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Ep85: Cristina Crays: From Burnout to Breakthrough—Leading With Faith and Clarity
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In this heartfelt and insightful conversation, host Eunicia Peret sits down with Cristina Crays, co-operator of Chick-fil-A Avalon in Alpharetta, Georgia. Cristina shares her journey from supporting her husband’s leap from IT into fast food entrepreneurship, to becoming a full-time partner in a high-performing Chick-fil-A location. The episode explores the power of intentional relocation, community engagement, and the often-unspoken realities of launching and scaling a franchise business—especially when expectations and initial outcomes don’t align.
Key Takeaways:
Chick-fil-A’s Franchise Model: Cristina offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the competitive selection process and what makes Chick-fil-A’s model unique.
Strategic Relocation: Relocating the franchise to align with family and lifestyle goals proved to be pivotal in building a thriving community-centric business.
Marketing That Works: Relationship-based marketing—especially through schools and churches—was key to turning around a slow start.
Invest in People First: Prioritizing team culture and employee relationships ultimately improves customer experience.
Gratitude Through the Grind: Maintaining faith and focus during challenging phases, such as the Avalon store’s slow start, leads to long-term success.
Timeline Summary:
[00:01:00] Cristina’s backstory and how she and her husband John got started with Chick-fil-A.
[00:04:00] Transitioning through three different franchise locations over two decades.
[00:06:00] Why relocating to Alpharetta (Avalon) became a personal and strategic decision.
[00:10:00] Building community connections through church and school partnerships.
[00:13:00] The rough start at Avalon and how saying “yes” to every opportunity changed everything.
[00:15:00] Big wins: Three “Symbol of Success” awards and turning things around with strategic marketing.
[00:18:00] The underrated power of responsiveness and follow-through in business networking.
[00:21:00] What makes Chick-fil-A’s franchise model uniquely supportive for families.
[00:24:00] Lessons from tough seasons and staying committed to core values.
[00:27:00] Cristina’s message for fellow entrepreneurs: stay the course—it’s a long game.
Links & Resources:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristina-crays-95452811/
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