McDonalds is in the news again today. Steve Easterbrook assumed command of the Golden Arches on Sunday, replacing Don Thompson who retired. Easterbrook plans to turn McDonalds into a “modern, progressive burger company.”
McDonalds managed to lose market share because it failed to remain true to what it really is – a place to get cheap, unhealthy food quickly and conveniently. As a kid, I remember looking forward to Friday nights because my parents would take us to McDonalds. My dad would go in and order the food and we’d all eat it in the car. Nobody cared that it was fatty and unhealthy. It was good. Road trips would not be complete without a stop at McDonalds. Greasy French fries and a Big Mac that dripped secret sauce all over your lap.
Today McDonalds is trying to be all things to everyone. Healthy food, apple slices in the Happy Meals, fancy coffee, and a huge menu. It’s trying to compete with Chipotle and Panera. It’s no longer true to itself. I miss my fatty, unhealthy friend!
At the core of who we are is our real self. It’s what defines us and makes up our being. We are a product of our environment and our upbringing. It’s the foundation on which we build.
It’s the foundation on which we build.
That’s the key. We all need to work on growth and improvement. It’s how we stay viable and marketable. No matter what though, who we are is something we have to own. Good and bad. Whatever your start, OWN it.
- My career in the Navy was unsuccessful – but I OWN that!
- I’m not a big fan of conventional wisdom in my field – but I OWN that!
- I will never look good in a Speedo – but I OWN that!
This week, think about what you need to own. McDonalds will never succeed until it goes back to what made it successful in its early years. You’ll never be as successful as you can be until you go back and own what got you to where you are. If it was tough, learn to navigate through it and learn from it. If it was great, learn how to leverage it. No matter what though, make sure whatever you become, you still pay homage to your foundation. It’s what brought you to this point.
i totally agree with what you said and actually it made me feel confident thank you for that, and about McDonalds for my opinion it`s not bad if they add healthy food but i also think that they shouldn`t change their old menu and their old food that everyone use to love and still do as for me i dont care if it`s fatty or not cause we can eat it every once in a while it doesnt have to be everyday and cause as you said it`s their food what made them succeed and owned it , and they shouldn`t listen to some peoples comment no cause there r also a lot of people who loves McDonalds the way it is and not all people has money to buy healthy expensive food that doesn`t make us satisfied we do need fat in our body kids also needs it when they are young now almost everything is not natural cause they add stuff and take fat away from it like milk meat and …..etc and if we want to buy the organic and the old stuff its expensive why when it spouse to be the opposite like how it use to be like how god created it you know what i mean so im with what you said 100% when people own the thing from what they created the first time they should stick to it changing it might just make them loose so it`s bad i love McDonalds and i want it to stay as it is now or before and hope they dont change and make other food that wont make anyone happy their fries was the most famous and good tasting fries in the US i hope they get that back and not change it or their big mac cause i love it my family friends and everyone do. thank you for your article about McDonalds good luck i wish you the best