Today we’d like to introduce you to Danny Putnam
Hi Danny, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I think of my current role as the local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Encinitas as my third career. My first job was playing professional baseball – my childhood dream came true. I played in college for Stanford University, then was drafted in the first round by the Oakland A’s. I made it to the Major Leagues in 2007 and continued playing professionally through the 2011 season.
About a year before I retired, I co-founded a nutritional supplement and wellness business which essentially started out of the locker room rather than a garage like so many famous start-up stories. I focused on growing it for about seven years before selling my portion of it. I enjoyed the journey, and it was a priceless experience. Entrepreneurship was new to me, and I learned a lot about myself, especially how much I enjoyed making an impact on the community through my work. It was that realization that led me to apply to be a Chick-fil-A Owner-Operator.
I keep an Oakland A’s jersey and a bat displayed in my Chick-fil-A as a nod to my journey. The lessons I learned from baseball still shape my leadership of the restaurant. Of course, I’m not hitting fastballs anymore, but I know how to lead a team and create a winning culture. My goal is to have a positive effect on the whole community, but I know that starts right here with my Team Members.
I always thought that the impact I made would be through my platform as an athlete, but I’m amazed each day by the profound change my Team Members and I can create through the context of a restaurant. We can make our slice of the world a little better by something as simple as saying “good morning, we are glad you are here” or a signature “my pleasure” to a Guest. It’s fulfilling in a whole new way.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I had to miss part of a season after I was hit by a pitch during my second game in AAA and broke my hand. I missed a good chunk of the remainder of the season.
Those three seasons after getting called up were a battle. The lows were as low as the highs. There were a lot of things that were simply not in my control. I played well and even ended up getting traded to my hometown San Diego Padres in 2009. However, I never did make it back to the Majors. The business of baseball provided a backdrop and motivation to take that first entrepreneurial step. This was the catalyst for my retirement from baseball. It was tough to leave the game I loved behind because my mindset was being an athlete. That was going to change, so I had to shift my perspective completely.
Ultimately, those years shaped my character and our marriage. Becky and I were married in 2006, so we were able to go through all of it together. Looking back, we know the events were providential, and we are grateful that our path took some unexpected turns. Even if those turns were hard and painful.
My son asked me the other day if I wished I could still be playing baseball instead of being a Chick-fil-A Owner-Operator, and I told him I wouldn’t have it any other way. Retiring from baseball led me to a fulfilling career as an entrepreneur where I am able to use a different platform to impact people in my community. I have the time to coach my kids and spend time with my family – I don’t have to disappear for months out of the year during the baseball season. I have learned that there is a cost to everything, even success. I’m thankful to have the balance that I do now.
I don’t just feel like I’m doing a job at my Chick-fil-A. I’m making an impact on my Team Members and on the community, and that’s what’s most important to me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Because of Chick-fil-A’s Owner-Operator model, I’m a hands-on leader in my restaurant each day. I’m a firm believer that a good team multiplies human potential, so I focus on creating a winning culture within my restaurant.
I want each of my Team Members to know that they belong, they are accepted, and they can contribute to something bigger than themselves. I really enjoy being present in my restaurant. We regularly coordinate team activities and I hand-write congratulatory notes to celebrate my employees and their accomplishments. By rewarding them for their hard work and building what we call a “Championship Culture of Care” within the restaurant, I equip my team to pay it forward and provide exceptional service to our Guests. We may not be able to change the whole world, but we can definitely make our little sliver here in Encinitas a bit better each day. This reality is a compelling mission which drives me and the team to continually improve how we serve our guests.
For many of my Team Members, working at my restaurant is their first job ever, so I take my role as a mentor seriously. Sometimes I wish I started working at a Chick-fil-A as a teenager! You can learn a lot of great skills this way. I do my best to create an environment that helps my Team Members grow.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Now more than ever, people are focused on finding the best value for themselves and their families. We’re all a little more careful about where we spend our money, so it’s been my goal at my restaurant to create extra value for our guests by providing the second-mile service that Chick-fil-A is known for.
I’m so grateful for the support of each one of our guests, and we’ll continue to focus on giving them the best experience possible when they come to our restaurant. That consistent quality and exceptional service is what sets us apart, and it has become even more important that we maintain it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chick-fil-a.com/locations/ca/encinitas-in-line-dt
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chickfilaencinitas
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CFAEncinitas/
