Maybe McDonald's shouldn't be my favorite company. When all is said, their primary target audience is children.

But that's so ingenius! Like the Wal-Mart ad in which the kid says, "Mom, I want this and it's only $19.99 at Wal-Mart!" And the mom runs to Wal-Mart and buys it and she's really happy about it. Genius. Showing kids if they tell Mom how much it is at Wal-Mart, she'll buy it. And be happy!

McDonald's has been using the same concept from its inception. It's the cornerstone of their business model. Market to small kids using an adorable real clown to instill true-to-life magical happiness, like the ultimate birthday party.

And to really make sales gush in, they made fast food irrestible to parents too. By mastering instaneous food service, the lowest prices and menu items that absolutely everyone in America likes (and soon bought almost everyday).

McDonald's still dominates streamlining operations, which they have always pioneered with verve. Always cutting the edge, ever innovating. They persist in plowing forward decade after decade. Passionate business pros. Aweing us us all while quietly modelling the gold standard of free enterprise.

But my favorite thing about McDonald's is their executive integration. They built their business on pure marketing genius. Every move McDonald's pursues is founded on outstanding marketing potential. McDonald's always knew the value of marketing. They knew that marketing makes profit possible, and that the route to success is via marketing. They never regarded true marketing acumen as something that comes after the big decisions are made. Because it's not the right decision if the marketing potential is compromised.

And after 53 years in business, McDonald's is way ahead of every other corporation in the world. Maximizing the opportunities of the most current trend on the globe -- the U.S. recession.

Whether the recession means this or that, McDonald's has been opening new stores overseas implementing a flexible business model customized for each of its carefully picked markets, 'serving millions' their cultural faves in 118 countries worldwide.

Julia Harwood October 20 at 9:08pm
(Private response reposted with permission)

Loved what you wrote. I am in Australia and my son started work for them at 14 and by 17 he was one of the youngest managers they had. He managed the Beechboro store. The training they gave him was awesome. Before he had even finished high school he had his retail sales Certificates and when he applied for work (in accounting field) as soon as they saw McDonalds training on his resume they offered him a job. They taught him a great work ethic and even after he left he would go back at the end of each month and help with the figures, giving his time for free...McD taught him about giving too. He has been approached by them many times to help a store that is struggling but at 23 he now runs his own Bookkeeping buisness. I think McDs gave him a fantastic start. Also our grandaughter has leukemia (she is 2) and her Mum and Dad have been staying in Ronald McDonald house, a fantastic initiative by McDonalds. Sorry a bit long winded, but just felt I had to share.

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