Derrick Hayes transformed a promise to his dying father into a multimillion-dollar restaurant empire. The founder and CEO of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks built his brand from a 700-square-foot gas station in Georgia to a national franchise with over 30 locations, generating millions in revenue. Hayes, who grew up in West Philadelphia selling bean pies and newspapers in “survival mode,” exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit that established business owners know well. His journey from postal worker to restaurant mogul offers lessons in persistence, purpose-driven leadership, and scaling with intention.
What sets Hayes apart from other success stories is his unwavering commitment to honoring his late father’s memory while building something meaningful for his community. Every decision flows through the filter of family legacy and authentic purpose. For business owners navigating growth challenges, Hayes provides a blueprint for maintaining values while achieving scale. His quotes reveal the mindset shifts required to build a business that generates wealth and creates lasting impact through purpose-driven leadership.
Entrepreneurial Mindset and Self-Belief
The foundation of Hayes’ success rests on an unshakeable belief in his vision, even when circumstances suggested otherwise. His approach to entrepreneurship emphasizes internal drive over external validation, teaching business owners that conviction must precede capital.
- “I was always a hustler.” – Derrick Hayes
- “I was in survival mode my whole life, from being a kid to high school. I was always a hustler. I was a serial entrepreneur even when I was younger.” – Derrick Hayes
- “When I was 12 years old, I was selling Philadelphia newspapers and bean pies. I would go to the suburban neighborhoods and shovel snow when there was no snow on the ground in Philly. I never liked to ask my parents for money. I always wanted to have my own, and it made me feel good about myself.” – Derrick Hayes
- “If you are gearing up to build a business, you have to have self-belief. Learn your craft, and study it. Don’t study anybody else or worry about how fast somebody else’s pace is.” – Derrick Hayes
- “Learn your pace and what you’re doing so when it’s your time to shine, you will continue shining and won’t dim your light. I could’ve easily made a lot of moves to get me there faster and have many Big Dave’s all over the country, but I’m going to have many Big Dave’s all over the country my way, and it’s going to feel better in the end because I’m in control.” – Derrick Hayes
- “I knew I was going to be a star, make it out of Philly and change the world and I’m showing people how to do that. I’m winning and getting it out the mud and showing people how to do that by not giving up.” – Derrick Hayes
- “I’m a visionary, I’m a dreamer. Franchising is something that I thought about years ago, but I didn’t have the experience or the team to do it.” – Derrick Hayes
Key Takeaway Quote:
“If you are gearing up to build a business, you have to have self-belief. Learn your craft, and study it. Don’t study anybody else or worry about how fast somebody else’s pace is.” – Derrick Hayes
Hayes understood early that comparison kills confidence. Business owners who focus on their own trajectory rather than their competitors’ timelines build stronger foundations. This approach prevents the premature scaling that destroys many promising ventures.
Persistence Through Adversity
Hayes faced rejection, broken equipment, and countless obstacles on his path to success. His quotes reveal how he reframed setbacks as learning opportunities and maintained forward momentum when others would have quit.
- “Success isn’t about shortcuts. It’s about consistency, grit, and believing in your vision when nobody else does. If you put in the work and stay true to who you are, the world will eventually catch up to the greatness you’ve been carrying all along.” – Derrick Hayes
- “Sometimes failing is learning. You’re learning in every situation, and that’s what I always learned from my father. That’s why I do so well with my brand now, because when obstacles come at me, I don’t give up. I find another route and go around it or go over it because I learned that from him.” – Derrick Hayes
- “I had a broken grill and a broken fryer, and I made my dream happen on that.” – Derrick Hayes
- “Nobody wanted to rent me a space in Atlanta because I didn’t have business experience, so no one wanted to take the risk with me.” – Derrick Hayes
- “Life is not a track meet; it’s a marathon. It’s all about how you run your race.” – Derrick Hayes
- “I was on the grill making this chicken cheesesteak like my life depended on it because I was out of money. I had no traffic. I knew that this was my big break.” – Derrick Hayes
Key Takeaway Quote:
“Success isn’t about shortcuts. It’s about consistency, grit, and believing in your vision when nobody else does. If you put in the work and stay true to who you are, the world will eventually catch up to the greatness you’ve been carrying all along.” – Derrick Hayes
This quote encapsulates the long-term perspective required for sustainable business growth. Hayes recognized that authentic success emerges from persistent execution rather than clever tactics. Business owners who embrace this philosophy build enterprises that withstand market volatility.
