Quotes from Howard Schultz

The best ideas are those that create a new mind-set or sense a need before others do, and it takes an astute investor to recognize an idea that not only is ahead of its time but also has long-term prospects.

There are moments in our lives when we summon the courage to make choices that go against reason, against common sense and the wise counsel of people we trust. But we lean forward nonetheless because, despite all risks and rational argument, we believe that the path we are choosing is the right and best thing to do. We refuse to be bystanders, even if we do not know exactly where our actions will lead.

A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depend on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received. —ALBERT EINSTEIN

I've never thought of the third place just as a physical environment. For me, the third place has always been a feeling. An emotion. An aspiration that all people can come together and be uplifted as a result of a sense of belonging. This is the cornerstone of our business, yes, but "belonging" is also a basic human right, which should be afforded all members of a society.

Living in the same city as Microsoft, I'm only too aware that, even in low-technology businesses like coffee, the Next Big Thing could knock the dominant player into second place tomorrow. I keep pushing to make sure that Starbucks thinks of the Next Big Thing before it has even crossed anybody else's mind. In fact, Don Valencia is working on it even as I'm writing this book.

Less than 1 percent of our population have served our military abroad since the September 11, 2001, attacks. Add their direct family members, and they still amount to less than 5 percent of the nation. Most Americans have no skin in the game.

In the course of the year I spent trying to raise money, I spoke to 242 people, and 217 of them said "no.

Whatever you do, don't play it safe. Don't do things the way they've always been done. Don't try to fit the system. If you do what's expected of you, you will never accomplish more than others expect

Wealth is the means and people are the ends. All our material riches will avail us little if we do not use them to expand the opportunities of our people. —JOHN F. KENNEDY, STATE OF THE UNION , JANUARY 1962

When companies fail, or fail to grow, it's almost always because they don't invest in the people, the systems, and the processes they need.

Whether you are Republican or Democrat or independent or Libertarian, it doesn't matter," I said. "I think we all have a sense that there's something not quite right [in the country], that we're drifting toward mediocrity.

A well-built brand is the culmination of intangibles that do not directly flow to the revenue or profitability of a company, but contribute to its texture. Forsaking them can take a subtle, collective toll.

Skepticism has come to be synonymous with sophistication, and glibness is mistaken for intelligence.

They were about self-examination in the pursuit of excellence, and a willingness not to embrace the status quo. This is a cornerstone of my leadership philosophy.

Because not everyone can take charge of his or her destiny, those who do rise to positions of authority have a responsibility to those whose daily work keeps the enterprise running, not only to steer the correct course but to make sure no one is left behind.

It is not the fault of the baristas working behind the counter. It is the responsibility of the leadership team to keep our culture alive, growing and thriving.

Being entrepreneurial means you will fail. You just have to be willing to listen to people who tell you something is broken, and then fix it.

I could not allow us, or myself, to drift into a sea of mediocrity after so many years of hard work

Big opportunities lie in the creation of something new. But that innovation has to be relevant and inspiring, or it will burst into color and fade away as quickly as fireworks.

Life is a sum of all your choices

The businesses that thrive over the long haul are likely to be those that understand that cost cutting and revenue growing aren't mutually exclusive. Eternal vigilance to both the top and bottom lines is the new ticket to prosperity.

If you can raise profits by shaving costs on your main product and 90 percent of your customers wouldn't even notice, why not just do it? Because we can tell the difference.

Without fanfare, Starbucks was also going to open two coffee shops in Seattle that were not like any of our existing stores. Each would serve Starbucks coffee but be unique

Nothing can stay the same forever, in business or in life, and counting on the status quo can only lead to grief.