possibly the greatest example of a turn key business system- as business author Michael Gerber puts it. And that is what makes this book so great. It is an interesting read, but is still able to show the details that went into designing and building the McDonalds system.
