Interview with Michael Gates Gill, the author of "How Starbucks Saved My Life"

Coffee has never really appealed to me. I'm one of those people who do not drink caffeine. (Can you imagine?!) The way I look at it is quite rudimentary. Why stain my teeth with coffee when I don't need that extra jolt to make it through the day? Then, I encountered Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte and my theory was blown to bits. If you have never experienced this autumnal treat, you are really missing out. I hate to publicly admit this but it's just not fall without a cup of my favorite latte securely in my hand on Saturday mornings as I try to stay warm on the soccer fields. Okay! I admit it! I am addicted.

So naturally, when I was sent How Starbucks Saved My Life, how could I not read it? Now I wouldn't go so far as to say my Pumpkin Spice Latte has saved my life, but I can see how a cup of coffee could put a new spin on things. And then, I read the book. To say I was blown away would be an understatement. I read the book in two days. (It would have been one if I could have possibly extended the day.) I guess that's why Tom Hanks has bought the film rights. He and I both know it's a winner!

Of course, I'll let you be the judge, but I have a funny feeling you too will jump on the band wagon. As part of this interview, Gotham Books has graciously donated five copies to my readers, so don't forget to look for the trivia question at the end.

Be my guest and go grab a cup of Starbucks coffee and get to know the fabulous author, Michael Gates Gill.

Jen: What immediately attracted me to your book was the catchy cover. I have mentioned in previous columns that I am guilty of judging a book by its cover, but aren't we all? What input did you have with the title and cover of the book?

Michael: The title How Starbucks Saved My Life is literally true. I was adrift, my life seemed like a shipwreck, and Starbucks offered me a way to learn how to swim towards a new shore. I found a place I had never known existed--where race; class, gender and family background mattered not at all. This new world brought me a whole new experiences that helped me leave behind my safe but confining cocoon of privilege and tradition for the more satisfying challenges of the real world of today.

The "how" in the title How Starbucks Saved My Life comes from my sense that perhaps my story might help others understand how working at Starbucks is so unique. Starbucks is the only company I have ever worked for that truly treats all its employees or "Partners" with respect. This kind of approach is still so revolutionary it deserves to be more widely known--and, hopefully, copies by other companies.

I also thought my story might be helpful for those who were experiencing the challenges of being fired, old, broke, etc. in modern America. There is also in my story the essential idea that there can always be new and even better chapters at any time in life. I was ready to give up on anything positive or truly new happening in my life when my job at Starbucks and my Partners helped me gain a happiness I had never known. This whole unexpected result for such a difficult time was a total surprise to me, and I thought it might be helpful to others to share this unexpected good news that the next chapter in your life might just be the best of all.

The illustration on the cover features an apron--symbolic of my move from a person who had been served and thought he deserved to be served to a person who found fulfillment in serving. And I still do. I just finished working my shift at my Starbucks store and am still feeling elated by the chance to bring some small measure of pleasure to others by serving coffee, pastries, and exchanging uplifting words.

Jen: The world we live in today is immensely different than the world our parents knew. Yes, the business world has always been cut-throat, but I think it is more so today than ever. Would you agree? What was going through your mind when you realized that the woman you helped mentor was in the process of firing you?

Michael: I was surprised, and terribly hurt that the person I had taken for a protégé was delegated to fire me. Yet, looking back, there is a terrible almost poetic truth to that progress in modern corporate America. There still is a horrible macho culture in most companies, and you are often asked to prove your toughness by firing those you might otherwise keep. I cannot claim innocence myself. I fired some people in my time at JWT, including one old man when I was a young man. I felt badly about firing him, even at the time, just as my protégé did about firing me, but I went ahead and did it--because I wanted to get ahead. You can't be seen as a good manager of people if you don't have a kind of "macho" attitude towards firing and respect--not for your colleagues--but for the bottom line. I think American corporations are much too hard on people. Starbucks is a shining example of a totally different approach.

Jen: I have to be honest, you lost my sympathy there for a while when you cheated on your wife; however, there is always two sides to every story. Granted, you had lost your job and your life drastically changed, but on the plus side, you did gain a son in the process. What life lessons have you taught him so that he does not make the same mistakes that you made concerning family?

Michael: I can't claim I am an authority on relationships or love. And I certainly don't want you to think that I feel that I have become some kind of perfect saint. One thing I have learned is humility, and I never forget the wrongs I have done or that I am still a "work in progress." I think the major life lesson I learned the hard way is to be truthful rather than try to lie and get away with something. I think being honest with those you love, including your children, has to be the single most important thing to me.

As far as other life lessons learned, I would say that I feel that sometimes through a kind of divine grace good comes out of bad. I hope I did not give the impression in the book that I am free of guilt or bad feelings for those I hurt. I don't think you ever completely lose that sense of having sinned. I certainly haven't. But the whole Starbucks experience helped me gain a new humility about myself, and gain some perspective so that I could laugh as well as cry as I struggled to be better.

Jen: On that memorable day when you had hit rock bottom, stumbled into Starbucks, and then your life suddenly took a turn for the better, did you have second thoughts about working as a barista? Here you are a highly educated and professionally successful man now embarking on a service career. Did you have to convince yourself to do it or were you resigned to it as if this were your fate?

