Universally Starbucks opens 5 outlets per day. (That was stated before the credit crunch!) The company attributes it's success to a focus on hospitality rather than profit making.
The Starbucks core values sounds like a highly intentional church mission statement on fellowship. Could the church learn something from this brew?
Michelli in his book The Starbucks Experience lists the five core values as principles for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. He prefaces each of the values with a quotation which I have included.They are as follows:
Make it your own
"This is the true joy of life, the being used up for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty one; being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clot of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy."
George Bernard Shaw
Everything matters
" Too often we underestimate the power of touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear. an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have a potential to turn life around."
Leo Buscaglia
Surprise and delight
" I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was a service. I acted and behold, service was a joy."
Rabindranath Tagore
Embrace resistance
"Don't mind criticism. If it is untrue,disregard it; if unfair, keep from irritation; if it is ignorant, smile; if it is justified, it is not a criticism - learn from it!"
Author unknown
Leave your mark
"How wonderful that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. "
Anne Frank
The Starbucks core values remind me that Koinonia (Gk: fellowship , having a share in, common participation, communion) is a vital part of church life.
However has it been neglected? Do we need to rediscover passion? Do we surprise and delight? Do we try to change the ordinary into extraordinary.
We certainly need more koinonia and passion. How wonderful it would be if we all occupied ourselves in changing the ordinary into the extraordinary!
ReplyDeleteInteresting post, I agree we have much to learn frm companies like Starbucks, but sense loud warning bells clanging in my brain, we are not in the buisness of marketing...
ReplyDeleteHaving siad that we might do well to allow ourselves to be surprised and delighted by God, and to dare to be unafraid of critisism, even willing to hear it and respond positively, these things are relational at core...
as I said, good post!
Thanks for your comments Sally. I think I am trying to get my head around the vast changes in society. On the one hand there is the marketing consumerist society which indulges in short termed quick fixes to retain an appetite. However on the other hand there is a church which has always attempted to communicate within the context of the times.Is there not slim divide between marketing and operating within today's context.I guess I am "dancing between the rain drops" and asking questions. Thanks again for your comment.
ReplyDeleteinteresting post ... especially the idea that a focus on hospitality is the key to success. Makes me sad to admit it that church has a lot to learn about what being hospitable and offer hospitality mean.
ReplyDeletenot that I am a fan of Starbucks :)
I agree with Sally that we are not in the business of marketing ... that said we are in the business of MAKING DISCIPLES and one of the best places to do that is round a table where food is served.