Life Lessons from a Morning at Starbucks
Share
I sat here this morning in my usual spot at Starbucks at 6 am and pondered what to blog about. Should I write about how crazy the world is, especially with the front of the newspaper filled with all kinds of terrible things happening? Should I write an inspirational piece about ancient Maori warriors crossing oceans on canoes and then burning their canoes to give themselves no escape, forcing them to fight to gain control of a new island to survive – no Retreat!
All kinds of ideas danced through my head as they usually do, but while I thought of new topics, I started noticing the environment around me. So many different people, so many different choices, all here at Starbucks. It got me thinking: there’s a lot of life lessons to be learned from sitting at a Starbucks.
Be Versatile
One of the keys to being successful in life is to be versatile. Starbucks is undoubtedly the leading coffee company in America, and boy, aren’t they versatile. Espressos, Frappuccinos, Tazo Teas, Scones, Muffins – you name it, they’ve got it. Each drink can be customized in numerous different ways, from different kinds of milk to various flavors. The possibilities are endless.
The more versatile you are, the greater the likelihood you’ll be successful. However, there’s an important caveat: stay in your lane. There’s a fine line between being versatile in the things that you do well (like making coffee if you’re Starbucks) and spreading yourself thin trying to be good at everything. I used to fail simply because I tried to be too many things to too many people instead of honing my skills in a few areas.
Action Step: Identify what you’re best at and focus on ways to diversify within that expertise. Ask yourself if you’re spreading yourself too thin. Write down your top three strengths and brainstorm ways to expand within those areas.
Be Available
It seems like there’s a Starbucks on every corner here in Dallas, TX. Not only that, but it also feels like they’re always open. Success tends to find those who are available and ready for it. In business, how can you succeed if you’re not available to your customers? In relationships, how can you build a great one if you’re not there for your significant other?
Availability is key to opportunity. You’ll never get anywhere in life if you’re not “open.”
Action Step: Make a conscious effort to be more present. Whether it’s with your family, clients, or even yourself, find ways to create more opportunities to show up consistently. Set reminders if you must or dedicate a block of time each day to just being available.
Smile
These Starbucks baristas always start my day off well because they’re always smiling. No one likes to deal with grumpy people. There’s something about a smile that’s good for the human spirit. A smile says, “I respect you, I appreciate you for being here.”
Even better is a smile you wear. The smile you point at the world says, “cheer up, the world is a good place.” Smiles are contagious. Sit wherever you are right now and just smile with the biggest grin you can. What you’ll realize is that everyone wants to be associated with a smiling person. Someone will inevitably want to know why you’re smiling and, more importantly, what they can do to be a part of that smile.
Action Step: Make it a habit to smile more. Practice smiling intentionally when you greet others or when you’re having a tough moment. Smiling can be a simple but powerful way to change your energy and the energy of those around you.
Enjoy the Rewards in Life
At Starbucks, you build up points from purchases and ultimately receive your Starbucks Gold card, which gives you several perks and rewards. The tally system is built to reward you for your consistency.
You don’t have to go to Starbucks to appreciate this lesson, but it’s important to always reward yourself for your consistency. Too many people think they should only reward themselves when they achieve a goal. They don’t realize that success is a continuous journey, not a destination.
If you believe rewards should only come when you “get there,” you’ll miss the beauty of the journey. Start finding ways to reward yourself for continuing the journey toward your goal, not just getting there. If your goal is to lose 30 pounds, give yourself a small treat when you lose 5 or 10. In relationships, don’t wait for your anniversary to treat your partner to a special date. Every day together should be reason enough to celebrate.
Action Step: Take a moment to list small milestones you can celebrate on your journey to achieving your bigger goals. Plan how you’ll reward yourself along the way and make a habit of celebrating progress, not just achievement.
Final Thoughts
Whatever you do, remember, life can be good if you allow it to be. Grab your coffee, get up, and get going!
If you want to take your team, event, or conference to the next level, book Baylor to speak here. For more mindset motivation, check out his 10-minute-a-day podcast, Shark Theory, here. Purchase Baylor’s self-development books here. Mindset Matters: Let’s make yours unstoppable.