Onward: How Starbucks Fought For Its Life without Losing Its Soul

On February 26, 2008, customers at 7,100 Starbucks stores in the US were asked to leave. For the next three hours every barista in every Starbucks was retrained in the art of making the perfect espresso. The act was unprecedented, but proof of just how dire things were becoming at a company that could once do no wrong.
For more than three decades, Starbucks had a storied history of being a great place to work, of ethically sourcing and roasting the highest–quality coffee beans, and of crafting beverages for millions of customers who went to Starbucks for coffee and for a sense of community. But by 2008, after years of focusing on rapid expansion, the traits that made Starbucks successful were in jeopardy. Sales started to slide at a distressing rate. The stock price was falling. The company′s very survival was at risk.
To address the emerging problems, former chief executive officer Howard Schultz, who had stepped aside almost eight years earlier to become chairman after growing Starbucks from 11 stores to thousands, did something no one expected: He returned as CEO to oversee day–to–day operations. His goal was not just to stabilize the company, but to transform it by refocusing on core values and reigniting the innovation required to thrive in a dramatically shifting marketplace, all while fending off harsh critics and huge competitors.
Schultz came back with passion and a plan, and in the course of two years–even in the face of painful revelations about internal troubles and a worsening economy–Starbucks astonishingly returned to sustainable, profitable growth.
Onward is the remarkable story of that transformation. Schultz offers readers an extraordinarily intimate look at his daily decision–making process, from closed–door planning sessions in Seattle, to conversations with coffee farmers in Rwanda, to investor presentations in New York during the worst of the economic turmoil.
Onwa rd is more than just a business book. Personally inspiring and unexpectedly candid, it brings a dramatic story to life with the emotional power and narrative suspense of a novel.
"Through the lens of his personal leadership journey, with all of its dizzying ups and agonizing downs, Howard Schultz has written, with aching honesty and passion, the single most important book on leadership and change for our time and for every generation of leaders. This book is not just recommended reading, it′s required."
Warren Bennis, Distinguished Professor of Business, University of Southern California, and author of the recently published Still Surprised: A Memoir of a Life in Leadership
"Howard Schultz′s refreshingly candid, compelling narrative demonstrates what it takes to lead in these extraordinary times. Onward is a rare firsthand account of how one of the world′s most iconic brands overcame the challenges that confront us all."
Indra Nooyi, Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo
"The second toughest thing in business is building a successful enterprise–the toughest is to engineer a turnaround and still maintain the core culture and values of the organization. This is a classic example of how it can be done. Howard has proven it′s not enough to be smart or well intentioned–sustained success will not occur without true passion from the very top!"
Jim Sinegal, cofounder and CEO of Costco
Starred Review: "[This] sequel to the founding of Starbucks is grittier, more gripping, and dramatic, and [Schultz′s] voice is winning and authentic. This is a must–read for anyone interested in leadership, management, or the quest to connect a brand with the consumer."
Publishers Weekly

Spis treści:
Introduction.
Part One: Love.
1 A Beverage of Truth.
2 A Love Story.
3 Surfacing.
4 Nothing is Confidential.
5 Magic .
6 Loyalty.
7 Believe.
Part Two: Confidence.
8 A Reservoir of Trust.
9 A New Way to See.
10 Playing to Win.
11 Elevating the Core.
12 Get in the Mud.
13 A Reason to Exist.
14 Benevolence.
15 Beyond the Status Quo.
16 Bold Moves.
Part Three: Pain.
17 Whirlwind.
18 A Lethal Combination.
19 Reverence.
20 No Silver Bullets.
21 I Know this to be True.
Part Four: Hope.
22 Truth in Crisis.
23 A Galvanizing Moment.
24 Nimble.
25 Plan B.
26 Stay the Course.
Part Five: Courage.
27 Innovate.
28 Conviction.
29 Connecting Dots.
30 Balance.
31 Conscience.
32 Winning.
33 Nĭ Hăo.
Tribute.
Acknowledgments.
Photo credits.
Index.

