Starbucks has stores in America in many, many communities that are governed by many, many different municipalities. Starbucks cannot dictate to a municipality in Cincinnati or Kansas City or Sacramento how or why or when there should be a recycling program.

A great business has to have a conscience. You have to know who you are and who you are not.

Be bold, but be fair. Don't give in. If others around you have integrity, too, you can prevail

This may sound a bit naive, but I got here by believing in big dreams.

People in Washington need to put their feet in the shoes of working Americans.

Americans reading the paper, listening to the news every single day, and all you hear is things are getting worse and worse. And that has a psychological effect on consumer confidence. That's what consumer confidence is.

I could've just walked away but I never could have forgiven myself to allow Starbucks to drift into mediocrity or not be relevant. I just couldn't be a bystander.