Monday, July 27, 2009

Day 1: Going Away Giveaways

Two and a half years ago, I was a senior at The University of Alabama without the slightest clue as to what I wanted to do with my life. I was explaining this to one of my mentors one day and after talking for a little while, he encouraged me to look into Chick-fil-A. I did.

About 6 months later after resumes, applications and interviews, I was called with news telling me that I had been selected as a Marketing Intern for Summer 2007. I was elated. One month later I graduated and a week after that I packed my things and moved to Atlanta.

When I made the move, I didn't really know what to think, I only knew that I would be working as an intern for the next 10 weeks. I was not guaranteed a job after the internship was over. In fact, I told the kind lady in HR that interviewed me I wasn't really interested in working there past the summer. I was planning on moving back at the end of the 10 weeks and was hoping that my experience as an intern at Chick-fil-A would help to set me apart from other recent graduates applying for a job.

About two weeks later I realized that I had lied to the kind lady in HR. I was really enjoying what I was doing. The company was incredible. The people that I got to work for and with were top notch. And somehow, this small town girl was really enjoying Atlanta. An answer to prayer came about a month later when they offered me a job so that I could stay there after the internship. It was a blessing beyond blessings.

It was because of Chick-fil-A that I started attending Buckhead Church. It was because of Chick-fil-A that I was connected with so many wonderful families to baby-sit and nanny for. It was because of Chick-fil-A that I have some of the best friends in the entire world. It was because of Chick-fil-A that I look at customer service in a whole new way.

When I left that job about 6 months ago, it was one of the hardest things that I have ever done. I loved what I was doing. Loved the company. Loved the people. In a company full of smart and busy people, more than a small handful had taken time out to develop me, invest in me, encourage me and guide me. In fact, even though I'm no longer an employee, they still do those things and it blows me away each time.

As I stand just days away from making a move to Birmingham. Just days away from the opportunity to mentor and do life with teens and college aged women, I am certain none of it would have happened if Chick-fil-A wouldn't have taken a chance on a girl from The University of Alabama. I would have never had the confidence.

Most of you know what it feels like to be a customer of Chick-fil-A, but I can tell you that having the opportunity to be an employee of the company will be something that I thank the Lord for for the rest of my life.


For those and many more reasons, my first Going Away Giveaway is a Chick-fil-A gift card. Not just any gift card...this one is loaded with $20.
Here's what you need to do to be eligible to win the Chick-fil-A gift card:

Leave me a comment telling me your FAVORITE thing about Chick-fil-A. If you comment anonymously, make sure you include your name and how I can contact you.

If you want to increase your chances, you can do either or both of the following.
  • Become a follower of my blog and leave me another comment telling me that you became a follower. If you're already a follower, just leave me a comment telling me that you already are a follower.

  • Tweet about this giveaway and leave the URL for the tweet in a different comment.
Get to commenting. The contest will end tomorrow, JULY 28, at NOON EST. The winner will be chosen using random.org's random number generator.

30 comments:

Daily Tales of Sugar and Spice said...

i became a follower! favorite thing about working there - all the people/friends i met along the way. don't pick me for gift card - i still do work for them so that isn't fair. just wanted you to know i'm participating! ;-)

scauley said...

What?? A contest. . . I'm in!! What I love about Chick-fil-a is the way that some of the servers say "it is my pleasure to serve you." (The ice dream isn't bad either :)) My favorite thing about you, Lindsey, is the way you love life. Your joy in all of the little things is so refreshing!!! I can't wait to see what God has in store for you in the near future!!

scauley said...

I'm a follower! I guess it is official now!!

Becky said...

My favorite thing about Chik fil A (besides their sweet tea and the fact that you are part of their family) is the fact that they are closed on Sundays to allow their employees time for church or time with their families, etc.

Tales of a Peanut said...

I love that a kids meal is the perfect amount of food! And their lemonaide! And their milkshakes! And their chicken nuggetts! And...just about everything!

Tales of a Peanut said...

And I'm a follower!

~A~ said...

My favorite thing about Chick-fil-A is the way the employees treat me. For example last Wednesday, my hands were full with a non-cooperative 2 year old and they brought my food to me.

~A~ said...

