Howard Behar

My dad put them in the customer's bag and the customer walked out the door. I was old enough to understand that he hadn't rung the strawberries up on the cash register. And I said, Dad, you forgot to ring the strawberries up. And he said, Howard, not everything we do in life do we need to get paid for. You know, these people aren't just our customers. They're our friends and our neighbors.

My dad put them in the customer's bag and the customer walked out the door. I was old enough to understand that he hadn't rung the strawberries up on the cash register. And I said, Dad, you forgot to ring the strawberries up. And he said, Howard, not everything we do in life do we need to get paid for. You know, these people aren't just our customers. They're our friends and our neighbors.

And I happen to know they can't afford fresh fruit right now. So it's my way of just saying thank you. and helping them out. And it was such a true statement. I didn't understand it, but I always remembered that. Not everything you do in life do you need to get paid for. Sometimes we wait around and pay comes in so many different ways, trophies and recognition and monetary compensation.

And I happen to know they can't afford fresh fruit right now. So it's my way of just saying thank you. and helping them out. And it was such a true statement. I didn't understand it, but I always remembered that. Not everything you do in life do you need to get paid for. Sometimes we wait around and pay comes in so many different ways, trophies and recognition and monetary compensation.

But the key to fulfilling life is understanding that you don't have to be rewarded for everything you do. As a matter of fact, it's how I got to Starbucks. So I'd met this young guy named Howard Schultz. He was looking for VP of operations. But at that time, I was looking to buy a small business. And I wanted to do what my family had done, all small businesses.

But the key to fulfilling life is understanding that you don't have to be rewarded for everything you do. As a matter of fact, it's how I got to Starbucks. So I'd met this young guy named Howard Schultz. He was looking for VP of operations. But at that time, I was looking to buy a small business. And I wanted to do what my family had done, all small businesses.

So we sat down for breakfast one day and he had a list of 10 criteria. Do you have a college degree? I didn't have that. Do you have food service background? I didn't have that. Finally, we got down to number 10. Can you breathe? That was the only thing that I qualified for is that I could breathe. So we shook hands and parted ways.

So we sat down for breakfast one day and he had a list of 10 criteria. Do you have a college degree? I didn't have that. Do you have food service background? I didn't have that. Finally, we got down to number 10. Can you breathe? That was the only thing that I qualified for is that I could breathe. So we shook hands and parted ways.

And about a year passed and by accident, we met up again and he still hadn't filled that position. And so we started talking and I said, look, Before we get any further along, how about if I work in the company for a week? I work for free. Don't put me in nothing. I'll just come in. I'd like to work in the trucks for a couple of days. I like to work in the stores for a few days.

And about a year passed and by accident, we met up again and he still hadn't filled that position. And so we started talking and I said, look, Before we get any further along, how about if I work in the company for a week? I work for free. Don't put me in nothing. I'll just come in. I'd like to work in the trucks for a couple of days. I like to work in the stores for a few days.

I like to work in the roasting plant for a few days. At the end of that week, if we see something, then let's think about moving forward. And I fell in love in that week. And I said, hell with buying my own business. This is where I want to be. Unfortunately, Howard had extended invitation to join.

I like to work in the roasting plant for a few days. At the end of that week, if we see something, then let's think about moving forward. And I fell in love in that week. And I said, hell with buying my own business. This is where I want to be. Unfortunately, Howard had extended invitation to join.

But, you know, I don't know that I would have been there if I would have said, let me work in the company for a week. You look at me, I'll look at you and we'll go from there. But all because of my dad.

But, you know, I don't know that I would have been there if I would have said, let me work in the company for a week. You look at me, I'll look at you and we'll go from there. But all because of my dad.

I was really good at that and clean the toilets and put the light bulbs in and not worry about it. There's an old saying that to put a nail in a piece of wood, you can't just push on the nail, right? They have a hammer and the hammer has to come back before it can go forward to put that nail in partway. And that's kind of like life is.

I was really good at that and clean the toilets and put the light bulbs in and not worry about it. There's an old saying that to put a nail in a piece of wood, you can't just push on the nail, right? They have a hammer and the hammer has to come back before it can go forward to put that nail in partway. And that's kind of like life is.

Sometimes we think we're taking a step back, but we're really not. We're just learning and we're growing. I never worried about that. I always believed I could make a living. Whatever it was going to be, I was not afraid to work. And I didn't worry about what my position was. I didn't worry about that. When I went to work at Starbucks, I didn't say, here's what I need.

Sometimes we think we're taking a step back, but we're really not. We're just learning and we're growing. I never worried about that. I always believed I could make a living. Whatever it was going to be, I was not afraid to work. And I didn't worry about what my position was. I didn't worry about that. When I went to work at Starbucks, I didn't say, here's what I need.

I said, what can you afford to pay me? That was my question. And whatever it was, it was fine. I did want equity. I'm not shy about that because you never can make it on a salary alone. You never can save enough money. But I always believe that if you can get equity in the organization you're working at, even if it's a small amount, because it really attaches you.

I said, what can you afford to pay me? That was my question. And whatever it was, it was fine. I did want equity. I'm not shy about that because you never can make it on a salary alone. You never can save enough money. But I always believe that if you can get equity in the organization you're working at, even if it's a small amount, because it really attaches you.