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Extra Crispy Colonel to tell grads: Failures are 'stepping stones' to success

June 14, 2018

Extra Crispy Colonel has gone all "Pomp and Circumstance" on us as he will deliver the commencement address this Friday night, June 14, to the 2018 graduates of the Art Institute of Portland. The character, made famous by the longtime "extra-tanned" actor, George Hamilton will deliver his words of wisdom dressed as Extra Crispy Colonel with all the collegiate regalia that fits the commencement speaker role. 

Despite the humorous tone of the whole idea, Hamilton will deliver a very wise and astute message to the graduates based on the original Colonel Harland Sanders story of determination and fortitude in the face of all kinds of obstacles. 

Throughout his life, Colonel Sanders held an array of jobs from streetcar conductor and farmer to insurance salesman and railroad firefighter. In fact, he was in his 60s when his ultimate success happened in his first successful franchise of "Kentucky Fried Chicken," today's global superstar QSR known as KFC. 

His persistence will be central to the message to Portland graduates who enter an even more competitive world than the colonel's in many ways. Salient points that Hamilton will deliver as the colonel Friday, include:

• Every failure is a stepping stone to something better.
• Life brings you places you have never imagined, so no matter what, enjoy the ride.
• The road ahead isn't set, rather it's a profound, scary and powerful opportunity.

The video of the speech will be posted immediately afterward on KFC's YouTube channel in case other QSR leaders want to tap into some of the Sanders-esque business wisdom. 

Photo: Provided