Review: "How Starbucks Saved My Life"

So you're probably wondering what importance a book with such a title can have on your startup business. In this book, the author mentions, "I was stopped as I entered by a man....from Personnel. He asked how things were going, and if he could do anything more for me. I...asked him if I could do anything more for Starbucks. 'Just find more people with a positive attitude like yours' he told me."(pg 194)

Business owners, you need to find more positive people to talk to, confide in, and to hire as employees. You need to be and stay positive.

This true story by Michael Gates Gill is about him, a former executive and creative director of an ad agency who, after twenty-five years, suddenly finds himself in search of a job when he is replaced by younger executives. Having been raised by upper class parents while attending great schools (i.e. Yale), he once lived a sheltered life on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Now divorced and having to relocate to a poorer section of the city, his job search leads him to Starbucks, in an area close to the mainstream city, where he goes from being served to learning how to serve.

His boss ends up being an African American younger woman; a woman who bore some resemblance to the one he fired as an executive because he thought she was simply there as an Affirmative Action token. Very soon, he finds himself having to adjust to being the only white male and he starts to understand how it feels to be a minority.

Throughout this great, easy flowing narrative, the authors shares lessons taught to him by Starbucks. He learns that ordering people around is not the best way to accomplish goals. Instead, he learns the Starbucks' method to ask, "would you do me favor..." He also learns the training by sharing method--his African American colleague informs him, "I learn from you by helping you learn."

The amazing relationship that transpired between he and his boss is inspirational. She teaches him to interact with people and discover his true talents, he teaches her the KISS method--Keep It Simple Stupid--often used when creating presentations for advertising. A mentorship then ensues between them.

I recommend this book for anyone; particularly business owners with employees. This is a smack-back-to-reality-guide for anyone who needs to keep grounded and understand how to treat others. It is also an inspiration--the author's story is indeed a motivational one because he kept pressing forward despite the odds.

About the Author: Cheryl Isaac is the writer of this blog and the Founder & CEO of Isaac Business Services LLC; an agency that caters to start-up businesses. http://www.isaacbusinessservices.com/