Nota biograficzna:
Howard Schultz is chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Starbucks Coffee Company. Howard moved to Seattle from his native New York and joined the company in 1982 as director of operations and marketing when Starbucks had only four stores. He has been recognized extensively for his passion, leadership, and efforts to strengthen communities, with honors including the Horatio Alger Award for those who have overcome adversity to achieve success; the Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh Award for Business Ethics given by Notre Dame University′s Mendoza College of Business; the Botwinick Prize in Business Ethics from Columbia Business School; and the first ever John Wooden Global Leadership Award from UCLA Anderson School of Management. He has also been included in Time magazine′s "Time 100," a list of the most influential people in the world. Howard and his wife, Sheri, live in Seattle and have two children.
The Starbucks Foundation and the CUP Fund
All of Howard Schultz′s proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the Starbucks Foundation, founded in 1997 to support the company′s commitment to community; and the CUP Fun d, founded by partners (employees) to provide financial relief to partners facing emergency situations that have unexpectedly impacted their life.
Joanne Gordon is a former Forbes writer who has spent more than a decade profiling companies and business leaders for numerous publications. She has written five previous books.

Okładka tylna:
On February 26, 2008, customers at 7,100 Starbucks stores in the US were asked to leave. For the next three hours every barista in every Starbucks was retrained in the art of making the perfect espresso. The act was unprecedented, but proof of just how dire things were becoming at a company that could once do no wrong.
For more than three decades, Starbucks had a storied history of being a great place to work, of ethically sourcing and roasting the highest–quality coffee beans, and of crafting beverages for millions of customers who went to Starbucks for coffee and for a sense of community. But by 2008, after years of focusing on rapid expansion, the traits that made Starbucks successful were in jeopardy. Sales started to slide at a distressing rate. The stock price was falling. The company′s very survival was at risk.
To address the emerging problems, former chief executive officer Howard Schultz, who had stepped aside almost eight years earlier to become chairman after growing Starbucks from 11 stores to thousands, did something no one expected: He returned as CEO to oversee day–to–day operations. His goal was not just to stabilize the company, but to transform it by refocusing on core values and reigniting the innovation required to thrive in a dramatically shifting marketplace, all while fending off harsh critics and huge competitors.
Schultz came back with passion and a plan, and in the course of two years–even in the face of painful revelations about internal troubles and a worsening economy–Starbucks astonishingly returned to sustainable, profitable growth.
Onward is the remarkable story of that transformation. Schultz offers readers an extraordinarily intimate look at his daily decision–making process, from closed–door planning sessions in Seattle, to conversations with coffee farmers in Rwanda, to investor presentations in New York during the worst of the economic turmoil.
Onward is more than just a business book. Personally inspiring and unexpectedly candid, it brings a dramatic story to life with the emotional power and narrative suspense of a novel.
"Through the lens of his personal leadership journey, with all of its dizzying ups and agonizing downs, Howard Schultz has written, with aching honesty and passion, the single most important book on leadership and change for our time and for every generation of leaders. This book is not just recommended reading, it′s required."
Warren Bennis, Distinguished Professor of Business, University of Southern California, and author of the recently published Still Surprised: A Memoir of a Life in Leadership
"Howard Schultz′s refreshingly candid, compelling narrative demonstrates what it takes to lead in these extraordinary times. Onward is a rare firsthand account of how one of the world′s most iconic brands overcame the challenges that confront us all."
Indra Nooyi, Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo
"The second toughest thing in business is building a successful enterprise–the toughest is to engineer a turnaround and still maintain the core culture and values of the organization. This is a classic example of how it can be done. Howard has proven it′s not enough to be smart or well intentioned–sustained success will not occur without true passion from the very top!"
Jim Sinegal, cofounder and CEO of Costco
Starred Review: "[This] sequel to the founding of Starbucks is grittier, more gripping, and dramatic, and [SchultzR 42;s] voice is winning and authentic. This is a must–read for anyone interested in leadership, management, or the quest to connect a brand with the consumer."
Publishers Weekly