The history of McDonald’s begins in 1954, when former mixer salesman Ray Kroc visited the McDonald brothers’ hamburger store in California. He was very impressed by their hamburger. It was because the hamburger came out in a short time! Also, he thought it was cheap but also of good quality for the price. Ray Kroc, who later took orders from the brothers telling him to “Order me eight more than the six mixers,” had a hunch that their business would prosper. Watching the crowd of guests continually visiting the store, Ray Kroc persuaded the McDonald brothers to come up with a franchise business, saying, “If you open a restaurant on each wayside, you will succeed.” His friends stopped him from trying new challenges in his 50s, but in 1955, Ray Kroc opened his first McDonald’s store in Chicago. Since then, he turned it into a big success and brought the number of stores to 200 in only 5 years. In January 1984, he died at the age of 81, but until right before his death, his life was dedicated to McDonald’s.

           Ray Kroc was an excellent leader. Every time he opened a new franchise, he received a sales report for the first day of business and watched with constant interest how the new management led the store. His management philosophy was to equally provide good quality food and perfect service anytime and anywhere. This philosophy conveyed his vision of ‘working for themselves with McDonald’s’, not simply ‘working for McDonald’s’. This created a new business structure that allowed all franchises, suppliers, and employees, to grow together at the same time. In his lifetime, he also left a famous slogan, “Business is not about doing it alone, but for yourself.”

           Ray Kroc, above all, was a man full of sincerity for the customers who visit and love McDonald’s. He promised to provide high-quality meals at low prices with friendly service in clean restaurants. Isn’t his spirit and willpower the key to McDonald’s growing into the largest franchise company loved by many around the world?