Employees at Kevin Williams's Chick-fil-A can offer complimentary food.

In most fast-food joints, you won™t come across an experience like the one you get at Kevin Williams™s three Chick-fil-A spots in Canton, Georgia, just north of Atlanta.

A team member at a restaurant named Cooper writes a special note, a Cooper Coupon, for a young diner. The note says she can have a free ice cream cone and invites her to come to the kitchen to make it herself. It's a special invite to a fun experience.

Nope, it wasn't a special offer. Williams didn't tell Cooper to do it. Cooper came up with the idea himself. Did he get in trouble? Not at all. Did he make a customer for life? Definitely. Cooper gave away some free food and let a kid into the kitchen, breaking the rules, but it paid off big time.

Williams urges his employees to treat everyone, especially customers, with kindness. If that means giving a little kid a free ice cream cone, that™s okay with the boss.

Williams encourages employees to learn from failures.

Williams sees his failures as valuable lessons. He believes they help him and his team move forward. They understand that failing teaches them how to do things better next time. Williams encourages his team to view failure differently, seeing it as an opportunity to improve and keep going.

In this workplace, it's almost impossible for an employee with good intentions to make mistakes. Cooper and his colleagues aren™t afraid to take risks or try new things, like Cooper Coupons. They can focus on their work without constantly worrying about messing up.

Williams' management ethos centers on illogical acts of kindness.

Williams believes in promoting optimism, curiosity, and hopefulness. He says this comes from his Christian faith.

Choosing irrational kindness means breaking free from fitting in and being more spontaneous in helping others. This mindset leads to leading through service, finding joy in what you do, and feeling more energized. It encourages reaching out beyond your usual circle and sets a good example for others.

Truett Cathy, the Chick-fil-A founder, epitomized entrepreneurial spirit.

Williams admires Truett Cathy, the late founder of Chick-fil-A, as his role model. He sees Cathy as a self-made entrepreneur who worked hard, stayed determined, and cared deeply about helping others.

At just eight years old, Cathy embarked on his entrepreneurial journey. Growing up in Georgia, he'd buy a six-pack of Coca-Cola for 25 cents. Then, with his little red wagon in tow, he'd hit the streets, selling each bottle for a nickel, making a tidy profit of five cents per sale. Later, he switched gears to selling copies of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Cathy, a World War II veteran, teamed up with his brother Ben after the war to open the Dwarf Grill, a 24-hour diner in Hapeville, Georgia. But running the joint wasn't smooth sailing. Cathy faced 20 years of tough times, including fires and illnesses. He made plenty of wrong moves that kept him struggling. Tragedy struck when Ben died in a plane crash.

Create Chick-fil-A: A Story of Perseverance

Cathy didn't give up. He kept pushing for business success. He came up with the Grill™s main dish, a fried chicken sandwich. He cooked boneless, breaded chicken in peanut oil in a pressure cooker and served it on a buttery bun with pickles. His delicious chicken sandwiches led to the birth of Chick-fil-A, now one of the most successful companies in the United States.

In his mid-40s, Cathy shook up the scene by suggesting something radical “ selling food in shopping malls. Mall owners were puzzled by his refusal to open on Sundays, the busiest day for mall-goers. But Cathy had a plan, and he quickly showed them that even with Sunday off, his restaurant was raking in more cash per square foot than any other shop.

Cathy prioritized his employees, customers, and reputation over making money. Once Chick-fil-A found success, he focused on giving back.He created summer camps for kids and built homes for children. Cathy always invested in his company and staff. All corporate employees got free lunches at his restaurants. He organized fun trips for franchisees and gave top performers fancy cars. Plus, he spent millions on scholarships for his employees.

Cathy stayed driven throughout his 64-year business career. Even in his 90s, he was as busy as ever, working on a new restaurant idea called Truett™s Luau.

The franchise model allows low-budget individuals to open restaurants.

In 1967, Cathy introduced a groundbreaking franchising model for Chick-fil-A that allowed people like Williams to start their own restaurants with limited funds. Cathy believed that with this unique opportunity, driven individuals would put in extra effort to make their restaurants successful.

In 1991, Williams seized the chance to open his very first Chick-fil-A restaurant. Cathy's trust in people like Williams, shown through his unique franchising approach, keeps paying off big time. Today, Williams is the proud owner of three Chick-fil-A restaurants.

Williams launched his entrepreneurial journey at a young age.

When Williams became a new franchisee, Cathy offered him advice he'll never forget: People will always recall how they feel about their restaurant experience.

Like Cathy, Williams started his own business early in life. He worked hard, just like his father, who worked in the cotton fields of Georgia. When Williams was 12, he mowed lawns in his neighborhood in Summertown, Georgia, cutting three to four lawns every week. He had a plan to buy more lawnmowers so he could grow his lawn-cutting business.

Williams acts according to his "life chords": honesty, kindness, and hope.

Williams discovered that anyone, no matter their starting point, can achieve big dreams. Think of it like this: just as a beginner musician can make beautiful tunes with only a handful of chords, you can craft a fantastic life using just a few key "life chords." Williams calls these chords kindness, hopefulness, gratefulness, curiosity, courage, creativity, peace, patience, persistence, joy, rest, fun, freedom, and honesty.

Williams' secret to success lies in three simple yet powerful principles: courage, creativity, and gratitude. He's spent over 25 years in the restaurant business, franchising his way to the top while staying true to these core values. Williams knows that success isn't just about flipping burgers; It's about seizing life's opportunities and valuing what truly matters. He sees potential in every employee, viewing them not just as workers, but as future entrepreneurs in the making.

Williams promotes illogical acts of kindness.

Williams is known for his commitment to spreading kindness. He, along with his wife Gwen and their three daughters, opened their hearts and homes to Terry, a child in need. Despite facing challenges along the way, their decision to adopt Terry has been a testament to their unwavering kindness.

When Terry joined the Williams family at 13, he found himself amidst three sisters aged 9, 12, and 14. It was quite the adjustment for everyone involved. The Williamses had to adapt their parenting style to accommodate this new dynamic. Despite the challenges, they managed to make it work.

Revive a Piece of History: The FARM

On the hunt for a spacious spot for meetings away from the bustling Chick-fil-A crowds, Williams stumbled upon an old, rundown house, barn, and 15 acres of land. With the help of locals, he spearheaded the restoration of this 106-year-old property. Now dubbed The FARM, it's not just a meeting place; it's a community hub. Featuring a serene Kindness Trail, it's perfect for moments of quiet contemplation.

Williams and his team have exciting plans for the future of FARM. They want it to be a helpful place for troubled youth, adoptive families, cancer patients, and those fighting addiction. They're thinking of running financial classes for young people there. Even Chick-fil-A workers could grow gardens on the big property.

Start pursuing your dream today if you're not already living it.

Williams, a successful entrepreneur, wants you to think about your dreams. He advises you not to let daily life distractions stop you from chasing your dreams.

Make time regularly to pursue your dreams and turn your goals into reality. It might be tough, but hard work pays off.

Keep the big picture and keep your priorities straight. Stay focused and be kind to everyone along the way as you grow and succeed.