“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8).

Before beginning his famous franchise, Col. Harland Sanders worked as a streetcar conductor, a railroad fireman, a justice of the peace, an insurance salesman, and held other occupations. In 1930, at the age of forty, he was operating a service station in Corbin, Kentucky, when he decided to offer food to his customers. At first, he served them right off the dining table in his living quarters. His food was popular, and he eventually opened a restaurant across the street from the station.

Over a period of years, Sanders developed the secret combination of eleven herbs and spices that went into his chicken recipe. But when a new interstate highway bypassed his town, Sanders sold his business and began collecting Social Security. That could have been the end of the story, but the colonel decided that he was not ready for the retired life.

At the age of 66, Sanders took to the road in an old station wagon. Every time he saw a restaurant he stopped, knocked on the door, and prepared a batch of his special recipe chicken. Restaurant owners made handshake deals to use the recipe and pay Sanders a nickel for every chicken they sold.

After the Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe was introduced, most of the restaurants found that their customers couldn’t get enough of the “finger lickin’ good” chicken. Success blossomed and KFC Restaurants were franchised throughout the United States and around the globe (I personally ate in a KFC in China when I visited that country in 2006). In a poll taken in the late 1970s, Colonel Sanders was listed as one of the five most recognized persons in the entire world!

CONSIDER THIS: It’s never too late to begin, but once you begin, it often takes enthusiasm, perseverance, and patience to realize success. Many schools and colleges begin classes next week. Remember, students, that the dictionary is the only place where “success” comes before “work.” If you want to be successful in any endeavor, you have to work at it!

Most important of all, GENUINE SUCCESS, according to the Bible, is living up to the standards God has set for us… and the real joy of life will be when we enter into His presence and hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of thy Lord!”