What We Heard: 

In 1997 Jeff Hooper, Executive Operations Director, Chick-fil-A, Cool Springs; dealt with a lot of tragedy, from the death of his father, divorce and bankruptcy. That prompted him to return to following Christ and committing to living a life of faith. It’s a daily decision to do the faith-filled spiritual leadership thing which is often the brave and risky option. God’s impact on Jeff’s family and career is what drives him today. In 2001, Jeff walked away from a six figure job in the software industry to make sandwiches for minimum wage at a local Chick-fil-A. Jeff worked there as a high school student but didn’t imagine it being part of his career until God’s voice spoke it clearly to him at 37.

Going the $7/hour route is not a blueprint for success. But Jeff wife’s income was equal to his past job and their lifestyle was lavish but they were not happy. He came to the conclusion that he needed to be surrounded by Christ-followers in a Christian culture every day in order to walk in faith. Three years into his vocational transition, his wife followed suit and left significant income to pursue God’s call for their family. Botton line: God’s call always trumps worldly success.

The black eye of bankruptcy kept Jeff from being an owner operator. What did he do? Jeff made it his career mission to help as many others achieve that dream status along the way. His goal as a leader: to give every single piece of wisdom, knowledge and experience away as possible.

What It Means:

Jeff has now served in leadership at two of the highest grossing Chick-fil-A stores. In one year, they did in excess of $8.5 million. They didn’t do that because the goal was $8.5 million that year. They did it because the goal was over $9 million the following year. Being ahead of the goal curve makes a difference.

Everyone knows Chick-fil-A as a premier service industry. In some ways, the service trumps the chicken. Jeff credits the core principle of being brave enough to be a servant leader. Jesus spoke it best. “I did not come to be served, but to serve.” Here’s a mindset shift. Move from “what can I get done today?” to “who can I serve today?” Jeff is fully aware that 99% of the employees Chick-fil-A hires and uses will not make fast food service their career. Caring about their future, regardless of where it leads, is a passion for Jeff.

Jeff manages and leads loads of millennials. His goal isn’t to understand the box, but to know the human being and discover what it takes to lead and inspire. One of the things Jeff identifies is the young leaders who want to lead by learning to lead themselves first. It’s happening in his own family as his teenage son learns to serve in the life of the local church.

What We Do Next:

Consistency over time; listening as a leader; and making decisions matter when it comes to every type of leadership even spiritual leadership. Sometimes we complicate our directions in order to feel smarter and even more spiritual. In many cases, the simplest solution is the right solution.  As men, we must make the call to follow God when the choice is clear and also when it doesn’t make sense. Jeff wants to be known as a leader who gave everything away. As a society, we tend to lean toward having, holding and hoarding. One of the best spiritual leadership practices is to hold things loosely and giving it away.

MLN Resources:

How did you do it, Truett? A Recipe for Success by S. Truett Cathy

How does the man working behind the counter of a mom-and-pop diner for twenty-one years turn a good idea into a restaurant chain worth $2 billion annual sales? S. Truett Cathy, founder and CEO of Chick-fil-A, shares the answers in How Did You Do It, Truett? The inventor of the chicken sandwich and the founder of Chick-fil-A, Truett Cathy also pioneered quick-service food in shopping malls, and is now one of America’s most successful and respected businessmen. His restaurants, which are always closed on Sunday, achieve higher sales per unit than others that remain open seven days a week. Learn more.