It’s Not about the Coffee outlines a simple approach to success: focus on people over profits. It presents ten enduring principles that Howard Behar, who helped shape the Starbucks organization, has used in his own life and has practiced as a leader and in developing leadership at one of the most respected companies in the world.Behar has stood for candor and the soul of the Starbucks culture. “People are not ‘assets,’” he tells us, “they are human beings.” It’s Not about the Coffee brings Behar’s energy, smarts, high expectations, and belief in people to fundamental leadership lessons we all need to practice as well as preach everyday.
Blending personal experiences and inside stories of turning points in the development of Starbucks’ culture and business, each chapter in It’s Not about the Coffee explores one principle and offers inspiring advice.
HOWARD BEHAR is the former president of Starbucks Coffee Company North America and Starbucks Coffee International. He joined Starbucks in 1989 as vice president of sales and operations and oversaw the retail business growth from 28 stores to more than 400 stores in six years.