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Did Colonel Sanders Know His Career Path Early On?
Firstly, it's okay not to have all the answers right away. Career paths are rarely linear, and exploring different avenues before finding your true calling is perfectly normal.
Colonel Sanders held various jobs, from steam engine stoker to insurance salesman, before he found his passion for fried chicken. [1]
The key takeaway is that it's never too late to pivot and try something new.
You can start by trying online courses in areas that interest you, such as:
- Employee Engagement
- CompTIA A+ PC Hardware Certification Training
- Conflict Resolution Strategies 2.0
- Real Estate Broker Basics
- Creating a Culture of Inclusion
Did Colonel Sanders Suffer Any Failures or Setbacks?
Failures are not setbacks; they're setups for what comes next. Colonel Sanders had his share of failures, including a courtroom brawl that ended his legal career.[2] But each failure was a lesson that prepared him for his next venture.
Colonel Sanders himself said,
“One has to remember that every failure can be a stepping stone to something better.” [3]
Don't be afraid to fail; be afraid not to try.
How Did Colonel Sanders Know When It Was Time for Change?
Colonel Harland Sanders sold his original restaurant due to reduced customer traffic but used that as an opportunity to franchise his chicken concept across the U.S. [4]
Sometimes, what seems like an end is just a new beginning in disguise.
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Was There a Passion for Something Driving Colonel Sanders's Career?
Colonel Sanders was so passionate about his brand that he continued to be its ambassador even after selling the company [5].
If your current job no longer ignites that spark in you, it might be time to look for or create something that does.
Feed your desire to find something new with online and on-demand courses from Unmudl®.
Is Age Really Just a Number?
One of the most inspiring aspects of Colonel Sanders's story is that age was never a barrier for him. He was 65 when he began to franchise KFC in earnest [6].
So, it's never too late to start anew. Whether in your 20s, 40s, or 60s, the right time to follow your dreams is now.
Read more about starting a career change at different ages:
- How to Change a Career in your 20s: 10 Tips
- How to Change Careers in Your 30s: Steps You Can Take Today
- How to Change Careers After 20 Years Into Your Career
- How to Change Careers in Your 40s
- How to Change Careers in Your 50s
- Figuring Out Retirement When Changing Careers
- How to Change Careers When You Are 60 and Above
Is the Point of a Career About Wealth or Status?
The Kentucky Colonel's spirit was about others in need:
"There’s something inside of me that makes me want to help people, especially people who are having difficulty of some kind." [7]
In 2023, 40 years after the Colonel's death, KFC relates to his statement with this quote:
This favorite restaurant chain "loves the Colonel’s spirit of inclusion, which is part of the fabric of KFC’s culture. One of our core values is to believe in all people... Everyone is welcome at the table."
So if you're struggling to find your way through a career journey that isn't clear-cut, know you're not hopeless or alone.
When Should I Settle In at a Career and Stay Put?
So, when should you settle in and stay put? The answer is when you find a career that aligns with your values, interests, and long-term goals.
Your career is a journey, not a destination. It's a series of experiences that shape who you are and what you bring to the world.
So, don't stress too much about having it all figured out. Take a page from the Kentucky Colonel's book and remember that life's greatest successes often come from its most challenging moments.
If you're trying to see where you fit into the career landscape, try on a few different hats with online courses from Unmudl®:
Did Harland Sander's Struggle to Find a Career Fit?
Harland Sanders led a life filled with various jobs and ventures before the world knew him as the Colonel behind Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Born in 1890, Harland David Sanders grew up on a farm in Indiana. At 6, his father passed away, leaving him responsible for younger siblings. By the time he was 7, he had already become a decent cook, a skill that would later become his legacy.[8]
However, first, he worked as a steamboat operator, secretary, lighting manufacturer, and even dabbled in insurance sales. [9, The Verge]
Sanders also studied law by correspondence and practiced in justice-of-the-peace courts in Arkansas until a courtroom brawl with a client ended that career. [10]
During his time in Corbin, Kentucky, he even delivered babies, stating, "There was nobody else to do it. The husbands couldn't afford a doctor when their wives were pregnant." [11]
The Road to Culinary Fame
Sanders first began to serve meals to truck drivers at an old family dining room table wheeled into the front of his Corbin, Kentucky, service station in 1930.
