The challenge of the retail business is the human condition.

Despite the fact that Starbucks has grown to be a large company. We've always played music in our stores and has always acted as an opportunity to create a mood in our stores. And customers started asking, "What song are you playing and can I buy that?" . And we said "No." And that was kind of the catalyst for beginning to look at music. We started out with our own compilations and after the success of that. We had the courage to say, "Let's produce our own record." and the first record was with Ray Charles before he unfortunately passed away.

Grow with discipline. Balance intuition with rigor. Innovate around the core. Don't embrace the status quo.

Starbucks is in my blood. It is such a part of me that letting it unravel simply was not an option.

Success is the by-product when you work toward the target.

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

My kids probably started drinking coffee in their late teens.