Now in paperback, the national bestselling riches-to-rags true story of an advertising executive who had it all, then lost it all—and was finally redeemed by his new job, and his twenty-eight-year-old boss, at Starbucks.
In his fifties, Michael Gates Gill had it all: a mansion in the suburbs, a wife and loving children, a six-figure salary, and an Ivy League education. But in a few short years, he lost his job, got divorced, and was diagnosed with a brain tumor. With no money or health insurance, he was forced to get a job at Starbucks. Having gone from power lunches to scrubbing toilets, from being served to serving, Michael was a true fish out of water.
But fate brings an unexpected teacher into his life who opens his eyes to what living well really looks like. The two seem to have nothing in common: She is a young African American, the daughter of a drug addict; he is used to being the boss but reports to her now. For the first time in his life he experiences being a member of a minority trying hard to survive in a challenging new job. He learns the value of hard work and humility, as well as what it truly means to respect another person.
Behind the scenes at one of America’s most intriguing businesses, an inspiring friendship is born, a family begins to heal, and, thanks to his unlikely mentor, Michael Gill at last experiences a sense of self-worth and happiness he has never known before.
Have you ever heard the inspirational quote from George Eliot: "You're never too old to be what you might have been."? Well, 60-something Michael Gates Gill is the walking embodiment of it. Not too long ago, Gill sat alone with his thoughts in an Upper East Side Starbucks, trying to figure out just where his life went wrong. A few scant years before, he held a top position at one of the best advertising agencies in the world. He then ventured out on his own and started an agency, which ended in financial disaster. His personal life was faring no better. An affair threatened to end his 20-year marriage, and he had been diagnosed with a slow-growing brain tumor with an unknown prognosis.
How did Gill get to this place of despair? He had been groomed for glory from the start. Growing up the son of esteemed New Yorker writer Brendan Gill on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, he enjoyed all the obvious advantages. He attended Yale and even was a member of the elite and selective Skull & Bones society. Not exactly the recipe for failure. He was no closer to an answer when he was roused out of his reverie by a question.
"Would you like a job?"
The strange query was coming from a 28 year-old African-American Starbucks manager named Crystal Thompson. Startled and somewhat taken aback, Gill thinks about the question and then answers, "Yes, I would like a job." And so begins a beautiful but unlikely friendship, as well as a new path in life for Gill --- one with new friends, new skills and lots of foam.
HOW STARBUCKS SAVED MY LIFE recounts the remarkable reinvention of an aging, downtrodden businessman into an enthusiastic, curious and reinvigorated man. For the first time in his life, his is the minority and has to learn a completely different skill set to help him succeed amongst his co-workers, most of whom are decades younger and have trouble relating to an older white guy from the Upper East Side. