Fred Deluca Quotes

Powerful Fred Deluca for Daily Growth

About Fred Deluca

Fred DeLuca (1947-2014) was an American entrepreneur and founder of Subway, the world's largest fast-food chain by number of locations. Born on October 10, 1947, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, DeLuca grew up in a working-class family during the postwar era. His childhood experiences, particularly his father's struggles with job stability and financial security, fueled his ambition to create a successful business that could provide both for himself and others. In 1965, at just 17 years old, DeLuca approached Peter Buck, a local pharmacist, with an idea: a submarine sandwich shop. With Buck's initial $1,000 investment, they opened the first Subway store in Bridgeport under the name 'Pete's Super Submarines.' The partnership marked the beginning of a fruitful business relationship that would span over five decades and revolutionize the fast-food industry. DeLuca's influence extended beyond Subway, as he was deeply committed to education and personal development. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and later completed an MBA at the University of Michigan. DeLuca also authored several books on entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal growth, including "Start Small Finish Big" and "Subway: The Inside Story," sharing insights he gained from his experiences as a successful businessman. Throughout his life, DeLuca's tenacity, vision, and passion for success guided the growth of Subway into the global powerhouse it is today, with over 45,000 locations in more than 100 countries. His legacy not only includes a thriving fast-food franchise but also serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Success is not a mystery, it's a math formula: Work hard, think innovatively, make sacrifices, and be relentless."

This quote suggests that success is achievable through a systematic approach involving hard work, creativity, self-discipline, and unwavering persistence. The "work hard" component emphasizes the importance of effort and dedication in achieving goals. "Think innovatively" encourages original thinking and finding new solutions to problems or challenges. "Make sacrifices" indicates that there may be personal costs along the way, but these are necessary for achieving success. Lastly, "be relentless" signifies the importance of maintaining focus and perseverance in the face of obstacles or setbacks, demonstrating resilience until success is achieved.

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."

This quote by Fred DeLuca suggests that many people overlook opportunities because they often appear to be hard work, rather than glamorous or easy to grasp. The implication is that meaningful success usually requires dedication, effort, and perseverance. Therefore, one should not shy away from opportunities that may initially seem laborious, as they might lead to significant personal growth and achievement.

"There are two types of people who will tell you that you cannot make a difference in this world: those who never made one themselves, and those who failed."

This quote by Fred DeLuca highlights two categories of individuals who may discourage someone from making a positive impact on the world. On one hand, there are people who have not achieved anything significant themselves and thus do not believe in the potential of others to create change. On the other hand, there are those who tried and failed in their endeavors but project their own disappointments onto others by suggesting that they too will not succeed. The message is clear: do not be deterred by naysayers or those who have given up on their dreams – strive to make a difference and leave a positive impact on the world, regardless of past failures or the skepticism of others.

"Believe you can and you're halfway there."

This quote by Fred DeLuca emphasizes the power of self-belief in achieving success. The phrase "Believe you can" refers to having confidence in one's abilities, potential, or capacity to accomplish a goal or task. When a person believes they are capable, it sets them on a path towards achievement, as half the battle is won by simply holding that belief. This quote underscores the idea that self-doubt and lack of belief can hinder progress, while faith in oneself can catalyze growth and help one reach their goals.

"The only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them."

This quote emphasizes that one's accomplishments are not bound by any external limitations, but rather by the extent of their dreams and their determination to strive towards those aspirations. In essence, it suggests that if one dares to dream big and is willing to put in the effort, there are no barriers to achieving greatness.

Everybody who goes through the business will make mistakes. The big question is how big will the mistakes be? How fast will they learn from the mistakes, and how quickly will they get the business in the correct direction?

- Fred DeLuca

Big, Through, Everybody, Big Question

If you have company-owned stores, you make 100 percent of the profit from each one, but you have less entrepreneurial spirit.

- Fred DeLuca

Spirit, Stores, Each One, Profit

We give great value for our franchisees: They can build a store for well under $200,000. And we have extremely simple operating systems. The preparation is mostly done in front of the customer. That simplicity is really what attracts our Subway franchise. You see it, and you can do it.

- Fred DeLuca

Simple, Mostly, Franchise, Attracts

When you're invested in your own business, you're going to run it better. When people are financially responsible for whether their store succeeds, they're going to have that kind of entrepreneurial spirit that's harder to get if headquarters is running things.

- Fred DeLuca

Run, Own, Succeeds, Headquarters

The franchisees are uniquely in touch at the local level. They see what's going on in their communities in a way we couldn't ever imagine.

- Fred DeLuca

Level, Going, Imagine, Local Level

If you treat people nicely, and you allow them to fulfill a role that is satisfying for them, they'll accomplish a lot, and they'll enjoy their work.

- Fred DeLuca

Treat, Allow, Nicely, Satisfying

Most of the people we sign on as development agents commit to goals they don't believe are possible.

