The vision came to Schultz while traveling through Italy, when he
recognized the intense relationship that the Italian people had not only
with their coffee, but with the coffee bars that are an integral part of
the country's social life. He knew in his heart that Americans would
embrace the coffee bar experience in the same way. The idea was the
beginning - and the marketing of the brand was brilliant. But Schultz
gives credit for the growth of the company to a foundation of values
seldom found in corporate America, values that place as much importance
on the company's employees as they do on profits, as much attention to
creativity as to growth. Schultz tells the story of Starbucks in
chapters that illustrate the principles which have made the company
enduring, such as "Don't be threatened by people smarter than you, "
"Compromise anything but your core values, " "Seek to renew yourself
even when you're hitting home runs, " and, most simply, "Everything
matters."