I enjoy shopping at Publix. I’ve never had a bad experience. During my last trip, I found a brochure called “Lessons from Our Founder” which outlines seven beliefs that make Publix what it is. These are good thoughts for any business venture.
#1: Be There
George Jenkins traveled tirelessly, visiting stores, talking to store clerks, listening to cashiers, working alongside baggers. He continued these visits up until the very week he passed away. (Blogger’s note: I wonder if his family would say that Mr. Jenkins was “there” for his family.)
#2: Giving is the Only Way to Get
It has been said of George Jenkins that he never forgot anyone who helped him. But no doubt, it is the opposite that is all the more true – that those whom he helped have never forgotten him. And their number is legion.
#3: Invest in Others
“One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in my business career is that no man puts together an organization on his own,” George Jenkins generously acknowledged.
#4: Respect the Dignity of the Individual
“If you want people to respect you or your company, you must first show respect for them,” believed George Jenkins. And he practiced it, too.
#5: The Customer is Queen (and King)
“My daddy taught me how to work, to be proud of a job well done,” George Jenkins recalled. “I learned you had to provide the customer with what she really wanted and you had to treat her with respect.”
#6: Prepare for Opportunity
“Publix is like a smörgåsbord, with opportunity spread out for you,” George Jenkins would advise. “Prepare yourself. The opportunities are up for grabs.”
#7: Do the Right Thing
If the genius and humanity of George Jenkins’ philosophy could be summed up in one sentence, it might be this: “Never let making a profit stand in the way of doing the right thing.”
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