Would You Give Up $1 Billion for What You Believe? Lessons in Leadership from Chick-fil-A | Between

What would you be willing to sacrifice for what you truly believe? In this Between the Builds episode of Built With Purpose, host Chris Fay reflects on a powerful conversation with former Chick-fil-A CMO Steve Robinson and unpacks one of the most important leadership questions of all: how deeply are your beliefs embedded in the way you lead, build, and serve? Chris breaks down how Chick-fil-A made the intentional decision to close on Sundays — a move that costs the company roughly a billion dollars a year — yet helped create one of the most trusted and recognizable brands in the world. Why? Because their beliefs aren’t just written down — they’re lived out daily through customer experience, employee development, and company culture. From the famous “my pleasure” service mindset to their commitment to people-first leadership, this episode explores how belief systems become visible through action — and why customers can literally feel a brand when values are real. Chris also challenges leaders to move past quiet conviction and into visible alignment: Do you actually know what you believe? Have you documented your values and purpose? Are your customers and employees experiencing those beliefs in real interactions? Are you bold enough to lead with them, even when it’s uncomfortable? Rather than preaching beliefs, Chris emphasizes living them — leading by example, creating operating principles around them, and holding teams accountable to show up consistently. He walks through practical steps for turning personal or company values into daily behaviors, language, and expectations inside any organization. Key Takeaways: Why Chick-fil-A proves belief-driven businesses can scale massively How customer experience reflects leadership values The difference between stating beliefs and operationalizing them Why documenting your purpose creates clarity and alignment How accountability turns values into culture Why playing it safe with your beliefs limits your impact This episode is a reminder that the strongest brands aren’t built on marketing — they’re built on conviction, consistency, and courage. If you’re building a company, leading a team, or shaping culture, this reflection will challenge you to lean deeper into what matters most — and to lead with purpose every single day. Connect with Chris Fay Want to continue the conversation or learn more? 🔗 Chris Fay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-fay 🌐 Built With Purpose: https://builtwithpurpose.com BuiltWithPurposePodcast on all Social Media Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more bold leaders discover the show — and keep building great companies, cultures, and legacies with purpose.