Feedback Form
Home Features Mastermind Forums About Advertise Blog Network Contact Be An Author

The Coffee King: Howard Schultz is Born

Howard Schultz Articles
The Coffee King: Howard Schultz is Born

“I wanted to be in charge of my own destiny,” says Howard Schultz. “It may be a weakness in me: I'm always wondering what I'll do next. Enough is never enough.” Schultz used this weakness to his advantage, taking the U.S. by storm with his vision of a coffee shop the likes of which the country had never seen before. Today, as a so-called ‘third home’, Starbucks has revolutionized not only the coffee industry but also society at large.

Howard Schultz was born on July 19, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York as the oldest of three children. He grew up in Bayview Project, a government-subsidized housing unit. His family had little money and both parents worked long hours to try and support the family. Growing up, Schultz spent most of his time playing sports, taking a particular liking to football, baseball and basketball. He found that he quickly excelled in each of these in high school and used it to his advantage, receiving a football scholarship to Northern Michigan University.

Schultz was determined to escape poverty and become the first member of his family to graduate from college. In 1975, he realized his dream and earned his bachelor’s degree in business and marketing. But, while Schultz’s academic career was soaring, his family life was taking a turn for the worse. His father was starting to suffer from the never-ending stream of low-paying, dead-end jobs he was forced to work. “I watched my dad’s self-esteem fracture,” Schultz would later recall.

Nevertheless, Schultz was determined to make more of his own life. After graduating, Schultz moved back to New York and got a job working for Xerox Corporation. He then switched to working as a salesman for Hammerplast, a Swedish housewares company. When he noticed that he was selling many coffee percolators to a little Seattle-based company, Schultz flew out to see why.

In 1981, Schultz met with Gerry Baldwin, one of the owners of Starbucks, and he immediately fell in love with the company and the concept. In less than one year, Schultz had left Hammerplast and had become Director of Retail Sales for Starbucks. But, Schultz’s vision for the company soon took a different turn from its original owners.

When Schultz first joined Starbucks, it had 12 retail outlets and was dedicated to selling coffee beans and coffee-related products. In 1983, Schultz went on vacation to Milan, Italy, and became infatuated with the idea of coffee bars, places where gourmet coffee was served not in beans, but by the cup, and where people could come to meet and relax. “I believed the relationship I saw between people and coffee in Italy was transferable to America in a big way,” he said.

“Great companies recognize who they are and who they are not,” said Schultz. “But they must have the courage to examine transformational opportunities”. The owners of Starbucks disagreed with Schultz’s vision. They had little desire to expand their company in the way Schultz was proposing. But, confident in his idea and the untapped possibilities, Schultz left Starbucks and started out on his own.





The Coffee King Howard Schultz is Born

Like this article? Share it with your friends

Article Feedback
 The Coffee King Howard Schultz is Born Very good information. Well laid out and easy to absorb. Thank you. I will be back for more.
Commented on The Coffee King Howard Schultz is Born.
 The Coffee King Howard Schultz is Born Leave Your Feedback
article feedback

Article Feedback
Jay Kubassek
(Jay's Full Bio: EvanCarmichael.com/jaykubassek)  In five years, Canadian-born entrepreneur Jay Kubassek went from selling mufflers at a Midas franchise to revolutionizing Internet marketing with the 2004 launch of CarbonCopyPRO, a online marketing education company, now worth over $20 million with customers in over 160 countries.

 

As an independent film producer, his upstart film fund Aliquot Films is currently producing a films with Spike Lee and Abel Fererra (starring Ethan Hawke and Dennis Hopper.)

 

Jay's entrepreneurial spirit is irrepressible. He’s the owner of five companies, a professional speaker and trainer, international real estate developer/investor, extreme sport enthusiast and emerging philanthropist. 

 

Jay resides in NYC with his wife Jamie, son Milo and dog Cooper.  Visit Jay's official website: www.JayKubassek.com - Visit Jay Kubassek's Website


To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us.

Famous Entrepreneur Video
Howard Schultz Video - Howard Shultz giving his thoughts about the future of Starbucks.
Famous Entrepreneur Video

Howard Schultz Picture Howard Schultz Newsletter
Get our free newsletter to learn more about Howard Schultz and other famous entrepreneurs!

Name:
Email:





Evan Elite Authors
Cheryl Matthynssens  
David Barr  
Staging Diva  
Evan Elite Authors

Become An Author
Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details.
Become An Author

Evan's Latest Video
Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media
Evan's Latest Video

Business Opportunities
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"

How to Start An Online Business

Click Here To Learn More
Business Opportunities



Evan's Newsletter
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Evan`s Newsletter

Free Downloads
Start-Up Capital Estimate Icon Start-Up Capital Estimate
How To Select Keywords Icon How To Select Keywords
The Leader’s Edge Icon The Leader’s Edge
25 Facebook & Twitter Tips Icon 25 Facebook & Twitter Tips
ACES Research Report Icon ACES Research Report
Free Downloads - Complete List

Entrepreneur Tools and Guides
Top 50 Geek Business Blogs
Top 50 Geek Business Blogs
Top 50 Geek Business Blogs
 
Write The Press Release
Write The PR
Press Release Builder
 
Entrepreneur Tools and Guides

SEO For Africa
SEO For Africa
Efe Olajide Benin City, Nigeria,
Efe Olajide
Benin City, Nigeria
SEO For Africa

If I Were A Startup...
Lee Segal, >1,800% Growth in 5 Years
Lee Segal
>1,800% Growth in 5 Years
Erez Zevulunov, $150k to $504k in 2 years
Erez Zevulunov
$150k to $504k in 2 years
If I Were A Startup... - Complete List

Famous Entrepreneurs
Ron Joyce, Tim Hortons
Ron Joyce
Tim Hortons
Charles Schwab, Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab
Famous Entrepreneurs - Complete List

Entrepreneur Advice
Ask Michael Gerber, Reader Questions
Ask Michael Gerber
Reader Questions
Jay Conrad Levinson, Guerilla Marketing
Jay Conrad Levinson
Guerilla Marketing
Entrepreneur Advice - Complete List

Popular Articles
(Premium Authors)

     Inspiration for troubled times
By Andrew Campbell-Watt
     Dont attack Life It is a process
By Andrew Campbell-Watt
     Measure yourself as a manager Go for gold
By Andrew Campbell-Watt

Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

More Evan Carmichael
More Information