I confess. I love to read.  I read for business advancement, personal improvement, fun, inspiration, pleasure and a host of other reasons.  I am also a huge fan of biographies and auto-biographies.  When I find a book I love, I am known to sink myself down in a comfy chair and soak it up at lightning speed.  No matter what the subject is, each time I read a new book I learn something new and I love to share.  Each month, it's my pleasure and my privilege to share a few thoughts on a book I've recently read and a bit about what I learned that I hope you find helpful.  

I read this book a few years ago and then again recently. It's the story of how Starbucks Coffee became the Starbucks we see today.  It wasn’t always a place to go and get a fancy cup of coffee.  Starbucks was originally a coffee roaster that sold beans and coffee makers in their retail stores.  Howard Schultz, the CEO, became captivated by what Starbucks could be - not by what it was in the 80’s when he joined the company.  He envisioned a far different company from what he saw – he thought he could expand nationwide by combining the Italian artistry of espresso-making with the selling of fresh-roasted coffee beans.   He was passionate about creating another place where people would feel comfortable - sociable gathering spots away from home and work.  It was exactly what he’d seen while visiting Italy that shaped the current Starbucks experience we see today.  While his ideas weren’t met with open arms and immediately embraced, he persevered and turned his passion into profits.

Here are a few things that I took away that I think you’ll find helpful:

 4.  If no mentor finds you, seek one out.  It can be lonely being a small business owner.  Few people share your frustrations and anxieties or understand why you are sticking with what they may call a sinking ship.  Seeking out a seasoned veteran who can provide you advice, guidance and support is extremely beneficial.

When the cards are stacked against you, the market is slow and money isn’t flowing the way you’d like it or need it to, remember if you’re following your passion, the profits will come.  While this book was written about 10 years ago, it’s perfectly fitting for today’s market. 

Life is full of funny moments. At TMC, we believe the more the merrier.  However, we understand and respect that when our days are challenging or not going the way we'd like them to, it can be tough to smile, let alone laugh.  Honestly, that's when we all need a good laugh the most. So to do our part in helping spread a few laughs, we have added a Humor page to our website.   Just click on our laughing dog to be taken to the month's feature video.