McDonalds is on fire

After a longo day at the job I wanted to briefly discuss my lunch experience today. I was out on the road visiting a business client and stopped at McDonalds following my meeting for a quick meal. I decided to go inside instead of the classic drive through. This turned out to be a great move.

Look at the above picture. That is the most pretty, highly refined, colorful, sharp $6.90 meal I have ever seen. And everything and I mean everything (except the bathrooms funny enough) have this brilliant design. Colors and sleek design is everywhere (including the tables, you can't see it here but they have a picture of a burger on each table - it looks better than the burgers I cook at home on my grill).

I especially love their packaging. It like each of those boxes has a present in it and each of the colors coordinates to a different type of prize. It reminds me a lot of casino chips. While I don't frequent those establishments their chips are brilliantly designed (especially their weight). Surprised that McDonald's have brought back Monopoly? Nope. I think they've found a way to make the McDonald's experience about rewarding yourself. I superb accomplishment for a brand built on quality food, speed, and price. I really think this is a great example of secret sauce. They have hit all of their core differentiators so well they have entered into uber-marketing world and are delivering something magical.

Honestly, I felt better after leaving McDonalds. I don't think I've felt good after leaving that place (and leaving is important, because I'm usually hungry on the way in and willing to eat a loaf of bread off the back of a truck in Manhattan) since I was a short kid. And of course, what else they do so well right now? Thats right, just like all great large companies...they sell happiness. (Arguably they are the front runner right now with BP). I saw a guy turn to one of his buddy's in line today and say "I want to be that guy" and pointed at a drawing of a man on a couch on the side of his bag. This guy in line...how old was he? He was a teenager! A teenager! I've never heard a teenager voice anything more than sarcastic optimism in my entire life.

I smiled. Thats gold. There's no way around it.