Baclay, Rochelle Anne L.

The Founder

The story revolved around Ray Kroc, Richard and Maurice McDonald. Ray Kroc was an agent selling
milkshake machines. One day Ray Kroc received an order for eight (8) milkshake machines and he
was curious to find out what kind of business could possibly be making so many milkshakes. When he
arrived at the place where the buyer of the milkshake machines was located, he was surprised to see a
long line of customers. He got intrigued that he lined up as well. When it was his turn, he ordered for a
burger, fries and drinks and was so surprised that he got his order immediately. He went on to ask for
the owner of the business and asked how could they possibly give out the orders immediately. The
owners showed him their process and Kroc saw a franchise potential with the McDonald brothers. After
several years, Kroc had opened hundreds of franchises of the burger business that eventually he asked
the McDonald brothers to sell to him their business including its name. The two brothers agreed with
the condition that they retain their original store. Further on, Kroc opened up a store across the
McDonald brothers’. Eventually the two brothers renamed their store The Big M and later on, it closed.
Through the McDonald brothers’ business, Ray Kroc was able to create a multi-billion dollar empire.
Through this movie, several lessons were learned. First, it makes a difference when someone believes
in you. At first, Kroc’s wife was not very supportive of his desire to franchise McDonald’s. But later on,
his wife became supportive and it was also when his franchises also boomed. Second, it pays to be
curious. Had Kroc been not curious as to who ordered those eight milkshakes, he would not have
known that McDonald’s burger. Third, persevere. Although he was not able to sell so many milkshake
machines, he did not quit. He still continued selling them. Fourth, take risks. In the daily course of our
lives we take risks. Kroc mortgaged his house in order to franchise the McDonald’s business. Even
though he was not sure whether his idea of franchising the business would succeed, he still pursued it.
The movie was a story of perseverance, of entertaining new and fresh ideas and of taking risks. Ray
Kroc did not simply stay put and accepted the fact that he will be selling milkshake machines forever.
He wanted more and sure he had more. He worked through it even though it had cost him his
relationship with his wife because he had less and less time for his wife and his marriage that
eventually he divorced his wife and found someone else. His third wife, Joan Kroc later on donated
billions of dollars to charitable institutions. Maybe it was her way of giving back to the society or maybe
a show-off of how rich she is but either way she has helped other people through the multi-billion dollar
empire of his husband.