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.

The lifeblood of job creation in America is small business, but they can't get access to credit.

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.

My son is trying to be a sports writer, and my daughter is a college student. She wants to be a comedy writer, and she's at film school. I discouraged both of them early on from getting involved in Starbucks. I didn't think it would be fair; plus, they didn't have any interest anyway.

Do I take criticism of Starbucks personally? Of course I do.

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

You cant build any kind of organization if youre not going to surround yourself with people who have experience and skill base beyond your own.