Initially, fried chicken was not on the menu because it took too long to prepare. However, his country ham and steak dinners gained popularity, leading him to open Sanders' Café across the street. It was here, in 1939, that he perfected his quick-frying fried chicken recipe, coated in his secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices using pressure cookers. [12]
The Ferry Boat Venture
One of Sanders' most successful early ventures was operating a steamboat ferry that crossed the Ohio River between Kentucky and Indiana. [13]
This business was an instant success and showcased Sanders' entrepreneurial spirit long before he became a fast-food icon.
If you're struck with the Colonel's innovative passion and want to make your own path as a freelancer or by starting a company, start learning how now with Unmudl®:
- Certified Blockchain Entrepreneur
- Applied Business Foundations
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- Business & Professional Communication
How Did A Poor Kentucky Farm Boy With No Father Found the Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchise?
Sanders was not one to settle. Even after selling his original restaurant due to a new interstate reducing customer traffic, he didn't retire.
He was quoted as saying,
“I’ve only had two rules. Do all you can and do it the best you can.”
So, he took his retirement years and made them into an opportunity to focus on franchising his fried chicken concept.
At nearly 60 years old, he would spend days at a restaurant, cooking for customers and often sleeping in the back of his car. [14]
How Did the Franchise Finally Happen?
"In 1952, he made a deal with his restaurateur friend, Pete Harman, to sell his chicken dish as "Kentucky Fried Chicken" in exchange for a 4-cent royalty on every piece sold. After it became a top-selling item, Sanders made the same deal with several other local restaurants." [15]
Sanders was betting on his dream when he hit the road. He could almost taste the success. He believed he could do it, and he did.
He made deals with other restaurants by hitting the road with his wife, their car packed with a couple of pressure cookers, flour, and spice blends. He would enter a restaurant, offer to cook his chicken, and then make a deal if the owner liked what they tasted. [16]
By 1963, Sanders was fielding franchise requests without having to put in the legwork, and had more than 600 restaurants across the US and Canada selling Kentucky Fried Chicken. [17]
"In 1964, then 73 years old, he sold the Kentucky Fried Chicken corporation for $2 million ($18.9 million today). Sanders became a salaried brand ambassador. [18]
Isn't it time to start believing that you can achieve your dreams? Sign up for some courses in your interest area at Unmudl® today and get on the road to creating your own success story!
Did Sanders Make it Big While He Was Alive?
After selling his Kentucky Fried Chicken enterprise for millions, Sanders was still going strong and working hard in his late 70s, long after most of his contemporaries had retired.
Sanders remained the KFC symbol, traveling 200,000 miles a year... and filming many TV commercials and appearances. [9]
Did KFC's Colonel Sanders Enjoy His Life Beyond Retirement?
He remained active until the month before his death, appearing in his white suit to crowds. [20]
Harland Sanders was a man of resilience, adaptability, and endless curiosity. His journey to becoming the Colonel we all recognize today was anything but straightforward, filled with trials, failures, and a relentless pursuit of his passions.
But if anything, he lived with a passion for his dreams and worked hard to make them a reality.
Start making your career dreams come true with courses that stoke the fires of your career passions. Unmudl®'s online and on-demand courses set you up to succeed!
Did Colonel Harland Sanders Ever Take the Easy Way Forward?
Colonel Sanders said,
"The hard way builds solidly a foundation of confidence that cannot be swept away.”
According to the KFC franchise today,
"The Colonel believed that cutting corners would ultimately be detrimental to the result. This dedication resulted in him spending NINE years perfecting his secret blend of 11 herbs and spices... that KFC restaurants still use today."
A successful career usually begins with a decision to work hard and learn from others. One way to change careers is by exploring many different interests to see which ones help you find a way to make a living.
