What Do Engineering and Chicken Sandwiches Have in Common?

It might sound like a silly question, but what do engineering (specifically marine engineering) and chicken sandwiches have in common? More than you’d think actually. Whether you’re a marine engineering firm in Singapore offering your services on boilers and dry dock repairs, or a fast food restaurant based in Atlanta, Georgia specializing in chicken sandwiches, you’re in business to make money. Whatever else you might do, despite your politics or beliefs, any likes and dislikes you might have, you’re in it for the money, honey. That means, what marine engineering companies and chicken sandwich businesses have in common is keeping your customers satisfied and coming back for more.

Bottom line; happy customers equal repeat business equals a good quarterly statement, and maybe even a year-end bonus. For the 4^th year in a row, Chick-fil-A has taken 1^st place in American customer satisfaction surveys, and other companies would do well to take note of how they do it. It didn’t happen by accident and it’s not because their product is so much better than anyone else’s either.

Let’s face it, a chicken sandwich is a chicken sandwich. Yes, their sandwiches are good, but so are the chicken sandwiches from other restaurants too. So, how do they make their customers so happy and how can you duplicate it?

The Secret of Their Success

The secret to Chick-fil-A’s success isn’t one that is popular these days. In fact, they’ve come under attack from the media for it time and time again. The secret to their success is found in the Bible, specifically, Exodus 20:8–10.

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work.

The Fourth Commandant mandates one day of rest each week. The full text goes on to explain that you, your family, and your employees should all take the day off to rest and praise God. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the Commandments, they were the most radical ideas anyone on Earth had ever heard of at that time, but especially that there was one day a week when you weren’t supposed to work. You were even supposed to give your servants the day off. That was unheard of!

Resting Pays Dividends

Chick-fil-A puts God first in their hearts and in their business. Every Sunday they shut down every single restaurant in their entire chain. The thing is, Sunday is the biggest money maker for fast food restaurants. In spite of that, Chick-fil-A averages 3-4 times the sales per store than any other fast food chain in America, and they keep winning all these customer satisfaction awards. Obviously, resting is paying dividends for them. Or more accurately, honoring God is paying dividends.

On the flip side of the coin, China has been having increasing problems with Hong Kong due to new laws that continue to squeeze that beleaguered city-state into a state of abject submission to godlessness. Instead of relaxing and honoring God, they are bearing down and trying to force people to honor them instead. But the tighter they close their fist, the more people will slip through their fingers like sand. Companies and countries that ignore God will always be unhappy places to live and work.

Happy Companies

Happy companies that are good places to work may be focused on technical niche specialties such a marine automation specialist company in Singapore. That technical focus doesn’t keep them being good, God-honoring places to work. Just the opposite in fact.

Scientists and engineers understand the complexity of the universe. They know the laws of physics are unyielding and a boiler that is rated for a particular PSI will rupture if you try to go over that point, no matter what your “intentions” are. Understanding that complexity and precision leads many scientists to believe in a supreme creator because they know the universe and its laws couldn’t have arisen by accident or evolution.

People who believe in a creator are happy and productive employees who can get more done in six days than grumpy employees can get down in seven. Happy employees not only get more done, but they also commit fewer errors and mistakes while they’re at it. They catch glitches quicker, are more honest about admitting their mistakes, and are more prone to fix them without complaining.

Now that’s a company that will keep their customers satisfied and coming back for more!