- Fred DeLuca

Development, Sign, Most, Goals

To a large extent, we're working hard to fulfill the consumer demand for Subway sandwiches.

- Fred DeLuca

Subway, Extent, Large, Consumer

I was able to solve enough big problems along the way that the sheriff didn't come along and put the 'bankruptcy' sign up.

- Fred DeLuca

Big, Come, Sign, Sheriff

You have to realize that the customer really is king. People who go into more established businesses probably have to be careful not to be casual about that. When you have a brand-new business, and nobody knows who you are, you know you have to work really hard for your customers.

- Fred DeLuca

Careful, About, Your, Businesses

We have salads, some other beverages. But in reality, it's still fundamentally the same business. The most likely thing the next person will buy is a sandwich and a soft drink. After a half-century of glacial change, we're still pretty much the same business.

- Fred DeLuca

Next, Some, Other, Salads

Back in the early days of international, everybody wanted to customize the menu for every place.

- Fred DeLuca

Back, Everybody, Early Days, International

The United States is a huge market, and once you get rolling, you can replicate that model over and over pretty easily. Your supply lines are taken care of. You don't have technicians to deal with. You've got your customer base.

- Fred DeLuca

Deal, United, Technicians, Base

In 1974, we began franchising. We didn't have any big thought process except that, 'OK, franchising will help us get to our goal of 32 stores and help us run stores farther away from home.'

- Fred DeLuca

Goal, Process, Big, OK

I watch 'Shark Tank,' of course. It's very entertaining. I think it's actually good to help people think about the business they might start, and sometimes you get encouraged by looking at someone going into business and saying, 'Hey, I could do that.'

- Fred DeLuca

I Think, Very, Entertaining, Hey

In a typical situation, it's going to take pretty close to a year to get your location in, get your permits, and then get open.

- Fred DeLuca

Year, Pretty, Going, Permits

From my point of view, what I really like, what I think is really terrific about my work, is that the company's had the opportunity to train literally thousands and thousands of brand new franchisees to successfully run their very first business.

- Fred DeLuca

Point Of View, I Think, Very, Train

The payroll tax is affecting sales. It's causing sales declines.

- Fred DeLuca

Tax, Payroll, Affecting, Causing

Every time I come across learning items of interest, I'll send distribution voice mail to the appropriate group in the organization.

- Fred DeLuca

Voice, Mail, Appropriate, Send

There may be a perception that, with franchises, they're all the same, so that limits the ability to experiment. But that's not true. We've always kept two slots open on the menu of each Subway franchise - slots that franchisees can use to come up with their own sandwich ideas.

- Fred DeLuca

Own, Use, Franchise, Limits

I tell everybody there are only three things that we do. We build sales at the store level, we build profits at the store level, and we build more stores. The first two things go in tandem, of course. It's pretty tough to build profits without sales.

- Fred DeLuca

Pretty, Everybody, Profits, Tandem

Back when we started, people didn't even know what a submarine sandwich was. The product was only sold in a few markets.

- Fred DeLuca

Product, Back, Sold, Submarine

Profit or perish... There are only two ways to make money: increase sales and decrease costs.

- Fred DeLuca

Costs, Ways, Perish, Profit

There are so many ingredients that are approved for use. You can't be an expert on all of them.

- Fred DeLuca

Expert, Use, Approved, Ingredients

The people who come to work deserve to be paid properly, and there's no excuse. I could understand someone making a small error, but sometimes people make systematic errors, and that's not right.

- Fred DeLuca

Small, Deserve, Making, Errors

You start a business, and you really don't have much of a budget.

- Fred DeLuca

Business, Start, You, Budget

I know a lot of people at some point in their business careers decide they'll just cash in and do something else, but for some reason, I've never had that feeling.

- Fred DeLuca

Business, Reason, Some, Cash

You really have to understand this isn't a business where you sit in the back room and do calculations - you have to be very concerned about employees and customers, because that's really what's going to bring you success.

- Fred DeLuca

Business, Concerned, Very, Calculations

In some markets, we don't have a lot of room to expand. We've done studies of store density and essentially found our more dense markets have more than one store per 15,000 people.

- Fred DeLuca

More, Some, Density, Studies

We're very much in the people business in that there are two important groups you have to work with: customers and employees.

- Fred DeLuca

Work, Business, Very, Customers

A couple times a year, I get in the car, and I'll drive 1,000 miles cross-country, going through side streets. I'll stay off the highways as much as possible. And I realize it's a huge country, and for us to be in so many places in the country is an amazing thing.

- Fred DeLuca

Country, Through, Couple, Highways

We find that no matter what country we're in, if we hit the right economic notes and appeal to the mass market, we're able to build the business very, very rapidly.

- Fred DeLuca

Country, Notes, Very, Rapidly

I was 17 years old when I built the first store... A very simple, basic store with a basic counter - not very much equipment, all purchased second-hand. And the menu was very simple.

- Fred DeLuca

Very, Second-Hand, Built, Purchased

I made the first sandwich before entering college.

