Customer Reviews

POUR YOUR HEART INTO IT: HOW STARBUCKS BUILT A COMPANY ONE CUP AT A TIME

5 star:		(98)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

This is one of the best business biographies I have ever read. It is truly inspiring. One simple, and telling, output from reading this book on a plane was that as soon as we landed I headed to the local airport Starbucks for a latte. I rarely even drink coffee! So powerful are the imagery and the passion for coffee in his story that you can almost smell the roasted dark beans, feel them running through your fingers, hear the sounds of the espresso machine and taste the coffee itself!

Why is this imagery so important? Because behind the corporate image of a relentless pac-man like machine churning out new locations at a rate slightly above the national birth rate it seems, is a simple vision of passion for coffee combined with Italian neighborhoods and a warm and friendly place where the worlds best coffee and social friendship intermix. That is what Starbucks was all about.

The book itself is a remarkable insight into this journey. It was even more special for me, as I grew up with Starbucks - literally. When Howard talks about the vision he had to treat even his part time employees with full benefits and ownership in the company through stock, I know it was more than just a nice sounding corporate manta, it really worked. Friends I went to high school with in Bellevue in the mid to late 1980's worked at the first stores, and raved about this little coffee company and couldn't imagine working anywhere else. So, from firsthand experience I can tell you that what he says about the passion and vision coming to life in Seattle is all true

While company history is quite interesting, and the book itself just hums and glides without ever getting mundane, the real gems are in the emotional reality Howard displays. He talks about being overwhelmed to tears, about the rejection he faced while trying to get funding for his fledgling company, about the naysayers and others who nearly took it all away, and the struggle with having a hand in everything and slowly letting go. You know that you are reading about a real person, someone who came from a poor neighborhood in Brooklyn with working-class roots, not an image generated by a large corporations PR spin doctors

The value of people, so often lost in corporate bureaucracy, is evident here. Starbucks grew because it struck an emotional chord with people. He knew that in order for the company to be successful he needed people who shared the values. This is often spoken of, and rarely practiced in the corporate world where systems, forecasts, processes and other such tools become the focal point, and the simple fact that all results come through people is lost. He speaks throughout the book of people who helped him, coached him, mentored him, challenged him, and made the company what it was. One quote in particular summarizes his views: "If people relate to the company they work for, if they form an emotional tie to it and buy into its dreams, they will pour their heart into making it better." (Page 6) This theme comes through in every decision.

Overall, this is a wonderful book, and is truly inspiring. I would work for him tomorrow, if it really still is the way it's portrayed here. I encourage you to read this book and see your neighborhood Starbucks in a new light.

Starbucks- the very name conjures up images of a brand not of coffee, but of passion , love, sincerity and superb customer service; that the coffee too is great (though expensive)is an added plus.. But here is a brand in the most common of products and having arrived to the top of the minds in less than a decade- how did it all happen? Pour Your Heart Into It is a fascinating saga of the Starbucks journey, written by the man -Howard Shultz- who made it happen! This is one of the best business biographies I have ever read for its storytelling of a person"s passion to his idea and then betting his life and much much more onto it.. While going through the book, I came across some very inspiring and meaningful quotes, either mentioned in the beginning of the chapter or as part of the narrative, here are some of them which have stayed with me even today months after I finished reading the book Highly recommended book for anybody who wants to live- and maybe die- by his or her BIG IDEA! Amazes me how in prime Mid Town Manhattan ;how a mere coffee store can have probably 8 shops in a 6 blocks radius - around 42nd and Madison but Starbucks is not coffee any more; I do not say now" Lets have coffee", we just say"Lets have a Starbucks"!

POUR YOUR HEART HEART INTO IT:

1. A HUNDRED TIMES EVERY DAY I REMIND MYSELF THAT MY INNER AND OUTER LIVES DEPENDED ON LABORS OF OTHER MEN,LIVING OR DEAD AND THAT I MUST EXERT MYSELF IN ORDER TO GIVE IN THE SAME MEASURE THAT I RECIEVED.....

2.IF IT CAPTURES YOUR IMAGINATION..IT WILL PROBABLY CAPTIVATE OTHERS TOO.

3.SOME MEN SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE AND SAY..WHY. I DREAM THINGS THAT NEVER WERE AND ASK..WHY NOT!

4.IF YOU SAY NEVER HAD A CHANCE,,PERHAPS YOU NEVER TOOK A CHANCE.

5.VISION IS WHAT THEY CALL IT WHEN YOU CAN SEE WHAT OTHERS CAN NOT SEE

6.WHENEVER YOU SEE A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS...SOMEBODY SOMEDAY MUST HAVE MADE A COURAGEOUS DECISION...

7.WE JUDGE OURSELVES BY WHAT WE FEEL CAPABLE OF DOING.. WHILE OTHERS JUDGE US BY WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY DONE...

8.SOMETIMES..SINCERITY SELLS BETTER THAN BUSINESS PLANS

9.THE ULTIMATE MEASURE OF A MAN IS NOT WHERE HE STANDS IN MOMENTS OF COMFORT AND CONVINIENCE ,BUT WHERE HE STAND AT TIMES OF CHALLENGE AND ADVERSITY...

