How Bread Made Her a Millionaire
Cordia Harrington was tired of standing up all day and smelling like French fries at night. She was a property developer, and she also owned and operated three McDonald’s franchises (经销特许权) in lllinois, but as a divorced mother of three boys, she longed for a business that would provide for her children and let her spend more time with them.
Her amazing moment struck, strangely enough, after she was appointed in 1992 to be on the McDonald’s bun (小圆面包) committee. "The other franchisees, all men, thought that was funny because of the word bun" she recalls. "But the joke was on them: They didn’t know the company would be picking me up in a jet to see bakeries around the world. Every time I went to a meeting, I loved it. This was global!"
The experience opened her eyes to business possibilities. When McDonald’s decided it wanted a new bun supplier, Harrington became determined to win the contract, even though she had no experience of running a bakery. "You see a tiny crack in the door, and you have to run through it", she says. "I really believed I could do this."
Harrington studied the bakery business and made sure she was never off executives’ radar. "If you have a dream, you can’t wait for people to call you;’ she says. "So I’d visit a mill and send them photos of myself in a baker’s hat and jacket, holding a sign that said ’I want to be your baker.’" After four years and 32 interviews, her persistence paid off.
Harrington sealed the deal with a handshake, sold her franchises, invested everything she owned, and borrowed $13.5 million. She was ready to build the fastest and most automated bakery in the world.
The Tennessee Bun Company opened ahead of schedule in 1997, in time for a depression in US fast- food sales for McDonald’s. Before Harrington knew it, she was down to her last $20,000, not enough to cover payroll (工资总额). And her agreement with McDonald’s required that she sell exclusively to the company. "I cried myself to sleep many nights," she recalls. "I really did think I was going to go bankrupt"
But Harrington worked out an agreement to supply Pepperidge Farm as well. "McDonald’s could see a benefit if our production went up and prices went down, and no benefit if we went out of business," she says. "That deal saved us."
Over the next eight years, Harrington branched out even more: She started her own trucking business, added a cold-storage company, and now has three bakeries producing fresh buns and frozen dough (面团)-all now known as the Bun Companies.
Speed is still a priority: It takes 11 people at the main bakery to turn out 60,000 buns an hour for s across 40 states, South America, and the Caribbean.
Grateful for the breaks she’s had, Harrington loves to provide opportunities to all 230 employees. "Financial success is the most fun when you can give it away," she says. "We had a project that came in under budget one year, and we gave each of our project managers a car with a big bow!"
The current economy, Harrington acknowledges, is challenging. Some of her s’ sales have declined, but she’s found new s and improved efficiencies to help sustain the company’s double-digit (两位数的) growth.
Cordia Harrington doesn’t have to stand on her feet all day anymore. Her sons are now 27, 25, and 23; two of them work for her. And she’s remarried-her husband, Tom, formerly her CPA (注册会计师), is now her CFO (chief financial officer).
"This is more than a job" says Harrington. "It’s a mission. I’m always thinking how we can best serve our employees. If we support them, they’ll do their best to look after our s. That’s how it works here."
You may know more about Cordia Harrington through part of an interview with her.
Why did You Get Involved in Business
I had good roots of love and encouragement. When I got crazy ideas, my dad would say, "You can do that!" Even when I was 11, I had a nursery school in my backyard, and I’d charge 25 cents for three hours. At the end of the summer, I’d saved $60. Entrepreneurs always believe there’s a better way to do things.
Did Yon Ever Doubt Yoursel
I wasn’t frightened by what I didn’t know. In some ways, it was better that I wasn’t an expert, because I would ask questions that helped the team to say "Why not" I never know where a stupid question will lead.
Do You Have Very High Standards
Extremely. I don’t want us to just pass an inspection. I want us to get the highest marks. The industry rejects standard is about 4%, but ours is 2%. We give everyone a $50 bill to reward that high standard. Are You an Impatient Person
Either that or nervous. My nickname is Aunt C! When I was a little girl and they’d say dinner’s ready, I’d run around the house ten times first! I’ve been highly energetic all my life.
What Is Most Important to Being Successful
Honesty. Doing what you say.
What Was Your Darkest Moment
When McDonald’s gave me a chance to be an owner-operator and put me in a restaurant in Little Rock, Arkansas, to learn the business. I would get up at 3 am, drive 78 miles, work eight hours, drive home, work at my real estate business, pick up the kids, put them to bed, and study. I was always exhausted, and some days it was all hopeless. And yet somehow I kept going. Survival is a good motivator! You don’t Give up Easily, do You
Instead of complaining when problems come up, I take that negative energy and put it toward getting to the next level.
Do You Bake
I love to cook, but I’m not a very good baker! I take our frozen dough home and bake that. But if I had to do it from the start, my guests would be in trouble.
How Bread Made Her a MillionaireWhy did You Get Involved in BusinessDid Yon Ever Doubt YourselDo You Have Very High StandardsWhat Is Most Important to Being SuccessfulWhat Was Your Darkest MomentDo You BakeWhat was Harrington’s reaction to what she didn’t know