The word "mission" can mean so many different things to each of us. This definition particularly resonated with me: "Mission - an important goal or purpose that is accompanied by strong conviction; a calling or vocation". I absolutely love this!  As I dove into my career with Starbucks , I quickly  uncovered   that it was my mission field. Not only could I live out my passion for people and coffee, I could make an impact on top of that. Starbucks empowered me as a manager to do this by "owning" my store. Financially I didn't "own" my store, but I owned  it through the passion and time I poured into it. It wasn't just the four walls but also the people that breathed life into its daily operations. This breath of life made it so easy to do my job because it allowed my heart and passion to work in symphony. Which is how I found myself in the middle of my mission field.  The people who walked through the doors as "partners" (Sta...

I had lunch the other day with a long-time friend of mine. She and I practically share a brain when it comes to topics like politics, religion, work life balance and business. As we talked, the subject came up about our addiction to Target. Random, I know, but not really because we were also talking about customer service experiences. She began to share with me how a local Super Target store had done an incredible remodel. Being a bit of a pessimist I pushed back a bit and said, “What do you mean? They’ve tried this before and I didn’t feel like it helped that much?”  I could tell by the way she described her experience, this was different. I trusted her and decided I needed to go on a “field trip” to visit this new and improved store. The only unfortunate part was that I couldn’t leave right then and there. I had other things to do and it was across town. After a meeting the next morning I decided to depart on my adventure to “sell” me on this new store! Of course, being ...

Contemplating how to start this blog, I find myself thinking about all the great conversations I've had over coffee. My first memorable cup was at the Starbucks at 202 N. Michigan in Chicago. That Starbucks isn't there anymore, but boy does it still live in my heart and memory. Looking back, that first cup was the beginning of a shift I would feel for a decade. Even as I sat there savoring my coffee, I really didn't know how badly I needed that shift. I remember the simple details. Like what roast it was, Ethiopian Sidamo. And where I sat, a high top bar along the south wall with the hum of Chicago in the background, a place I will always call home. Emotion still overcomes me as I think of who I was then. And even more, who I am now. I began to study at that Starbucks regularly and eventually got to know the manager. One day she asked me if I needed a job. I said sure and the rest is history. Little did I know how accepting that job late December of ‘96 would change my ...