How To Be Successful According To Starbucks

Howard Schultz is the CEO and Chairman of Starbucks. He fell in love with the brand as soon as he walked inside Starbucks at Pike's Place Market back in 1981. The following year Schultz joined the company as head of operations, at that point there were only four standalone stores. After an inspirational trip to Italy in '83 where he observed the truest of all coffee cultures, he decided to bring that European atmosphere into the American landscape. It wasn't until the mid-90's that the birth of coffee culture and perhaps Seattle's grunge movement that enabled the rise of Starbucks. Baristas became actual job positions and your personal and specific coffee instructions were as habitual as washing your face in the mornings. Fast forward to present day when Starbucks is literally not just at every corner, but movie theaters, airports and even your neighborhood Target. This past month it was announced that Howard Schultz will step down as CEO to focus on the brand's high-end Reserve products and the company's social initiatives. After having listened to Alec Baldwin's podcast, Here's The Thing where he interviewed Howard Schultz, I became somewhat smitten by the self-made man who worked hard and hustled to grow the Starbucks empire. So it is without a doubt, that he knows a thing or two on how to be successful.