"I made a resolve then that I was going to amount to something if I could. And no hours, nor amount of labor, nor amount of money would deter me from giving the best that there was in me. And I have done that ever since, and I win by it. I know." Colonel Sanders

                When was the last time you drove past Kentucky Fried Chicken?  Whether you are in Hong Kong, New York, Toronto or basically anywhere in the world; you most certainly have seen one of the most infamously iconic American branded outlets recently.  KFC, as it is known now, is part of Yum brands (including A and W and Taco Bell) which has over 32,500 stores worldwide.  Today KFC is recognized by toddlers and octogenarians alike, people of different cultural backgrounds, languages and mores tend to recognize the outline of Colonel Sander’s face.

                Harland Sanders was born in 1890 during a time when people were embracing ‘modern technology.’ Harland embraced this era and held a variety of jobs from street car conductor to tire salesman.  At the age of 40, during the Great Depression, he opened his first small restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky.  In 1936, Governor Ruby Laffoon, made Harland an honorary Colonel due to his great Kentucky culinary fare.  Apparently Governor Laffoon was a big fan.

                In 1939 a fire destroyed the restaurant and at the same time the pressure cooker was introduced.  Always a man to embrace technology, Colonel Sanders begins to use the cooker to fry chicken using his famous recipe.  From there, an idea was born; Colonel Sanders decided to franchise his restaurant so he took his dream on the road.  In 1952 he took his cooker and travelled from state to state cooking chicken for people and attempting to generate interest in the franchise concept.

                In 1952 franchising was considered a sort of pyramid.  People were extremely leery of the concept.  The sentiment around a franchise was akin to the feelings around the network marketing industry fifteen years ago.  What people do not understand, they tend to criticize and it is said that Colonel Sanders was rejected over 2000 times in his quest to franchise his famous Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe.  By 1960, after eight years of travelling and frying chicken, there were 190 KFC franchises in America and Colonel Sanders was 70 years old. 

                If 2000 people said ‘no’ and 190 said ‘yes’ then that means that Colonel Sanders struck out 90% of the time.  It means that he faced rejection and undoubtedly a great degree of apathy making fried chicken day after day.  In 1964 he sold the franchise for $2 million.  In today’s dollars that would be approximately $13,977,281.55.  Was it worth all of the hard work and rejection?  Many would likely say yes.

                One of my favourite things to ask people is the following question, ‘would you dig ditches for two years non-stop if at the end you would make over one million per year for the rest of your life?’  Most people openly say that they would.  The reality is that some would quit after the first day, others two days, some might last a week or a month; very few would last for the full two years.

                It is easy to forget that any great success is going to take hard work and sweat equity.  To become financially free you will have to develop a thick skin and excellent habits.  You will have to commit to being rejected and hearing the word ‘no’ over and over again.  I find it ironic that people so willingly jump into an opportunity, an exercise program or even a marriage and forget this simple lesson.  Often we romanticise our perception of perfection.  We idealize a way of being such as retirement, a great partnership and a lean healthy body and forget that no matter what we commit to, we will always have to face challenges.

                So many people today have a lottery mentality.  They want the success however they do not want the work.  Saving money, staying faithful, taking care of yourself; it all requires work.  Do you not think there will be challenges?  Of course there will, and the challenges will come fast and furious.  We often look at a person who is successful and tell ourselves about how much we would love a similar outcome however we easily forget how much effort went into getting to the place that many would call ‘success.’

                As a child growing up I was taught to embrace hard work.  Today, thanks to my upbringing, I have excellent habits.  I do face rejection, criticism, deceit and self deprecation regularly however I know that all successful people are forged as leaders through the challenges they endure.  Even though I do not eat meat and am not personally an advocate for fast food, I am a fan of Colonel Sander’s tenacity.  What would our lives be like if we could have the same fortitude as Harland Sanders?  Where would our finances, relationships and health be if we kept on going, day in and day out, regardless of how many people criticized us?  The reality is that our lives would be in a much different place.

                Years ago, when I was very ill, I made a decision to move forward every day.  I wanted to get the most out of every single twenty four hours the calendar had to offer.  Perhaps, this decision is what drives me; I have been operating like this for so long that I cannot remember exactly when I developed the ‘keep moving forward’ mentality.  The thing I am certain of is that I never forget that all great accomplishments come on the heels of hard work.  I invite you to roll up your sleeves and invite in some sweat equity.  The next time you drive past a KFC remember that your local fried chicken joint was once a dream born over years of frying chicken and conceived of during hostile times.  You have a dream inside of you, perhaps more than one; go for it like never before and have the attitude of Colonel Sanders – keep on going until you realize your dreams.

Would you like to train with Susan Sly?  Susan has two upcoming must attend events.  Susan will be  doing an upcoming  360 Degree Success Without Sacrifice Workshop in New Jersey with Jeff Combs (Details TBA).  Train with Susan at her signature event – The Have It All Women’s Weekend in Toronto on November 5th, 6th and 7th – only 20 spots remain and tickets will sell out.  Click here for more details.