10.EVERYTHING MATTERS

11.WHEN YOU SEE THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME..MOVE QUICKLY

12.A 100 STOREY BUILDING NEEDS A FIRM FOUNDATION

13.DO NOT BE THREATENED Y MEN SMARTER THAN YOU

14.THE BEST EXECUTIVE IS ONE WHO HAS GOOD SENSE TO PICK UP GOOD MEN TO DO WHAT HE WANTS DONE AND SELF RESTRAINT TO KEEP FROM MEDDLING WITH THEM WHILE THEY DO TI.

15.THE ONLY SACRED COW IN AN ORGANISATION SHOULD BE IT"S BASIC PHILOSPHY OF DOING BUSINESS..

16.TO STAY AHEAD,ALWAYS HAVE THE NEXT IDEA WAITING IN THE WINGS..

17.THE BEST WAY TO BUILD A BRAND IS ONE PERSON AT A TIME.

18.THE FUNDAMENTAL TASK IS TO ACHIEVE SMALLNESS WITHIN A LARGE ORGANISATION..

19.VALUES SHOULD NOT WHITHER AS SALES GROW.

After reading the story of Starbucks, I now know that one of the world's most recognizable brands didn't really pop up overnight, it only seems that way. Behind the scenes, it took a lot of hard work on the part of everyone involved in the company, from CEO Schultz, to each and every barista ("waiter"). It was truly inspiring to watch Schultz chase his dream of making Starbucks into a fine coffee house, and a real people-oriented company. At times, however, it seems as though he chooses to turn the book into something of a personal memoir, instead of focusing on the people in the company and their contributions. Sure it helped add to the mystique of his rags to riches story, but it was probably overdone. Also, towards the end, I couldn't help but feel that Starbucks lost, or at least changed its vision, becoming too commercialized to cater to true coffee lovers. Oh well, as long as they make that great coffee. It's always interesting to get on the inside of a company and find out what makes them tick, and this is certainly no exception. Overall, a very enjoyable book. Never forget your dreams!

When you are at the top, like Howard Schultz, it is easy to think that everything is peachy-keen. Just surround yourself with shrewd businesspeople who tell you what you want to hear.
Most of the writing starts off inspiring, but goes too far (or too long) and ends up being redundant or saccharine...usually both. I felt like he was trying to sell me something over and over!
So, here's the truth: I WORK FOR STARBUCKS. I have seen how middle managers (Operations Managers, District Managers, and Store Managers) are capricious and fickle--creating work environments that become so demanding and unreasonable that employees and managers quit..with tears in their eyes.
Yes, the employees and most store managers believe Howard's candor and vision of a great workplace with respect and dignity for everyone (read the Mission Statement)--but his middle managers are ruthless, profit-focused slavedrivers.
Hardly any retail employees ("partners"? in WHAT?!?!) stay with this company long enough to actually reap the benefits of Beanstock (5 years). The psychological warfare become more acute the longer one stays.
There are a few lines in Howard's book that really struck a cord; he laments over long-standing employees who "just don't have the skills to stay" on/be promoted with this fast-growing company. Perhaps he should look hard at his middle managers' reign of terror, usually coming down hardest on those store managers and employees who dare to ask the hard questions, and who have been with the company for over two years. It appears that the idea is closer to "hire 'em young and idealistic, then burn 'em out" than "be successful because of your people, not at their expense".
So go ahead and buy stock in this company, but don't buy because of the "values" --buy because the stock performs on Wall Street. That is the unfortunate truth, and I feel really sorry for Howard. His vision has been twisted and subverted, with more and more employees feeling lied to or cheated, and he still believes everything is grand. Poor guy. Maybe he should listen to his employees like he used to.
I wish I could feel confident in dispaying my e-mail address, but I would be living in the same fantasy world as Howard if I thought I would still have a job after expressing such views.
May I suggest a different title? Cry Your Heart Out: How Starbucks Middle Managers Traumatize their Subordinates, and Still Bonus at the end of the Quarter...

What a great read! This is a story of how Starbucks changed the world. Howard Schultz, the CEO, tells the history of Starbucks starting with its founding in 1971 up until 1999. Schultz tells how he came on board,later bought the company and its sky-roacketing growth.

Schultz was working for a Swiss compnay that sold kitchen items. He noticed this small little speciality coffee store in Seattle was buying more plastic filters than anybody and he decided to see why. What started as curiousity quickly grew to a obsession that he had to leave his job as VP, move from NYC and start working for them. Schultz's business like sense and vision took the comapny to heights it had never imagined.

A critical point is when he visited Italy and saw how community coffeeshops with their baristas and cappuchinos were exactly what Starbucks needed. The owners didn't think so and he left Starbucks to venture on his own. Later Starbucks was up for sell and he raised the capital to buy them out and merge his Italian coffeeshop idea with the speciality coffee store.

What you find in this book is a great leadership wraped in a compelling tale. It reads like a novel but the lessons are like what is found in the best leadership or business books. Schultz explains why it is worth it to take risks, value the customers, value the employees and stick to the mission no matter what.