Legacy and Purpose-Driven Leadership
Every aspect of Hayes’ business connects to his father’s memory and the promise he made. This purpose-driven approach provides clarity in decision-making and creates emotional resonance that transcends traditional marketing.
- “I don’t want you to work like I did my whole life and have nothing to show for it.” – Derrick Hayes
- “My dad gave me principles and morals that’s instilled in me today. When it comes to Big Dave cheesesteaks, I always think about how my father would do it. Because watching your dad die in front of your face is something that you’ll never forget.” – Derrick Hayes
- “I wouldn’t say I was forced into this career, but it was something that I felt like was needed, and it was something that I felt like I wanted to honor my father.” – Derrick Hayes
- “I tell people all the time it hurts not having my father with me every single day in physical presence, but I know in spiritual presence, he’s here. I get to hear people say, ‘Big Dave. Big Dave. Big Dave.’ It’s like my father’s alive again.” – Derrick Hayes
- “I always go as hard as I could possibly go to make his name live on and honor my family and my last name the right way.” – Derrick Hayes
- “I’ve made my father famous! That was my goal. To always feel his presence.” – Derrick Hayes
- “What makes it special is the story. I’m just an inner-city kid from West Philadelphia, no college education. I just wanted to change my life and make something of myself, and I know there’s a lot of kids out there just like me trying to figure their life out, and they can look at exactly what I’ve done and give them the motivation to do the same thing. I think that’s what Big Dave’s represents — more than the food does is hope.” – Derrick Hayes
Key Takeaway Quote:
“I think that’s what Big Dave’s represents — more than the food does is hope.” – Derrick Hayes
Hayes understood that businesses selling products or services achieve commodity status, while businesses selling hope and transformation command premium positioning. This insight transforms how leaders think about value creation and customer relationships.
The Hayes Decision Filter
Use this purpose-driven decision-making framework to guide major business choices like Derrick Hayes. Before making important decisions, ask yourself these four questions:
- How does this honor my core purpose? – Consider whether the decision aligns with your fundamental mission and values.
- Does this create opportunities for others? – Evaluate how your choice can develop team members, benefit customers, or strengthen community relationships.
- Will this strengthen community relationships? – Assess the impact on your local ecosystem, customers, and stakeholders who support your growth.
- Does this build long-term legacy value? – Determine if this decision contributes to something meaningful that extends beyond immediate profit.
When your answers align across all four areas, you’re making decisions that honor both purpose and profit. When they conflict, use this framework to understand the trade-offs and choose the path that best serves your long-term vision.
Strategic Leadership and Team Building
As Hayes scaled from a single location to a national franchise development model, his leadership philosophy evolved to emphasize community development and strategic delegation. His approach demonstrates how purpose-driven leaders build sustainable organizations.
- “Tyler Perry said something to me I’ll never forget, because I battle this all the time, I always try to bring everybody with me. ‘Sometimes you’ve got to leave them in the sand. Sometimes you’ve got to go in the water, row the boat, leave them in the sand, and offer to come back and get on the boat.’ Sometimes people aren’t going to understand the mission.” – Derrick Hayes
- “I’m on a crazy mission right now, I’m on a mission where this is all I’m doing every day. I am focused on this one thing that I want to see happen, and it’s hard for a lot of humans to grasp it. So right now, I’m leaving a lot of people in the sand.” – Derrick Hayes
- “I care about the community. I hire in the community. The community keeps me lifted. They keep my doors open. Without the community, I’m nothing. So, I always try to bring the community in and make them a part of everything when it comes to Big Dave’s.” – Derrick Hayes
- “As I’ve been able to be an entrepreneur and in growing this business, I learned that my gift is not even making the money. My gift is actually giving people opportunity.” – Derrick Hayes
- “I wasn’t an entrepreneur, I wasn’t a businessman. I’m making it for the people. If they want to get involved with what we’re building, we are going to help them up.” – Derrick Hayes
Key Takeaway Quote:
“As I’ve been able to be an entrepreneur and in growing this business, I learned that my gift is not even making the money. My gift is actually giving people opportunity.” – Derrick Hayes
This perspective shift from profit maximization to opportunity creation illustrates mature leadership thinking. Business owners who prioritize developing others build organizations that scale beyond their personal limitations while creating meaningful impact.
