HOW STARBUCKS SAVED MY LIFE

A son of privilege learns to live like everyone else

AUTHOR’S PURPOSE

As his life was spiralling out of control, one of his daughter suggested him to keep a journal and he decided to turn it into a book after a year of writing it.

He wanted to publish his book to show people how STARBUCKS really saved his life through diversification and new outlooks on values like respect.

ABOUT MICHAEL GATES

• Mike grew up in a 25 room mansion, son of renowned New Yorker writer Brendan Gill who introduced him to the greatest writers and celebrities of the time: from E.B. White to Ernest Hemingway to Jackie Onassis.

• He was given education at Yale, and a job as a Creative Director of the largest advertising agency in the world.

ABOUT MICHAEL GATES CONT’D

• After 26 yrs at JWT, mike was laid off due to the fact that they could hire someone younger with less pay.

• But this lead to the discovery of his job he never thought he would have.

FROM DRINKING LATTES TO SERVING THEM UP

• Today Mike lives in a small, attic apartment with much less stuff in a much more simple life and serves coffee at a Starbucks in his neighbourhood.

• Mike’s big surprise is that he is happier than he has ever been in his new, simpler life than he ever was in his former “high” life.

A NEW BEGINING

• After losing his job, ruining his marriage with an affair and being diagnosed by a brain tumour, GATES was devastated.

• Little did he know that his life would turn around when STARBUCKS manager approached him and asked if he would apply for a job.

Had barely found time to get married and had a two-week honeymoon.

“ my clients became my children, and my children grew up without me”

mike would adjust his personal schedules for clients

one time on Christmas FORD called mike for new year’s sale and mike left his family for workhe was 53 when he got fired

REALITY SHOCK He had never gone above east nineteenth

street below grand central. A couple of years ago he mentioned that

he had an affair with a woman named Susan and had a child (Jonathan) which caused him to get divorced.

“I had to give up time thinking so much about past and what i have lost”(50)

THAT CHANGED MY LIFE Mike takes the station in Bronxville at 7:22 to start his shift

at 10:30 rented an old friend's attic which was in a house by the railroad tracks because he couldn't afford an apartment Mike actually preferred cleaning then working at the register

“Don’t refuse the toilet to any one, especially someone who really needs a welcome and not another person putting him down”(80)

ON THE FRONT LINES- READY OR NOT

• two months had passed and Mike has not yet been assigned the register - but he is happyCrystal was working on a presentation and Mike asked to help herMike insisted that he finally helped her but that didn't get him out of the registers

TURNING LOSERS INTO WINNERS

• Crystal proposes to make Mike a "Coffee Master“

• As a Coffee Master he would have to master the knowledge about coffees and sample coffees with Partners and Guests

FIRED ALMOST

"Every day is a leap of faith," (207)

a quote from Lizz Wright, musician, published on the side of a cup of a Short Americano

Mike had been short $10 more than once in the month of January

CRYSTAL TAKES HIM TO BAR

• Mike is ready to move to the bar (make drinks)

• Charlie helps him here• Abe the new district manager had offered

Mike the choice to move to a store closer to where he lives commuting cost Mike over $100 a monthhe agrees to move 

EXIT BROADWAY TO MIKE

FOR ALL THE TIMES YOU HAVE STOOD BY US, WE THANK YOU. FOR SHOWING US WHAT LEGENDARY SERVICE TRULY MEANS, WE APPLAUD YOU, YOU HAVE TAUGHT US NEVER TO GIVE UP OUR DREAMS. THAT ONE DAY THEY COME TRUE. THIS IS OUR PRAYER FOR YOU. Dear Lord please give himA few friends who understand him & remain his friendsA work to do which has real value, without which the world would be poorerA mind unafraid to travel, even though the trail be roughAn understanding heartA sense of humourTime for quiet, silent meditationA feeling of the presence of God, the patience to wait for the coming of these things, with the wisdom to recognize them when they come.

May God continue to guide you, Mike. We love you.

From all your Partners at 93rd & Broadway

HUMILITY• A major tone in the novel is the tone of humility.

Michael states, "In this state of numbed anxiety ambivalence, and forced humility, I opened the door to the Starbucks store."

• He believed that his hope of rejoining a big international company was a "humiliating nightmare" .

• But in the end, his experience stripped him of his corporate pride and allowed him to learn about true respect.

• He tries to communicate to the reader about the importance of finding happiness by sources other than money, power, and wealth.

PATHOS APPEAL

Throughout the beginning of the story, Michael provokes an emotional response from the reader by using pathos appeal. His choice of words such as, "horror, humiliation, sickening, embarrassment, and cruel" play a slight propagandistic role and help Michael to convince the readers of the pain and sorrow he is feeling after losing his job and family.

RESPECT AND HAPPINESS

“How would your life be different if…You stopped making negative judgmental assumptions about people you encounter? Let today be the day…You look for the good in everyone you meet and respect their journey.”-Steve Maraboli

Irony: Rags to Riches vs Riches to Rag

"Losing my job turned out to be a gift in disguise"

In normal circumstances, the loss of a job is negative, even devastating, but in this statement, the irony is that his loss was

actually a "gift in disguise.

ETHOS APPEAL He truly prospered from losing his wealth-- which is

something most are not willing to admit. He comes across as a man who made many mistakes

in his life, and this allows the audience to relate to a guy who makes all the same mistakes that other workaholic adults in society do

SYMBOLISM COMMITMENT

By taking joy in his new job, Gates allows himself to let his positive outlook on his situation to trump the grief he previously had. He takes a bad situation and forms it into a learning opportunity for the good of his character,

Throughout the centuries people associate coffee as a "wake up call" in the mornings, but for Michael Gates, it symbolized a major life-changingwake up call.

LESSONS LEARNT• Plan for your future, but allow the

spontaneity of serendipitous moments! • Giving up is not an option.

• The importance of humility – only someone that is humble enough will improve!

• The importance of keeping an open mind, even at 63!

Starbucks Focus to Customer Service And Employee Satisfaction

In a service oriented business - it is often not about us, but it is about providing an excellent service. Starbucks does not only serve coffee, but it serves a good experience as a package!

THANK YOU