Grinding It Out

Publisher's Summary

Few entrepreneurs can claim to have radically changed the way we live, and Ray Kroc is one of them. His revolutions in food-service automation, franchising, shared national training, and advertising have earned him a place beside the men and women who have founded not only businesses, but entire empires. But even more interesting than Ray Kroc the business man is Ray Kroc the man. Not your typical self-made tycoon, Kroc was 52 years old when he opened his first franchise. 

In Grinding It Out, you'll meet the man behind McDonald's, one of the largest fast-food corporations in the world with more than 32,000 stores around the globe. An irrepressible enthusiast, intuitive people person, and born storyteller, Kroc will fascinate and inspire you.

©1977 Ray A. Kroc (P)2018 Tantor

Continuation from the movie

If you have watched the movie the book will only add the lufe of Kroc after the movie ended.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Started at 52 year old

Love Rays story! Selling paper cups set Ray up
to know a great opportunity when he saw it. Ray story like most other widely successful people comes with major challenges along the way. Was sad when the Audiobook was over!

A very good insight into the man that built McDonald’s into a worldwide corporation

I enjoyed the book and I would recommend it to anyone that’s interested in knowing a bit about the history of McDonald’s or the insight into the man Ray Kroc

Very impressive history of McDonalds and Krok

I learned so much about perseverence in business and be willing to take risks on your own business ideas regardless of who doubts you. Great book

great book annoying narration

Ray Krok's story is great, but the narration is just so painfully fake and annoying.

Interesting Autobiography

I heard good things about this book, so I decided to give it a try. I am glad that I did; it was an enjoyable story. I had vague ideas about Ray Kroc, none of which were accurate. He was an interesting man with unique ideas about business and life. I loved his response when others say that he was an overnight success; he says that he was an overnight success, but 30 years is a long night. It turns out that he was a salesman prior to his McDonald's venture, with some successes and some failures. I also didn't realize that he was such a philanthropist; he was saying that for his birthday, he donated 7 million dollars to various charities. He definitely had vision and his business instincts were accurate. There were some things that gave me pause, such as him placing an ad for a male secretary so that person could handle the business when he was traveling However, I get the impression that this was not because he was a misogynist, but rather, that was the culture of that time period. He talks about this three marriages, which was also interesting.

I liked his ideas on education. He doesn't donate to colleges because he believes they are not educating people properly.
His theory is that people should be educated to learn a trade so they are employable when they graduate from college and if they want advanced studies, they can go at night. I can't dispute that, given the challenges young people are facing today with high student loan debt and limited job prospects in some fields. I also enjoyed listening to him say that people told him to run for President, as he could run his country like his businesses (sound familiar?). This was pre-Trump, and there's another difference. Ray Kroc says that he declined to do that, because you have to compromise your beliefs in politics and he refused to do that.

I'm definitely glad I picked this one up! I listened to it on audio and the narration was fine.

Elbow grease

Blue collar life story of rags to riches. many current business can learn from Ray Croc on how to serve their customers better.

The Man, The Myth, The Legend!

An inspirational book written many years before the continuous generations that have all built upon the vary foundations set by Ray Kroc. He will always be known as a "Worldwide Pioneer"!!

Ray Kroc a visionary that believed in a skill work

a great insight to the workings of the founder of McDonald's. Ray Kroc took advantage of opportunity.

better than the movie

the movie pictured him as a sleazy cut throat who stole a brand from naive brothers sitting on a goldmine. i think the narration here gives a clearer perspective of things

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Sales Bible

The worthwhile story of a master visionary and salesman of the last century; who is really a true inspiration for entrepreneurs.

Excellent

Concise and excellent book. Well read. Ray Kroc was a titan of the business world and truly inspirational.