Howard Schultz

They feel like they're doing a good job, but it's not the job that's consistent with the integrity and heritage of what the company has been. Metaphorically, let's say that's a giant reservoir. If you're taking a deposit on a consistent basis out of the reservoir and it's getting dry, you better stop. You better make sure you're making a deposit so they're equal and it's balanced.

They feel like they're doing a good job, but it's not the job that's consistent with the integrity and heritage of what the company has been. Metaphorically, let's say that's a giant reservoir. If you're taking a deposit on a consistent basis out of the reservoir and it's getting dry, you better stop. You better make sure you're making a deposit so they're equal and it's balanced.

When you get this, that's when the company loses the plot. And if you get this and you're making a lot of money and the stock price is high, people say, it's okay, we're fine. And that's fool's gold. It's a camouflage because eventually it's going to bite you in the ass.

When you get this, that's when the company loses the plot. And if you get this and you're making a lot of money and the stock price is high, people say, it's okay, we're fine. And that's fool's gold. It's a camouflage because eventually it's going to bite you in the ass.

Have you ever figured out a way to measure these things in a way that as long as these numbers, that the numbers are a direct tie to our values are good, we can actually put a KPI against them, we know that the core is solid.

Have you ever figured out a way to measure these things in a way that as long as these numbers, that the numbers are a direct tie to our values are good, we can actually put a KPI against them, we know that the core is solid.

I haven't been smart enough to figure that out. But I mean, I think the interesting thing to me today is that the Asian business is operating at a much higher level of the soft side of Starbucks than we are in the US.

I haven't been smart enough to figure that out. But I mean, I think the interesting thing to me today is that the Asian business is operating at a much higher level of the soft side of Starbucks than we are in the US.

Now I understand your Belinda Wong comment.

Now I understand your Belinda Wong comment.

That doesn't answer your question about quantifying it. But when I am in Asia, I see things that are very elevated to the brand that speak to the financial performance of those markets, which are very high.

That doesn't answer your question about quantifying it. But when I am in Asia, I see things that are very elevated to the brand that speak to the financial performance of those markets, which are very high.

Okay, before we get to today, I want to talk about some other things that happened in 2008. 2008 was a big year. So 2008, 2009, 2010, there's no way to put it other than a wildly successful turnaround. Your low point in 2008 profits were 315 million, and by 2010, they were 945 million. I mean... I don't know how we did that. Well, we just went through a lot of the ways of how you did that.

Okay, before we get to today, I want to talk about some other things that happened in 2008. 2008 was a big year. So 2008, 2009, 2010, there's no way to put it other than a wildly successful turnaround. Your low point in 2008 profits were 315 million, and by 2010, they were 945 million. I mean... I don't know how we did that. Well, we just went through a lot of the ways of how you did that.

There's a couple other things here, one of which is technology, but I'm told there's a story you have about Steve Jobs around this point in time, too.

There's a couple other things here, one of which is technology, but I'm told there's a story you have about Steve Jobs around this point in time, too.

Yeah, it's a funny story, another story. And so... In Hawaii, when I was on vacation, I'm talking to Michael Dell and Benioff. And you're cycling with Michael Dell. Yeah, I'm cycling with Dell almost every day. And I'm talking to Benioff. Michael introduced me to Benioff, didn't know him. And so his- It's a pretty good Hawaii crew.

Yeah, it's a funny story, another story. And so... In Hawaii, when I was on vacation, I'm talking to Michael Dell and Benioff. And you're cycling with Michael Dell. Yeah, I'm cycling with Dell almost every day. And I'm talking to Benioff. Michael introduced me to Benioff, didn't know him. And so his- It's a pretty good Hawaii crew.

So I get back and Adam Brotman, who's a key person in all this, in terms of mobile order and pay. Yeah.

So I get back and Adam Brotman, who's a key person in all this, in terms of mobile order and pay. Yeah.