- Fred DeLuca

College, Made, Before, Entering

Higher unemployment generally bodes well for franchising. People are looking for a new opportunity, and people who have jobs are a little less confident they'll always have a job.

- Fred DeLuca

New, Always, Jobs, Unemployment

If someone wants to eat healthy, they can do that and get the sandwich exactly right. I'm so pleased we're able to influence so many people and their eating habits.

- Fred DeLuca

Habits, Right, Sandwich, So Many People

How you handle the obstacles has a big impact on how you do. If you give up, then you obviously don't get there, but if you're persistent, and you keep thinking of new ways to approach the business, you're more likely to reach your goal.

- Fred DeLuca

Obstacles, Reach, Big, Persistent

Everybody eats three times a day; it's only a question of where they choose to eat. The longer-term trends are people eat out more often.

- Fred DeLuca

Question, More, Everybody, Trends

We have always had many more franchisee candidates than available locations.

- Fred DeLuca

More, Always, Than, Candidates

For a franchise system to work well, you really need people with an entrepreneurial mind-set because, while you have a large, overarching system that everybody has to work with, a lot of local issues have to be handled.

- Fred DeLuca

Everybody, Franchise, Large, Entrepreneurial

There's huge access to information. If you need to learn something, you can go on the Internet and learn very quickly. You can reach across miles and miles to find companies that can assist you.

- Fred DeLuca

Need, Access, Very, Assist

When I started in the business, the minimum wage was $1.25. I've seen an enormous number of wage increases. Basically, it applies evenly to everyone in the business.

- Fred DeLuca

Business, Everyone, Started, Minimum

If I were in charge of the government, I would index the minimum wage to inflation, so that way, everybody knows what they can count on.

- Fred DeLuca

Count, Charge, Everybody, Minimum

Even if you set a long-term goal, that doesn't mean it's a straight-line journey. Often, there are problems and obstacles along the way.

- Fred DeLuca

Journey, Goal, Set, Long-Term

Because the stores worked, franchisees wanted to build more stores. If your model works, folks who are happy with it will buy out the ones who aren't happy.

- Fred DeLuca

Will, Stores, Works, Folks

I don't have any interest in cashing out or leaving the business or doing something else. I just love Subway, and I want to keep focusing on the company for the benefit of all our franchise owners. So I'm kind of like married to the job.

- Fred DeLuca

Love, Doing, Franchise, Focusing

You could have everything right but be in the wrong place. You think your business is no good, but really, the problem is your place is no good.

- Fred DeLuca

Business, Think, Could, Wrong

Six months after we started, in 1964, there was a day when we sold only seven sandwiches. If we'd taken all the money from the register, we couldn't have paid an employee, much less the food or the rent or all that. It could have been a turning point. We could have given up.

- Fred DeLuca

Seven, Been, Sandwiches, Paid

After 39 years of business, I'm still learning. I go through this every year -identifying new strategies that are extremely important.

- Fred DeLuca

New, Through, Still, Strategies

I don't have much of a bucket list. I don't have a lot of needs and desires.

- Fred DeLuca

Needs, Desires, Lot, Bucket

Subway is a real point of pride. We have influenced the way people eat.

- Fred DeLuca

Pride, Influenced, Eat, Subway

A lot of stuff happens daily when you're running a company like Subway. If you get too happy about some things or too unhappy about others, you get worn out. It's best if you can pace yourself a little bit more.

- Fred DeLuca

Happy, Some, About, Subway

When we first started the company, I didn't have any thoughts of franchising. We just had company-owned stores.

- Fred DeLuca

Thoughts, Started, Had, Stores

You have to be able to communicate the vision to the people in your organization so that they know where and how they should direct themselves on a day-to-day basis.

- Fred DeLuca

Communicate, Your, Direct, Organization

I guess that's one of the benefits of being sick. Your wife lets you have a big-screen TV in the living room.

- Fred DeLuca

Living, Benefits, TV, Living Room

By and large, we're a bread-eating culture. People like sandwiches. We don't really over-think that one.

- Fred DeLuca

Culture, Like, Large, Sandwiches

If I'm spending time on something, I may as well do good as opposed to average.

- Fred DeLuca

Average, May, Opposed, Spending

In the U.S. and Canada, we have one store for every 12,000 people.

- Fred DeLuca

People, Store, Every, Canada

I don't think I ever dreamt of going into business. No one in my family was in business.

- Fred DeLuca

Business, Think, Ever, Dreamt

I went to school because I was supposed to. I did pre-med because my mum thought it was a good idea.

- Fred DeLuca

Thought, Idea, Mum, Good Idea

From my point of view, my job is just to work hard for our franchisees, so they can maintain the position they're in, and to grow market share.

- Fred DeLuca

Work, Work Hard, Grow, Maintain

It's tough for people to get into business, especially a small business.

- Fred DeLuca

Business, Small, Get, Tough

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