Quotes by Howard Schultz

“I believe life is a series of near misses. A lot of what we ascribe to luck is not luck at all. Its seizing the day and accepting responsibility for your future. Its seeing what other people dont see And pursuing that vision.”

“Chinas emerging as one of the centers of the world, if not the center of the world, ... If my kids were of very young ages today, I would be asking them, and encouraging them, to learn Chinese.”

“Risk more than others think safe.”

“Dream more than others think practical.”

“Expect more than others think possible.”

“Care more than others think wise.”

“I would hope congressional leaders put this at the front of their agenda,”

“I dont think theres a market in the world today for us that rivals the growth and development opportunity, and the early acceptance that were enjoying throughout the country, that China has,”

“In many ways what we announced today is a milestone in building the business in China, ... But it mirrors what we did in the past 25 years in America in creating profitability and balancing that with a social conscience.”

“We have a big opportunity in China, ... We think the number of stores here can rival the number in North America.”

People want guidance, not rhetoric. They need to know what the plan of action is, and how it will be implemented. They want to be given responsibility to help solve the problem and authority to act on it.

One of the fundamental aspects of leadership, I realized more and more, is the ability to instill confidence in others when you yourself are feeling insecure

To be an enduring, great company, you have to build a mechanism for preventing or solving problems that will long outlast any one individual leader.

Work should be personal. For all of us. Not just for the artist and entrepreneur. Work should have meaning for the accountant, the construction worker, the technologist, the manager and the clerk.

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.

Early on I realized that I had to hire people smarter and ore qualified than I was in a number of different fields, and I had to let go of a lot of decision-making. I cant tell you how hard that is. But if youve imprinted your values on the people around you, you can dare to trust them to make the right moves.

This is not his job, I thought, its his passion.

For more than three decades, coffee has captured my imagination because it is a beverage about individuals as well as community. A Rwandan farmer. Eighty roast masters at six Starbucks plants on two continents. Thousands of baristas in 54 countries. Like a symphony, coffees power rests in the hands of a few individuals who orchestrate its appeal. So much can go wrong during the journey from soil to cup that when everything goes right, it is nothing short of brilliant! After all, coffee doesnt lie. It cant. Every sip is proof of the artistry -- technical as well as human -- that went into its creation.

To stay vigorous, a company needs to provide a stimulating and challenging environment for all these types: the dreamer, the entrepreneur, the professional manager, and the leader. If it doesnt, it risks becoming yet another mediocre corporation.

Years later, that image of my father -slumped on the family couch, his leg in a cast, unable to work or earn money, and ground down by the world-is still burned into my mind.Looking back now, I have a lot of respect for my dad.He never finished high school, but he was an honest man who worked hard.