Howard Schultz knows a lot about building brands. Former owner of the Seattle Supersonics and Chairman & CEO of Starbucks ,  Forbes ranked Schultz as the 354th richest person in the United States, with a net worth of $1.5 billion.  He  renamed Il Giornale with the Starbucks name and aggressively expanded its reach across the United States growing the company rapidly and retaining ownership of every domestic outlet.  Schultz wrote the books Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time and Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life Without Losing Its Soul.

Howard Schultz’s words should resonate like a strong cup of coffee with every entrepreneur:

“The most powerful and enduring brands are built from the heart. They are real and sustainable.  The (brands) that are lasting are those that are authentic.”