Starbucks: Urban Utopia
Pour Your Heart into It : How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time by Howard Schultz, Chairman and CEO of Starbucks
Success is sweetest when it’s shared and this is what “Pour Your Heart Into It” thrives to achieve by offering digestable nuggets of wisdom amidst the engaging history of Starbucks. CEO Schultz passionately recounts the early days of this quaint coffee bean shop and sincerely tells all the growing pains that come along with it such as innovating without selling out to the heart of his brand. The book is a really light read and I loved it because I couldn’t help but cheer Howard on as he faces the problems of expanding, begging investors to believe in better healthcare for employees and having time for his family. You can’t help but applaud Schultz for his virtues towards keeping excellent standards for his customers and his good heart of wanting to bring the best out of his people.
Another great thing about the book is the fact it helps you have greater appreciation for Starbucks. After reading it, I sat in Starbucks and observed that everything said in the book was true. As written, the shop I was in had local community projects, friendly baristas, moody music, localized merchandise, and educational brochures about drinking real coffee. The amazing fact is that this was still happening in the Philippines despite being millions miles away from its founder. My little trip to Starbucks really proved the power of what great entrepreneurs and great people can do. I was doubly delighted because it also shows that good guys do not finish last.