Die wahre Geschichte von McDonald's

Did you know that McDonald's operates around 40,300 restaurants worldwide, more than 13,000 of them in the US alone? Did you know that the actual creators of McDonald's, the brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald, are behind the famous "Speedy System", which makes it possible to prepare meals in no time? Or did you know that McDonald's is one of the largest real estate companies in the world? If you answered no to these questions, then the book by founder Ray Kroc is guaranteed to be for you. It reveals exciting insights into the founding story of the world's largest fast-food company. In this review, you'll find out why I also recommend the book as a fascinating look at management concepts of the past.

If the book addresses a “problem”, then it's probably the challenge every entrepreneur and founder faces: the arduous and rocky road to building your own company and the search for your own professional fulfillment. Ray Kroc was already over 50 years old and had gone through many different jobs. In "Die wahre Geschichte von McDonald's" we learn that Ray Kroc first sold paper cups, then milkshake mixers, before he finally came across the famous first McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino.

This journey is told in a gripping way and decorated with so many anecdotes that all founders will recognize themselves in the highs and lows. That makes it incredibly motivating and exciting to follow Ray Kroc's stories.

The book is for anyone who wants to get to know the story of a company that was built on the “old and classic” management principles. No blah blah, no theory, but hard-hitting personal impressions and decisions from Ray Kroc's world.

I had seen the movie first and already liked it. Because it was written by Ray Kroc himself, the book was much more personal still. I found the insight into his way of thinking extremely fascinating, if at times very strange. Today, his behavior and manner would be described as impulsive, short-tempered, self-centered and egotistical. He was an "old school" manager. He provides numerous examples of this in his book. Still, his tremendous success speaks for him too. He is a prime example of persistence and the indomitable will to create and build something of his own.

At a time when almost all entrepreneur books deal with questions of meaning and the like, I simply find the story of McDonald's refreshing. It's about getting things done, deciding, and making tough and uncomfortable decisions without thinking about them for too long. Very much in the spirit of "Get your Shit done". I especially liked that.

Besides the book, I can only recommend the matching movie too – The Founder. With Michael Keaton starring as Ray Kroc, you get true popcorn founder cinema.