Trudy Cathy White is the daughter of Chick-fil-A founder, S. Truett Cathy and wife, Jeannette. She shared how her mother’s faith and quiet strength become the backbone of the chain’s success.
A Quiet Strength
In an interview with The Christian Post, White shared about her new book, A Quiet Strength. It tells the life and legacy of her late mother, Jeannette Cathy. Jeannette passed away a year after her husband died in 2014.
“A lot of people know about my dad who invented Chick-fil-A in 1946; they’ve heard his story and read a great deal about him. But the story of my mother has never been told. She was such an inspiration to our family,” she said. “In fact, we would say that we would not be who we are, nor would the business be what it is today, had it not been for the influence of our mom.”
Trudy Cathy White with mother, Jeanette Cathy
Photo | Fox News
White shared that her parents developed Chick-fil-A side-by-side during their marriage. Her mother worked as a waitress and did bookkeeping for the restaurant. Jeanette then decided to be a stay-at-home mom and work from home.
“But she did not take that calling lightly at all,” White said. Her mother took care of the house, keeping everything organized while championing the family and the company behind-the-scenes.
“She was the support behind my dad and everything he did. She always wanted to make sure that when he walked out the door, he was ready to be able to do his very best. Because of her, he was able to be successful,” White added.
Biblical principles as business principles
Jeanette was behind the company’s commitment to prayer and biblical principles. White revealed. “My mother was a prayer warrior. A big part of our culture at Chick-fil-A is to pray for one another, and that is the influence of my mother that has permeated the restaurant culture,” she claimed. “She, like my father, believed good business practices are a result of god biblical principles, and we can apply those biblical principles to the practices we have in business. She believed that God really has the formula for success in life.”
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Moreover, Jeanette’s intimate walk with the Lord influenced the company’s business goals. Chick-fil-A aims to be faithful steward of what’s been entrusted to them. They also want to have positive influence on all who come into the restaurant. She would constantly challenge everyone to make sure they were stewarding well.
A role model
White remembered her mother as her role model for being a follower of Christ, a wife, a mother, as well as a grandmother. “There’s a great verse in Isaiah that says, ‘In quietness and trust is your strength’. And that is the reflection of who my mom was.”
“I hope my mother’s story encourages other women – whether they are businesswomen or stay-at-home mothers – to know that they can make a significant, God-glorifying impact wherever they are. A lot of times women feel that if they’re not in the spotlight, they can’t be much of an influence. But my mother was perhaps the greatest influence behind both the success of Chick-fil-A and her family due to her faith and quiet strength,” she exhorted.
“My mother was willing to step aside and let others get the praise. She always said, ‘If you help others get what they want in life, you’ll get what you want out of life.’ That’s the challenge my mother took on. She helped others achieve what they wanted to achieve because she didn’t need the praise. Her identity was firmly placed in Christ, and that’s an example I think will inspire all women.”
Today, White together with her brothers, Dan Cathy and Bubba Cathy, carry on the legacy of faith and strength their parents taught them for the business and their personal lives.
Source: The Christian Post