What I Learned from Starbucks-Prt 2

So it’s that time again.  It’s time to hit the St.Arbucks drive-through and order your favorite drink of choice.  In your case it might be a…

Venti 1 pump caramel, 1 pump white mocha, 2 scoops vanilla bean powder, extra ice frappuchino with 2 shots poured over the top (apagotto style) with caramel drizzle under and on top of the whipped cream, double cupped.

…or maybe not.  That’s more of a summer drink anyway.

Either way, I wanted to share the second half of what I learned from Starbucks.  So here goes…

1.  Howard Schultz writes in his book Onward  that ”I could not save Starbucks on my own…like any leader, I needed to surround myself with strong talent who would bring new ideas and, with courage, challenge the old as well as they challenge me.” (178)  I feel the same way.  It is great to work with you, Dan, Chris, Linda Hall, Sarah Wall and so many other people who are creative and keep bringing new ideas, looks, songs, dramas, etc…I can only meeting my creative potential with people around me.

2.   Things in the news are scary.  The economy, politics, nuclear bomb escalations, terrorism, job loss and the list goes on and on.  Schultz talks about how this can impact a whole culture.  He writes, “…many of our partners were burdened with fear.  Fear of risk.  Fear of public failure.  And in an uncertain economy, fear of their own futures, which were tied to the future of the company.  But I could not allow this fear to hold us back.” (254)  Isn’t this part of our call as believers?  We have a better story to tell.  A story that is aware of sin and fear, but tries to live in the light of what Jesus has done!

3.   One area that I believe the church universally falls short is in our aesthetic.  By that, I mean that we have abdicated the idea that our buildings, art, color choices, conversations, etc all communicate about the God we serve.  Now this can be taken to extremes.  Many of the cathedrals of Europe speak to that.  However, it still holds true that our environment is important and the one we create at ECC communicates.  Schultz elaborates, “Ideally, every Starbucks store should tell a story about coffee and what we as an organization believe in.  That story should unfold via the taste and presentation of our products as well as the sights, sounds and smells that surround our customers…Interior hues, textures, the shapes and materials of furniture and fixtures, as well as their origins.  The art on the walls.  The music.  The rhythm of the coffee bar and how our partners move and speak behind the counter – and what they speak about.  Each store’s ambience is the manifestation of a larger purpose…” (274)  How we greet people, how we sing, what we show on the screen, what we hang on the walls, what we eat…it all matters in that it helps tell the story of God in us.

4.   Lastly, I realized that I need to make sure I’m always open to feedback.  If you have an idea, please call me, email me, talk to me and share it.  I can’t guarantee that we’ll use it, but I’m going to listen and consider it.  As Schultz puts it,  ”‘If this was your store, what would you do differently?’” (285)

So the next time you order your

Triple Grande 140 degree no foam cinnamon dolce latte with caramel on the whip.

You can ponder a few of  these thoughts right before the caffeine and sugar hit you.  Thanks Starbucks for all the coffee and a few thoughts about worship along the way…

P.S.  If you still want more to chew on…here are the sound-bites for leadership from the book, Onward.  “Grow with discipline.  Balance intuition with rigor.  Innovate around the core.  Don’t embrace the status quo.  Find new ways to see.  Never expect a silver bullet.  Get your hands dirty.  Listen with empathy and over communicate with transparency.  Tell your story, refusing to let others define you.  Use authentic experiences to inspire.  Stick to your values, they are your foundation.  Hold people accountable but give them the tools to succeed.  Make the tough choices; it’s how you execute that counts.  Be decisive in times of crisis.  Be nimble.  Find truth in trials and lessons in mistakes.  Be responsible for what you see, hear and do.  Believe.” (309)