Today we celebrate the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King was a civil rights leader, a religious leader and an African-American leader. How can his teachings, speeches, writing and actions help vendors become better food truck owners? Today we’ll share 5 business lessons from MLK for your use.

5 Inspirational Food Truck Business Lessons From MLK

You MUST Have A Dream

Dr. King is best known for his “I have a dream” speech. A successful food truck owner must always dreams big, and shares their vision with staff members and customers. You have to have to have a dream; and a big one, to take the huge chance that is entering the mobile food industry.

Persuade Without Power

With the use of non-violent civil disobedience, Dr. King was able to persuade millions of Americans to join the civil rights movement and support his dream. As a food truck owner, you have to get a lot of people on your side: local politicians, customers, and employees.

You can try to be aggressive in your food truck operations, but this has been shown to be very ineffective. The best way to persuade is to be kind, passionate, supportive and grateful.

Get Your Team Involved

Dr. King was able to build a real movement because he was able to get so many people involved, because everyone felt like they were part of something bigger than them. As an food truck owner, you can involve everyone, and learn from everyone as well: every employee and customer has something valuable to teach you, if you’ll only let them.

Create Sense Of Urgency

As Dr. King said in his “I have a dream” speech:

“We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.”

It is the time, for you as well. Now is the time for you to lead your food truck team, and now is the time for you to build  a food truck business with meaning, and now is the time for you to instill a sense of urgency in every person you deal with.

Be Inspirational

Dr. King was so inspiring, and we can only dream of being half as inspiring as he was. But as a food truck owner your job is to inspire. Your job is to inspire your staff, and your customer base, about your mission and your food and services.

RELATED: How To Start A Food Truck Business

The Bottom Line

Take the time for these 5 food truck business lessons from MLK inspire you to be a better mobile food vendor and person every day. We at Mobile Cuisine are thankful to Dr. Martin Luther King for so much, including the thousands of leaders he inspired unknowingly, and those he’ll inspire for decades to come.

Do you have any other business lessons from MLK? Share your thoughts on this topic in the comment section or social media. Facebook | Twitter