BRANDING YOUR BUSINESS

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business dreams, business plan, coffee, customer satisfaction, high quality, Howard Schultz, humility, integrity, Kingdom Principles, knowledge, marketing, marketing genius, planning, shared values, Starbucks, vision

I participated in a tele-seminar the other day from Kristie T on Branding, so I thought I would share this article from our archives from September of 2010 from founder Rich Forster. Good information.

Howard Schultz, part owner and the driving business strategists and CEO  of Starbucks Coffee,  has one of the best “company branding” definitions I have heard.  He says, “a brand is a set of shared values that make an emotional connection with people outside the coffee or product”.  I believe his theory was inspired by the three original owners of the company, Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegel and Gordon Baldwin who developed their coffee and tea company around a very simple but effective philosophy.  They were all three focused on the knowledge of their coffee product.  With that empowerment, they managed their little business by simply maximizing the quality to be better than all their competition.

When Schultz bought the company in 1987, he applied the vision and marketing genius that resulted in the Starbucks as we know it today.  And to this day, Schultz is maniacal about satisfying customer needs with high quality products and unquestionable customer satisfaction.  That my friends also takes a great deal of humility and commitment to integrity in every aspect of the business.

Meeting customer needs and desires will drive your business growth and eventual success but only if structured with integrity.  With a servants attitude of giving your best always,  your product or service branding will last the test of time and hardship and stabilize your business for many years to come.  But always remember your actions speak louder than your words and doing what you say you are going to do means more today than ever before when needing customer loyalty.

I am a Starbucks coffee lover and admirer of  the business structure and strategies because I see many Kingdom Principles at work in this company.  But using the Kingdom  principles of knowledge, commitment to quality, top quality product offerings to meet the needs of the public will not fail you.

Was it easy to accomplish this success?  I doubt it.  It took many hours of hard teamwork and a few sleepless nights I am sure.  But if it was easy to do, anyone could have done it.  You may not have the aspirations to build a Starbucks Company or maybe you do!  But I encourage you to take some time and sip a good cup of Starbucks coffee to think about  building whatever size business your dreams allow you with these dependable Kingdom Principles.  Then you too can Brand your business for success with shared values that are meaningful just as Howard Schultz did.

Blessings………Rich Forster    KBJ  Publisher

A Plan of Action

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business plan, destiny, kingdom principle, positive influence, success point, talent

A good friend, business student and spiritual son called me today to discuss a number of issues and for prayer.  I am always honored to be asked for advice and prayer.  But we discussed a principle for business I taught him years ago that he realized played a major role in the way he was handling life situations as well as business opportunities.  It’s an old cliche you have all probalby heard but it is so refreshing to hear that it still works today in various situation of life.  As a very talented salesman searching to be the best at what he did, he operated more from enthusiasm and challenge than he did with purpose and efficiency.  He had a tendency to ready, fire, aim and consequently wasted his energy and talent finding his way through the maze of selling.  So I taught him to “plan his work and work his plan”.

It is a known fact that if you fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail.  The need for a plan in your life was first substantiated by God when He did the same for you.  In Eph. 1:4-5 Paul verified for us that God chose us, each and every one, before the beginning of time and pre-destined (appointed plan or guananteed destiny) us as His son’s according to the good pleasure of His will.

All throughtout the Word of God from creation in Genesis to the details in revelation, God demonstrated that He had a plan for everything and everybody.  That in itself is a comforting thought, right?  But it also infers we do the same with our life.  Afterall, He was the living example for us all to follow in life.  I would also add that He is a God of detail.  He numbered the hairs on your head and when David was drawing up the blue prints for the Temple that his son Solomon was to build, God gave him very explicit intsructions and details on how it was to be built.  There are  many examples I could mention today but suffice to say, I think you get the point.

My young protege went on to explain how this procedure he learned in the sales training 101 class has assisted him in his business now and with his family affairs as well.  So I want to encourage you today to do the same.  Plan your work(assignment) and work your plan.  With focus and persistence, you will not only be successful, but you will be an inspiration to all those who work and live around you.  At the same time,  you will demonstrate what it means to have pride in your work and to strive for perfection in all that you do.  That is the kind of influence that makes you a successful businessman, family man and marketplace minister.  Positive influence on those around you is the best form of evangelism you can do as it shows your commitment to practice what you believe and sometimes even preach. 

Preparing for the worst and expecting the best is a winning formula for success in every area of life and gives glory and honor to the One who made you.  So, plan your work and work your plan and be the success you were destined to be. 

Blessings…….Rich Forster    KBJ Publisher