A few inspirational quotes from Howard Schultz's Onward
I've recently spent a short amount of time at the beach, enjoying colourful drinks while getting a tan and reading Starbucks' founder and current C.E.O. Howard Schultz's book: Onward. The book is co-authored by Joanne Gordon.
Along the way, I've highlighted a few quotes I found interesting and inspiring.
First off, I believe the best book summary is actually written by Howard himself:
Grow with discipline. Balance intuition with rigour. Innovate around the core. Don’t embrace the status quo. Find new ways to see. Never expect a silver bullet. Get your hands dirty. Listen with empathy and over communicate with transparency. Tell your story, refusing to let others define you. Use authentic experiences to inspire. Stick to your values, they are your foundation. Hold people accountable but give them the tools to succeed. Make the tough choices; it’s how you execute that counts. Be decisive in times of crisis. Be nimble. Find truth in trials and lessons in mistakes. Be responsible for what you see, hear, and do. Believe.
There are moments in our lives when we summon the courage to make choices that go against reason, against common sense and the wise counsel of people we trust. But we lean forward nonetheless because, despite all risks and rational argument, we believe that the path we are choosing is the right and best thing to do. We refuse to be bystanders, even if we do not know exactly where our actions will lead.
This is the kind of passionate conviction that sparks romances, wins battles, and drives people to pursue dreams other wouldn't dare. Belief in ourselves and in what is right catapults us over hurdles, and our lives unfold.
Please note that this following quote is actually by Albert Camus, however Howard mentions it in the book.
"Life is a sum of all your choices" - Albert Camus
The best words are never big or complicated, but are packed with emotion and meaning, leaving no question of what I expect of myself and others.
Ironically, the toughest challenges were not technical. They were human, like convincing leaders throughout the company to dedicate resources to the new site.
Human behaviour is much more challenging to change than any muffin recipe or marketing strategy.
Every brand has inherent nuances that, if compromised, will eat away at its equity regardless of short-term returns. As Starbucks navigated, we had to stay true to our values, reinvesting in and recommitting to the things that had brought us success, not quick fixes. We had to believe in our hearts that, if we were authentic and if we were true and stayed the course, this transformation would work.
When people can see things, feel things, interact with things, that is when their minds actually begin to shift.
When I wholeheartedly believe in something, I can be relentless in my enthusiasm, passion, and drive to bring it to life.
Sacrificing people's feelings, and more than once even a personal relationship, for the good of thousands of partners is one of the most painful elements of my job as Starbucks' chief executive.