Starbucks with its passionate leader changed the world. Before 1971, hardly no one drank strong coffee, heard of cappichinos or believed you could build a company giving benefits to part-time workers. no one but him believed Chicago or other parts of America would buy his what he was selling. Yes, he made money. But he started a revolution and changed the world.

The book gets a little slower in the 2nd half when Schultz has to defend his critics and stay on top. But its compelling none the less.

I highly recommend it with a good cup of Gold Coast - my favorite.

This book is written in a conversational manner that describes how the author has innovated a new way of drinking coffee in America. It retells some of the challenges the author had to face to make his dream alive. It focuses a lot on having a Passion, having an eye for opportunity, having a vision and perserverance. If you are looking for a book to inspire you onwards with your entrepreneurial dreams, this book might just be the one.

This is a FANTASTIC book about passion behind business, dealing with major growth, serving the customer, helping people from the heart, actually caring about the consumer, and caring about humanity at the same time.

STARBUCKS and this book is a phenomenal role model for anyone in business, and for anyone who cares about more than just dollars.

One of my favorite quotes as an example is: "Starbucks managers have the power to allocate donations to local causes like ballet and opera companies, AIDS organizations, food banks, schools, and PTAs. In every city, all eight-day old coffee beans are donated to food banks. Store managers also provide coffee for fund raisers...Since we don't exploit these actions for public relations, a lot of our customers don't even know about them."

Here's to one incredible book, company, and the example that would help so many people if followed. They clearly are THE BEST for business, and for PEOPLE, and that's why their genuine from-the-heart care has paid off so well.

This book is EXCEPTIONAL if you are looking for SUPERIOR a business model for success where everybody genuinely benefits.

Deserves 10 Stars!

I was pleasantly surprised as that number of insights I picked up in Howard Schultz' tale. He and Dori Jones Yang really appeared to have connected in the writing of this book. There's an effortless flow in the telling that gives you a 'fly on the wall' insider's feel without getting bogged down in coffee arcania or management dribble.

Schultz walks you through some of the thought processes and actions that led to important advancements in Starbucks' success with their customers. And, he's not afraid to point out when he's been dead wrong. He's strong enough to admit being dead set against the Frappuccino & totally missing the boat on what ended up being a blowout product for the company.

One comment - it's hard for me to reconcile Schultz' recent fixation on the Internet, going so far as ruminating about buying Williams-Sonoma for its online potential, with the clear-headed thoughts expressed in this book. [Yes, let's see...I'll have a latte and this leather couch, thanks.] Throughout the book, Schultz shows a complete understanding of a company's need to please Wall Street via growing profits, and also is quite clear of having to evaluate each decision by asking "Will it strengthen or dilute the brand?"

An interesting story on how a man came out of the projects and became a CEO of a company and took it to the top where it is today.

Howard Schultz saw promise in Star Bucks and wanted to expand nation wide, when he realized early on, they could make the artistry of espresso like the Italians did, as well as offering fresh roasted coffee beans. Over the next 10 years Howard, with a team of smart and experienced managers, reinvented Starbucks from a local business of 6 stores and 100 employees to a company with businesses of 1300 stores and 25,000 employees. Howard proved that a company could lead with its heart and soul and still make money. It also shows that a company can provide long-term value for its share holders and still treat their employees with respect and dignity, because they had a team of leaders who believed it was right and that it was and is, the way to do business.

I found this book very interesting because it showed for once that a company could get ahead without chopping people down in the process, and that any one can follow in Howard's footsteps and really focus on the long-term effect. A must read for the businessperson who wants to get ahead.

This is an excellent book about an entrepreneur who understands the business world. First, Starbucks understands the "personal touch"--from its name, to its unique coffee brand names (Frapuccino, for instance, whose origins are discussed in detail in the book), to the style of the stores, to its pricing system, and even understands its customers. Starbucks realizes that its typical client is upscale, affluent, college-educated, left-of-center politically (and thus the focus on "fair trade," and all the environmental goals they set out to enforce as a company).

There were things I did not know before I read this book. For instance, the amount of training each barista receives -- enough training to discuss the various coffees in great detail. In fact, because Starbucks trains its employees to such a large extent that it is fearful of allowing any franchisers to run Starbucks because then they would not be assured of the quality control of the company. That is certainly debatable, of course.

Starbucks provides its workers with incredible benefits, as we all know, but I didn't know how strong those benefits were. On top of your sallary, you receive 14% in stock options (which, in most companies, are reserved for higher-level managers and executives), and health insurance, even for part-timers. Well, looks like the high prices for the coffee go someplace!

Starbucks is not Wal-Mart, however. Coffee competitors need not fear Starbucks, Schultz says, because, after all, he charges more than his competitors do.

One irritating part of the book is that he refers to his coffee as gourmet or exceptional at least 20 times, which can be a bit tiring. Yes, I understand the point! Your coffee is good. Point headed. ; )

In any case, this book was fairly well-written and had a conversational tone to it.

Michael Gordon