Financial Wisdom and Long-Term Thinking
Despite his success, Hayes maintains a disciplined approach to wealth management, understanding that sustainable prosperity requires careful stewardship of resources.
- “What I’ve learned is, after two weeks, no matter what you buy, you don’t love it the same. As I get older, I’m getting a lot wiser. Not saying that you don’t buy things that you want to enjoy and have fun on the weekends, but I think it’s very important that you be mindful of how you spend because we live in a world that you don’t understand.” – Derrick Hayes
- “The economy can always shift on you. And I always say this: nobody can save me and my family if I hit rock bottom. I can’t expect anybody to afford these massive bills that I have. The only way I could do that is to be very responsible with finances and decisions, so that I can give my last name a chance of generation-breaking.” – Derrick Hayes
- “My kryptonite is cars. I had two Bentleys. I had a McLaren, Audi R8, Range Rover, G-Wagon. I’ve had pretty much every car.” – Derrick Hayes
Key Takeaway Quote:
“The only way I could do that is to be very responsible with finances and decisions, so that I can give my last name a chance of generation-breaking.” – Derrick Hayes
Hayes demonstrates the financial discipline required for generational wealth building. His candid admission about material temptations combined with his commitment to long-term family legacy provides a framework for business owners navigating success responsibly.
Community Impact and Social Responsibility
Hayes views business success as a platform for community development, recognizing that sustainable enterprises must contribute to the ecosystems that support them.
- “Six months later, it feels really good. Not too many people can lose their location in six months and build another one in the same area. I know God is watching over me. I know my father is watching over me.” – Derrick Hayes
- “Honestly, it shows me everything. You know that saying, ‘We come as one,’ and with Big Dave’s, they treat it that way. When I announced that I wasn’t reopening the location, a lot of people were hurt by it, and I saw that. I got on the builders every day, like, ‘Come on, let’s get this together. People are waiting for me.'” – Derrick Hayes
Key Takeaway Quote:
“Without the community, I’m nothing. So, I always try to bring the community in and make them a part of everything when it comes to Big Dave’s.” – Derrick Hayes
Hayes understood that businesses exist within communities, not separate from them. This reciprocal relationship creates loyalty that transcends economic transactions and provides stability during challenging periods.
The Community-First Growth Checklist
Use this checklist to implement Hayes’ community-centered approach to business growth:
- □ Identify local hiring opportunities in underserved communities within your market area
- □ Develop mentorship programs for new employees to create pathways for advancement and skill development
- □ Create partnerships with local organizations, schools, or nonprofits that align with your mission
- □ Measure community impact alongside financial metrics to track your broader contribution
- □ Establish feedback loops with community stakeholders to understand their needs and priorities
- □ Document success stories for motivation and authentic marketing that showcases real impact
- □ Set aside percentage of profits for community reinvestment through programs, scholarships, or local initiatives
Implementing these practices transforms your business from a profit-driven entity into a community asset that generates both financial returns and meaningful social impact.
AI-Powered Tools for Implementation
Ready to apply Hayes’ principles to your business? Use these AI prompts to accelerate your implementation:
Purpose-Driven Mission Development Prompt:
“Create a personal mission statement that honors my family legacy while building a profitable business. Ask me about my family background, core values, business goals, and community impact vision. Then draft a 2-3 sentence mission statement that could guide my business decisions like Derrick Hayes’ father’s memory guides Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks. Include questions about what legacy I want to leave and how my business can serve something larger than profit.”
Community-Focused Growth Planning Prompt:
“I’m a business owner who wants to implement community-focused hiring and development like Derrick Hayes. Help me create a 90-day action plan to identify local talent, develop training programs, and measure community impact. Include specific metrics and milestones for tracking progress, ways to partner with local organizations, and methods for documenting success stories that can inspire both my team and potential community partners.”
Conclusion
Derrick Hayes’ journey from Philadelphia’s streets to restaurant empire builder demonstrates that authentic success emerges from the intersection of purpose, persistence, and strategic thinking. His quotes reveal a leader who understands that business ownership extends beyond profit generation to legacy creation and community development.
The most compelling aspect of Hayes’ philosophy centers on his commitment to running his own race while honoring the relationships that support his growth. Hayes proves that the most sustainable businesses solve problems while serving something larger than themselves.
Ready to transform your business into a legacy-building enterprise? Consider scheduling a complimentary strategy session to explore how purposeful leadership can accelerate your growth while creating lasting impact. Book your session here to discover how your business can become a platform for generational change.
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