Tonight, Chad and Troy stopped by to get my Wii going. They are great with this kind of stuff. I am not. So it was kind of a relief to turn them loose and get it and Rock Band set up. Then, we rocked out and it was a blast - Chad on the drums, Troy on guitar, Todd on bass.
While traveling yesterday, I finally had the time to start reading The Starbucks Experience. I used to really balk at the idea of spending 3 to 4 dollars on a coffee beverage. However, now I really value these occassional stops by Starbucks. After the hectic trip to O'Hare, nothing calms me down like seeing that green circle after getting through security. The introduction to my recent paper on Starbucks kind of highlights why the place has become so appealing to me.
That famous green circle is visible in the distance. The thought of a warm caffè mocha forces the car to turn off the highway and find a place in the parking lot. Upon entering the store, an employee offers a friendly “hello” and the appealing smells of specialty coffee and baked goods permeate the olfactory system. Peering up at the menu board, a separate language – a coffee language – greets the eyes. Upon receiving a grande cup of mocha, corner chairs and table offer an inviting place to relax and chat with friends. The place offers the opportunity to relax for a few minutes and escape from the fast-paced world outside. This experience is an essential component of the success of Starbucks and is captured in the words of founder Howard Schultz: “My highest aim is to have not just our advertising but the entire Starbucks experience provide human connection and personal enrichment in cherished moments, around the world, one cup at a time” (Schultz and Yang 266). The success of this commitment to the Starbucks experience is evident in the over 5000% increase in stock price (see Figure 1) from the early 1990s to its peak in on April 13, 2006.
The first chaper of The Starbucks Experience is outstanding. One quote from Howard Schultz really stood out: "We are not in the coffee business serving people, but in the people business serving coffee."
This quote just left me so fired up and I started thinking about manufacturing and specifically, wire and cable.
What if rather than focusing on making wire, we focused on the people? What if we could truly say, "We are in the people business making wire." The implications are crazy and could transform the manufacturing landscape.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
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1 comment:
That shultz quote has crazy implications in any context. What does it mean for the church? "We're not in the Jesus business serving people, but in the people business serving Jesus."?
I think it just changes the perspective a little. What do you think?
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