THE INSPIRING LIFE STORY OF COLONEL SANDERS AND THE BIRTH OF KFC

When you see the face of Colonel Harland Sanders on every KFC bucket, it’s easy to assume he was born into success. But behind that familiar smile lies a long story of hardship, determination, and an unshakable grit that eventually gave the world one of the biggest fast-food brands.

Colonel Harland Sanders was born in 1890 in Henryville, Indiana, USA. His early years were far from easy. He lost his father at just six years old, which forced his mother to work round the clock, as such he was left to cook and care for his siblings. This early introduction to cooking would later become the foundation of his legacy.

Sanders dropped out of school in the seventh grade and went on to try his hand at several jobs. At different points in his life, he was a farmhand, a streetcar conductor, a railway fireman, an insurance salesman, and even a lawyer for a short while. Most of these careers however did not last long.

In his 40s, he opened a service station in Corbin, Kentucky. It was there that he began serving meals to hungry travellers, using a special fried chicken recipe seasoned with 11 herbs and spices. The chicken quickly became popular, and Sanders opened a small restaurant. By 1939, he had perfected a pressure-frying method that cooked chicken faster while keeping it tender and flavourful. However, life struck again when a new highway bypass reduced traffic to his restaurant, forcing him to shut down.

At 65, when most people were preparing for retirement, Sanders decided to pursue a bold new idea: franchising his fried chicken recipe. He travelled across the United States, often sleeping in his car, knocking on doors, and pitching his recipe to restaurant owners. He was rejected countless times, before finally convincing one business to sign on.

That was the beginning of Kentucky Fried Chicken. The franchise model grew rapidly, and by the 1960s, KFC had spread across the U.S. and internationally. Sanders’ image became the brand itself, with his white suit, black tie, and southern charm. In 1964, he sold the company for $2 million but remained its symbol and ambassador until his passing in 1980.

Today, KFC operates in more than 150 countries, including Nigeria, serving millions of people every day. But behind every bucket of crispy chicken is the story of a man who never stopped trying, no matter how many times life pushed him back.

Here are some key learnings you can get from this:

1.      Success doesn’t always come early, at least, not all the time. Stay patient with your journey.

2.      Rejection is part of growth; keep improving and trying again.

3.      Your unique skills or “recipe” can open doors if you nurture and share them.

Feel free to add what stood out for you, from the inspiring life story of Colonel Sanders and the birth of KFC, in the comments.