The Companies That Are Lasting Are Those

Early On I Realized That I Had To Hire People Smarter And More Qualified Than I Was In A Number Of Different Fields, And I Had To Let Go Of A Lot Of Decision-making. I Can't Tell You How Hard That Is. But If You've Imprinted Your Values On The People Around You, You Can Dare To Trust Them To Make The Right Moves.

We Are Deeply Saddened By The Tremendous Loss Of Life And Devastation Caused By Hurricane Katrina, .. Starbucks Has A Long Tradition Of Striving To Bring Together People And Communities Where We Do Business. We Extend Our Heartfelt Condolences To The Bereaved Families And Many Others Impacted By This Natural Disaster; Our Prayers And Thoughts Are With All The Families Who Have Lost Loved Ones.

The Rules Of Engagement Around Building A Brand Have Changed Significantly Over The Past 10 To 15 Years. Where Companies At One Time Could Spread Their Message Through Traditional Marketing, Consumers Now Seek An Enduring Emotional Connection With The Companies They Patronize. The Foundation Of That Connection Is The Most Important Characteristic Of Building A World-class Brand: Trust. Trust With Your People And Trust With Your Customers.

Most Business People Today Are Not Going To Invest In The Uncertainty That Exists In America.

We Think Of Starbucks Not As A Coffee Company But A Media Company.