Page 8 - The Starbucks Experience

foreword

We are litter-picker-uppers. We
are green-apron-clad seekers of the book that you might have
left on one of the tables in our coffeehouse. We are the folks
who smile across the counter at you every morning as you
ask for your double-tall-nonfat-mocha-with-a-little-vanilla-
at-the-bottom-you-know-my-regular-drink. We’re Starbucks
partners (commonly known to the world as employees).
I often start stories about our company and culture with a
description of us as the litter-picker-upper type of people. We
just naturally stoop down to pick up that gum wrapper or
soda can on the sidewalk as we’re talking with you about
how the kids are doing and what crazy weather we’re hav-
ing. It’s not a magic formula for hiring or business success;
it’s just who we are.
Well, maybe it is magic. Because there is something a lit-
tle magical about founding a business that aspires to enrich
the human spirit. That’s actually part of the Starbucks core
purpose. And we live every day by our Mission Statement
and Guiding Principles, which include embracing diversity
and creating a great work environment. Sure, one of our prin-
ciples is to recognize that profitability is essential to our
future success. But it’s not the first item on the list; it’s the

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