I’ve been reading a few good books about different topics of interest to me right now. I came across a good story about “Perspective” and how it can dramatically change the results without changing any of the facts. It pretty much is the only principle that can.
I thought I would share it here. It’s a recount of certain facts around the fast-food industry.
Currently, the average fast-food restaurant in America grosses $800,000 per year. And according to the data, Sunday is the best to own a fast-food operation. More money by far is spent on at fast-food restaurants on Sunday than on any other day and has been the case for along time.
For years, every operation in the fast-food industry has had access to the same data, the same facts. So based on the careful examinations of those same facts, do all fast-food operations “see” them the same way? Based on the same data facts, do they all choose the same “perspective”? No, they do not.
McDonald’s looks at the data and determines that it only makes sense to strike while the iron is hot. Since there is obviously more money to be made on Sunday than any other day of the week, the increased crowd needs to be served quickly. Therefore, McDonald’s “perspective” is that Sunday is a great day to bring in as many employees as possible in order to staff their restaurants with the week’s highest number of workers.
Chick-fil-A has access to the same data and has had it for years. So every time industry facts and data are released, the executives at Chik-fil-A examine the same details as all other fast-food operations. The information is clear and consistent, Sunday continues to lead every other day of the week in revenue by a large margin. So after examining the same data, Chik-Fil-A’s “perspective” is that there are some things more important than merely selling another chicken sandwich. Their “perspective” is that Sunday is a great day to give their employees the day off. This is done to allow families to be together, to allow a time to rest and regroup and take a deep breath and to allow their employees the opportunity to attend church if they wish.
So it’s same industry, same data but different “Perspectives”.
How does this all play out in revenues? Remember the fast-food industry average, across the board for all franchises and chains taken as whole, each restaurant averages $800,000 gross profit per year. But McDonald’s operation is obviously way above average, so it probably doesn’t surprise you that the average McDonald’s restaurant takes in $2.6 million gross profit per year.
One might think Chik-fil-A would be overwhelmed by that kind of competition with these kinds of numbers. But in reality, it’s not even close. Now remember, Chik-fil-A is never open 24 hours a day and never open on a Sunday. Yet even with a reduced amount of hours and fifty-two fewer days open on the calendar year, the average Chic-fil-A restaurant brings in $4 million gross profit per year!
“Perspective” is such a little thing, but it’s the only thing that can dramatically change the results without changing any of the facts.