When Colonel Harland Sanders
retired at the age of 65, he had little to show for himself, except an old
Caddie roadster, a $105 monthly pension check, and a recipe for chicken.
Knowing he couldn't live on
his pension, he took his chicken recipe in hand, got behind the wheel of his
van, and set out to make his fortune. His first plan was to sell his chicken
recipe to restaurant owners, who would in turn give him a residual for every
piece of chicken they sold--5 cents per chicken. The first restaurateur he
called on turned him down.
So did the second.
So did the
third.
In fact, the first 1008 sales calls Colonel Sanders made ended
in rejection. Still, he continued to call on owners as he traveled across
the USA, sleeping in his car to save money. Prospect number 1009 gave him
his first "yes."
After two years of making daily sales he had signed
up a total of five restaurants. Still the Colonel pressed on, knowing that
he had a great chicken recipe and that someday the idea would catch on.
Of course, you know how the story ends. The idea DID catch on. By 1963
the Colonel had 600 restaurants across the country selling his secret recipe
of Kentucky Fried Chicken (with 11 herbs and spices).
In 1964 he was
bought out by future Kentucky governor John Brown. Even though the sale made
him a multi-millionaire, he continued to represent and promote KFC until his
death in 1990.
Colonel Sanders' story teaches an important lesson:
its never too late to decide to never give up.
Earlier in his life
the Colonel was involved in other business ventures--but they weren't
successful. He had a gas station in the 30's, a restaurant in the 40's, and
he gave up on both of them. At the age of 65, however, Harland Sanders
decided his chicken idea was the right idea, and he refused to give up, even
in spite of repeated rejection.
He knew that if he kept on knocking
on doors, eventually someone would say "yes." This is how Jesus has
commanded to approach life. He said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek
and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Luke 11:9)
This verse follows a story Jesus told emphasizing the importance of a
"never-give-up" attitude in prayer. Jesus is saying, "Ask--not just once,
but as many times as is necessary. Keep on knocking till the door is
opened." If you have made half-hearted attempts at doing God's will in your
life...if you have given up too easily in the past...remember: It's never
too late to become persistent. It's never too late to decide to never give
up. Keep on knocking. Keep on asking. Keep on seeking.
