Ray Kroc

They waved it off.

They weren't much good at writing letters.

They couldn't afford a secretary.

Just go ahead.

Kroc hung up and hoped they both sent the letter anyway, but they never did.

He spent far more time in the first building than he planned, but he had no choice.

He told himself he'd fly out later and sort out the contract problems all at once.

When he finally sat down, the brothers and their lawyers, they acknowledged the issues but refused to put anything in writing.

We have told you by telephone that you may go ahead, their attorney said.

But the contract calls for a registered letter, Kroc's counsel replied.

Mr. Kroc does not have that.

He is put in jeopardy.

That's your problem.

Kroc's attorney gave up on the situation.

He

He hired another lawyer, and that one quit too, saying Kroc was playing crazy to continue working with them under such circumstances.

He could not protect his client if the McDonald's brothers chose to close in on him.

Let him try, Kroc said, and he plunged ahead.

for years after people asked crock why didn't you just copy the system the brothers showed you everything you could have built your own chain and kept all the profits but ray's answer was disarmingly simple i was so naive or so honest that it never occurred to me

But there was more to it.