Southeast Missouri State University student publication

Chick-Fil-A owner Brian House discusses the importance of politeness and determination

Monday, October 29, 2018
Chick-Fil-A Manager Brian House discusses how how the power of politeness has helped shape the company and his life to southeast students on Oct. 24.
Photo by Madison Little ~ Arrow Reporter

The manager and owner of the Cape Girardeau Chick-Fil-A Brian House came to Southeast to discuss the value of politeness. House passed out free Chick-Fil-A sandwich gift cards to those in attendance — the event took place in the University Center Ballroom on Oct. 24.

House showed two videos, the first, was “Going the Second Mile,” which was biblically based and showed how people should treat others with dignity and respect, no matter the circumstance. The second video, “Every Life has a Story,” was a Chick-Fil-A video that showed how people should be kind to others because they never know what others are going through.

“Instead of us judging each other and mistreating each other, how about loving each other,” House said.

House said Chick-Fil-A receives good reviews when it comes to employee politeness. He makes it a priority for his team to know they should treat others with respect regardless if they are given the same in return.

Southeast junior, Kyndall Volkerding said she came out of the discussion with a better outlook on life.

“I learned that everyone has a story and we shouldn’t be walking around with our heads in our phones not paying attention. Give people attention, be intentional, you never know what people are going through,” Volkerding said. “Also there are definitely people out here that will either push or pull you, so don't hang around the people that are pulling you down.”

House said he grew up less fortunate in an abusive household and working two jobs at the age of 17 to help support both his mother and father. While one job helped pay bills his second job helped him save money to invest in his first business, Baskin Robbins.

He encouraged students to push themselves and not live average lives.

“The most important person that’s going to push you is yourself,” House said. “I tell my teammates, 'If you are coming to work for a job or if you are looking for a job, don’t come here— go work somewhere else because we are not about jobs; you won’t make a lot of money. We are about changing lives.’”

House said he makes it his mission to change others’ lives. He gives out $100,000 each year in scholarships to his employees, $2,500 for every year they are employed with his company.

“I’m in the process of changing people’s lives because my life has been changed,” House said. “I didn’t go to school and I know the importance of college. I’m not saying college is everything, determination is another, if you do not have the heart, you are not willing to sacrifice, pass up a car or fancy ride, you are just going to be in debt.”

Southeast graduate student Ariel Dumers said she tries to live her life in ways House discussed because one may never know what others are going through.

“Respect others no matter what. Everybody has different lifestyles, stories and struggles, so I do not think it is fair to judge at all,” Dumers said. “I try to treat everybody with love, respect and dignity, at least give them the benefit of the doubt whether they treat you bad. It probably has something to do with what they have going on anyway, so I try not to let that hinder anything between us.”

Although House said he knows everything he said will not stick with every student, he wanted to leave with a closing remark.

“I’m telling you to be intentional in what you do," House said. "If one word sticks with you, it's 'intentional.'"

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