Vision (this time in the fast food nation)

I have to admit. Ronald McDonald was cool. So was Bozo the Clown. I even thought the Burger King was cool. That was in the 70s. 

When I was in elementary school, we lived in Clarkston, Mich. At least through almost the end of first grade. But, in Clarkston, there was a McDonald's right on M–15. I don't know how often we used to go there but I do remember that I was finally able to get a Big Mac. And for some reason, I thought the Big Mac was BIG and DELICIOUS. (Maybe back then, they didn't use 1,000 cows for every burger?)

Later, I found out that the "founder" of McDonald's Ray Kroc owned the San Diego Padres who played the Tigers in the '84 World Series. I've read two or three books about Kroc and the history of McDonalds. Behind the Arches is okay but not as good as Kroc's own book published in 1977, Grinding It Out.

From the lead–in: "He searches through his competitors' garbage cans—he scolds his San Diego Padres over the P.A. system—he either enchants or antagonizes everyone he meets. But even his enemies agree there are three things Ray Kroc does damned well: sell hamburgers, make money, and tell stories." 

No doubt exists that the man was able to make us all buy burgers. McDonald's started as a small restaurant chain that grew into a nationwide behemoth. He sold some shake machines to the McDonald's brothers—then eventually bought the San Bernardino, Calif., restaurant from the brothers and began an amazing process in our country. He had an idea and it became realistic. His vision for inexpensive and quick food became a reality. It became a part of our nation.

You can learn a great deal from reading biographies and autobiographies of the men and women who had a vision and changed the way we all "see" ourselves, our friends, and our world around us.