Michael: In a way it was embarrassing for me at first to put on the apron and be serving people who might have been my former colleagues. But as I got into the experience, I became more and more to see that by serving I was fulfilling a valid destiny. It wasn't the destiny of high status my friends and family might have expected, but working with my Partners at Starbucks, for a whole variety of reasons I cover in the book, was and is amazingly satisfying and stimulating to me.

Jen: I truly believe, and yes it's only my opinion, that they are angels here on this earth. In retrospect, can you put into words the impact Crystal Thompson has had on your life?

Michael: Crystal saved me by offering me a job. You could see that as a kind of angelic intervention. And my Partners were forgiving of my mistakes and accepting of me in a way that was remarkable--even miraculous. I also believe in God and I think he does work in mysterious ways his wonders to perform.

Jen: In your opinion, what makes this coffee establishment better than all the rest?

Michael: The coffee. Starbucks spends more time helping farmers grow the best coffee in the best way, and then taking more time roasting it properly, and a lot more time learning and training all of us to serve it properly. Once again, Starbucks shows respect for everybody, including even the coffee beans themselves, every step of the way. Most companies are trying to get more profits to the bottom line. Starbucks is still devoted to serving the best cup of coffee.

Jen: What was it like facing your children for the first time not knowing what they would think of your working at a Starbucks? What was going through your mind?

Michael: I was scared they would see how incompetent I was! I was happy for my children to see me giving a speech before thousands--which I did occasionally in advertising. But I had yet to learn how to make a good latte. In fact I am still struggling. So I begged them to wait until I became proficient. They largely ignored my plea--God bless them. I think they got a kick out of seeing their often pompous, arrogant father so full of himself and so full of advice, struggling to handle a register and serve coffee.

Jen: Why write a book? Why not just relish in the fact that your life is back on track and the future is looking brighter?

Michael: My daughter Annie suggested I keep a journal when my life started coming apart. She thought it would help me to make some sense of what was happening to me. Once I started working at Starbucks I found my journal was full of interesting experiences. After about a year, I thought of a title for a possible book about this experience: How Starbucks Saved My Life. An old friend invited me to lunch one day a short time later. He was a writer. He asked what Starbucks was like, I told him about my journal and my title for it. He loved the idea, and called his agent. She called me, and told me she thought I had a unique personal story that should be shared in the covers of a book.

Jen: About how long did it take for you to write the book? What was the most difficult part to write and why?

Michael: Having spent my life in advertising, the most difficult part in writing my book was to tell the truth. The truth about what I was feeling and what I was actually experiencing during that year on Broadway. The writing itself went pretty fast because I was using my journal.

Jen: What was the reaction from your co-workers when you told them you were writing a book? Was it what you expected? Why or why not?

Michael: My Partners liked the idea I was doing a book. They know it was a great story, and were looking forward to more people hearing about how Starbucks actually worked. I have to say it also didn't make much of a difference in our actual working experience. You have to do a good job of serving coffee...that is what really matters to my Partners on every shift, not some promise of a book!

Jen: If you could run the tape of your life back and change one thing what would it be?

Michael: I would like to have a chance to treat everyone I knew throughout my life with more love and more truth and more forgiveness.

Jen: What impact do you think your writing this book will have on the future of Starbucks? Did you have to get their permission to tell your story?

Michael: I purposefully didn't ask Starbucks for "permission". Partly because the book just grew out of a journal. Partly because I did not want to put myself in the position of saying what they might want. This was not a corporate story, but, on the contrary, my truthful, personal story. But I also knew they would approve of this kind of Partner effort. Starbucks believes strongly in supporting all Partner efforts--including doing music CD's and even fine art. So I felt my book would be well received, and it has been.

As far as helping Starbucks, they seem to be doing fine without my help! But I do hope my book will help our Guests understand what a great environment Starbucks creates, and how it does that. I also hope that the Partners will receive more recognition for their efforts to give everyone an uplifting experience.

Jen: If you could sum it up in one paragraph or less, what is the message you are sending to your readers?

Michael: Maybe 2 messages:

Be ready to be happily surprised in life.
Don't be afraid to make a fool of yourself.

Jen: One question I just have to ask, what is your favorite drink? Mine is the decaf pumpkin spice latte, but how come I can't get it year round? It's so yummy!

Michael: My favorite drink is a double tall skim latte. I am sorry that you can't get your pumpkin spice latte year round. I will ask about that.

Jen: Is this it for you or are you writing another book?

Michael: This book is enough for now!

Jen: Will you be touring the circuit? Do you have a website?

Michael: I don't have a website, but I will be going on a book tour.

Jen: Michael, I truly was moved by your book. If truth be told, I put aside another book I was supposed to be reading to get to yours. I think your story will inspire many people to look at life differently and take hold of what is truly important. Best of luck and next time you come to Baltimore, let's get together and go to Starbucks.

Michael: I would love to share a latte with you!

I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Michael. More importantly, I encourage you to go pick up a copy of his book. As you have just read, it is quite the story. Okay, it's time to give away some books. Five readers to answer Jen Jewels question with the correct answer will win a copy of How Starbucks Saved My Life. Good luck!

Michael mentioned two messages that he is sending his readers by writing this book. Please tell me one of them.

Later this month, I will be bringing to you my interview with Laura Moriarty, author of The Rest of Her Life. You won't want to miss it!

Until next time....Jen