The Success Story of Howard Schultz

Introduction

• Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks
• Born and raised in poverty
• Overcame struggles to transform Starbucks into a $100 billion company

Early Life

• Grew up in a poor family
• Lived in a small one-bedroom apartment in public housing
• Father: Army vet and truck driver, worked low-paid jobs
• Major event: Father fell and broke leg, lost job due to lack of insurance
  • Left lasting impact on Howard
  • Image of father feeling defeated motivated Howard

Dreams and Education

• Spent time dreaming of a better life
• Played football in high school, earned athletic scholarship
• Chose to major in communications instead of sports
• Funded college with student loans and various odd jobs
• Sold blood for money to survive

Career Beginnings

• Worked at a ski lodge and as a salesman after graduating
• Dreamed of working at Starbucks (which at the time sold only coffee beans)
• After a year of convincing, got a job at Starbucks at age 29

Inspiration from Italy

• Trip to Italy changed Howard's perspective on coffee
• Fascinated by the personalized customer service in Italian coffee shops
• Returned to the U.S. with ideas to enhance Starbucks
• Ideas rejected by Starbucks owners; decided to leave

Entrepreneurial Journey

• Founded his own coffee company, Il Giornale
• Faced challenges in raising funds
  • Contacted 242 people for investment; 217 said no
• Eventually secured investment and opened his first coffee shop

Turning Point with Starbucks

• Starbucks went bankrupt; Howard bought the company
• Rebranded and expanded Starbucks across the U.S.
• Today, Starbucks has over 30,000 stores globally

Life Lessons from Howard Schultz

• Emphasizes personal responsibility
• Life consists of near misses; success requires seizing the day
• Importance of dreaming big and pursuing visions
• No secret recipe for success; starting from scratch is possible
• Cautions against waiting for perfect conditions
• Encourages immediate action for a better future
• Final thought: "A year from now, you may wish you had started today. What's your story?"