"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."

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 am one.

Mr. Behar though, tried to visit as many stores (10 or more) each week as he could. This is where he learned the most about his business. This is 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 insigts, 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."

Good reading,

Danny