Now I'm a follower too!!!

Whitney Walker Alexander said...

You want me to pick just ONE thing that I love about Chick-fil-A?!?! Oh, sweet friend, I cannot pick just one thing! It is the go-to place for my husband and I. We LOVE the service. I LOVE the food-- I have never had anything bad there...ever! The ICEDREAM cones are AMAZING! I love the cleanliness and how kind everyone always is. I LOVE that they are closed on Sunday to observe the Lord's day (even though I seem to always crave CFA on Sundays!) I could go on and on...I LOVE CHICK-FIL-A!!

Whitney Walker Alexander said...

I am also (of course!) a follower of your blog!

Whitney Walker Alexander said...

http://twitter.com/whitalexander

Elizabeth said...

I am all over a Chick-fil-a Gift card!! My favorite thing about "The Chick" as we call it is when the workers respond to their customers by saying, "it's my pleasure" instead of "you're welcome" - I think that is pretty cool!

Kyle Gilbert said...

i love the fact that no matter where you are, the Chick-Fil-A experience is the same...easily the BEST customer service of any fast food place!

oh, and if you're REALLY jonesin' for a chicken sandwich at breakfast, they will totally hook you up!

Kyle Gilbert said...

also, i just subscribed to your blog.
feel free to check mine out!

http://findthefocus.wordpress.com

Kyle Gilbert said...

http://twitter.com/kyleisvolant

Anonymous said...

OOOOO I wanna play!!! I'm already a follower of your blog.

My favorite thing about Chick-Fil-A (which I actually ate today as a matter of fact...I had to search around Auburn to find it, but success!!!) is the delicious sweet tea. I am talking they have the greatest most fabulous sweet tea in the world!!! The employees are also very well trained and polite, which I appreciate!!!!

Cile said...

My favorite thing about Chick-fil-A is that they don't become satisfied with their current state. Example: Chick-fil-A has the best customer service of any fast food chain and most other restaurants around...fact. One of the last major projects that you had, Lindsey, was on the team in charge of Second Mile Service. I love that! They didn't get there by chance, that's for sure!

Unknown said...

My favorite thing about Chick-fil-A is their lemonade(both regular and diet)!

Unknown said...

I became a follower!

Melanie said...

I LOVE Chick-fil-A...it was what I CRAVED when I was pregnant with my first child! I love their chicken sandwiches...so simple, yet oh so good! And, you can't beat their waffle fries! I was also so appreciative when the girl brought my tray of food to me last week when I was trying to get my 3 year old and 5 month old settled at the table...I had my hands full!

Melanie said...

And, I am now a follower of your blog!

Shannon said...

My favorite thing about Chick-Fil-A is that it is the only place in So Cal that serves authentic sweet tea. I live 30 minutes from the nearest Chick-Fil-A and have been known to make the drive just for sweet tea and a chicken sandwich :)

Shannon said...

I just tweeted about your blog post too. I'm not sure how to give you the URL to my tweet, but you can see my Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/sprimicerio

Douglasfam said...

Oh dear - my favorite thing is sweet ms brenda who showers my girls with so much love each time we go!
JUST LIKE YOU LINDSEY!!!
We love you dear friend!!!

Douglasfam said...

holler- i'ma follower!!!

Deborah said...

I've just discovered my favorite thing at Chick fil a is their peach milk shakes. So creamy and delicious, like a real milkshake and not fast food at all. Now I want one...lol

Shannon said...

And I just followed your blog :)Gotta increase my chances, right?

Jessie Jones said...

My favorite thing about Chick-Fil-A is definitely the chicken sandwich! :-) But if I need to make my husband happy, a peach milkshake is the way to go!

Love you girl - great blogging!
Jessie Patterson Jones

Tweet! twitter.com/jessiepjones
And I follow your blog, of course!

MJS said...

WOW! I had know idea about all of this, I am so glad to hear you are doing so good! GOD is GREAT!

Annette said...

I have been a follower of yours for about twenty something years and love your blog. I am so excited about your move to B'ham and look forward to reading about your future adventures. I can't think of anything I don't love about Chick-fil-a. Try to go by when in T-town. Did you know a new one opened in Northport last Thurs? Take care