It's Not About The Coffee

Former Starbucks president Howard Behar says "Starbucks is not in the coffee business serving people. We are in the people business serving coffee." I acknowledge that Starbucks has had its own challenges since this book was published, but that doesn't degate the importance of the author's message.


I originally read and posted about this read in mid-2008 on another blog and was lead back to it today while researching materials for a client. The realty of the information Behar has struck again. Within 3 pages of beginning It's Not About the Coffee I found myself looking for a pen. Finding real deals is great and that's what I'm uncovering here. The author, Howard Behar, has been in the trenches. Most company presidents spend their time in meetings, meetings, meetings...I know, I've been one (side note...it helps to have good follower-leaders).

Mr. Behar though, would attempt to visit as many stores (10 or more) each week as he could. He felt this is where he learned the most about his business, where he was able to set and let his entrepenual thoughts run wild and take hold. I had always assumed the President of Starbucks was one of the original owners, but not so. Mr. Behar was 44 years old and had 20 years in the retail furniture business when he came to Starbucks in 1989.

This is a great read and is puncuated with a bit of Mr. Behar's personal history as he shares the ten Leadership Principles he used through the years.

Here are some insights into his principles (just insights, not the principles...you'll need to read the book to get those);

Know who you are

Know why you're here

Develop trust in yourself

Build trust

Listen for the truth

Own It

Think like a person of action and act like a person of thought

Trust = Truth = Accountability

It's not rocket science, it's a lot harder

Getting past the no book

Maybe, maybe, the most best quote in the book (I'm rereading it, again) is on page 100 and Mr. Behar is talking about truth and accountability. He quotes Harold Geneen, CEO of ITT:

"I believe it is an immutable law in business that words are words, explanations are explanations, promises are promises - but only performance is reality. Performance alone is the best measure of your confidence, competence, and courage. Only performance will give you the freedom to grow yourself."

My days are presently spent, in part, consulting and coaching business people and this is going on my required reading list.

To that end....

Danny
http://www.dannylsmith.com/