Dear Mr. Schultz,
This letter should be sung to the tune of Billy Joel's, "Just The Way You Are." I know we've never met and the closest I've ever been to a barista was the time I bought a Krups cappucino maker that was so hard to clean, I quickly realized that having someone make a personalized drink for you was worth every penny. However, for some reason, I feel uniquely qualified to tell you (just as Billy Joel would), "Don't go changing."
From one eternal optimist to another, I'd like to thank you for your dedication to changing the world, one barista at a time. I wish more Fortune 500 corporate leaders would follow your lead! Investing in people is a win/win strategy and you will have lifetime devotees whether they're Starbucks employees or not. The kinds of things you do for your employees are game-changers. I never understood how ANYONE could find fault with your College Achievement Plan in partnership with Arizona State University. Just between us - I think the naysayers are just jealous that they didn't come up with the idea themselves and are bitter that they will continually lose employees to your company.
Sometimes, all a person needs is ONE chance at something that they thought was unattainable and they can change the world. Thank you for giving those types of chances to your employees.
With deep respect,
Maureen Sullivan
