“People around the world, they want the authentic Starbucks experience.”

In life, you can blame a lot of people and you can wallow in self-pity or you can pick yourself up and say listen, I have to be responsible for myself.

The hardest thing about being a leader is demonstrating or showing vulnerability. And that has a lot to do with trust.

When you’re surrounded by people who share a passionate commitment around a common purpose, anything is possible.

This may sound a bit naive, but I got here by believing in big dreams.

Always challenge the old ways.

We are witnessing a seismic change in consumer behavior. That change is being brought about by technology and the access people have to information.

I never wanted to be on any billionaires list. I never define myself by net worth. I always try to define myself by my values.

Whatever you do, don’t play it safe. Don’t do things the way they’ve always been done. Don’t try to fit the system. If you do what’s expected of you, you’ll never accomplish more than others expect.

If you pour your heart into your work, or into any worthy enterprise, you can achieve dreams others may think impossible.

The premium single-cup segment is the fastest-growing business within the global coffee industry.

Believe in your dreams and dream big. And then after you’ve done that, dream bigger.

The challenge of the retail business is the human condition.

We are not in the coffee business serving people, we are in the people business serving coffee.

At its core, I believe leadership is about instilling confidence in others.

Don’t be threatened by people smarter than you.

In times of adversity and change, we really discover who we are and what we’re made of.

The key in telling stories that people relate to is, not surprisingly, vulnerability and authenticity. That means that letting people know the struggle behind your brand – the failures and mistakes – and how you got through them is really important.

Passion will always move you in the direction of your authentic self.

True success – financial, personal, and professional – lies above all in loving your family, working hard, and living your passion. In telling your story. In authenticity, hustle, and patience. In caring fiercely about the big and the small stuff. In valuing legacy over currency.

Whenever you feel authentic and genuine, you are headed in the right direction.

We’re so used to presenting ourselves and getting approval according to our achievements that it’s difficult to be authentic and trust that we’ll be accepted just as we are.

Authentic love can be unconditional and still require reciprocity, respect, and mutual willingness.

I think I melt from authenticity more than anything.

I know a beautiful soul when I feel one. The empath in me honors the authentic in you.