S. Truett Cathy

Like, I was doing tons of research.

I was researching Christian entrepreneurs throughout history, like Arthur Guinness of the Guinness Brewing Company and Truett Cathy of Chick-fil-A.

I was going out and doing interviews with the people.

And I wasn't actually trying to write a book.

[laughs]

You know, she was friends with Truett Cathy.

Right.

The owner of Chick-fil-A.

Chick-fil-A has intensified its fight against hunger, driven by CEO Andrew Cathy's personal connection to the issue.

His grandfather, Truett Cathy, the chain's founder, experienced food insecurity while growing up.

The company has long had its Shared Table program in place, in which operators donate surplus food to nonprofit organizations in their communities.

But now Cathy is calling on companies across the industry to join together to help solve food insecurity, which impacts one in seven Americans.

I think great coaches are able to pull the chair alongside.

I'll never forget Truett Cathy.

who I got to sit with before he passed away, pulled two chairs close to each other and went knee to knee with me.

My knees were like literally touching his and he was looking me right in my eye and we had a conversation.

It's Better to Build Boys Than Mend Men.

It's a great book by Truett Cathy.

And I love that concept.

And it may be in the book, but either way, you'd much rather have to restrain a Mustang than kick a mule.

So if you were gonna think to your time in luxury and all the hotels you spent time with and brands that people are familiar with out there in the luxury pla- you know, playground like Ritz Carlton and things like that, it's, it's so easy for folks to say, "Oh, that's, that's a whole different playing field.

Uh, there's nothing I can learn there." But I still believe much as Truett Cathy implemented my pleasure after having spent time at a Ritz Carlton, that there's so much that mainstream business, small business can learn from these luxury hotels.

Could you tell us a little bit, you know, ba- because you've been doing this a really long time in this luxury space, what can the small business and mid-scale business and everyday business owners go pluck out of these luxury brands to help drive their customer experience and customer loyalty?

Yeah.

He said, do you know Zig Ziglar has pastored and taught the same middle school boys Sunday school class outside of Dallas for 35 years? No sir, I didn't know that.

He said, you know, Truett Cathy, well, Mr. Charlie, you introduced me to Truett Cathy.

He owns Chick-fil-A.

He said, you know, Truett Cathy has taught the same high school boys Sunday school class in Jonesboro, Georgia for over 40 years.

Are you saying you're busier than the founder of Chick-fil-A or the world's number one international speaker? I go back to my pastor.

The Lord has moved on me to start that Sunday school class.

Grew up in Atlanta.

Truett Cathy founded it.

So I'm a Chick-fil-A guy.

I'll take a card from Chick-fil-A.

In their religious beliefs, in their probably political beliefs, how they run their business.

Truett Cathy.

Yeah.

S. Truett Cathy.

And he passed away, I think.

I think he passed away.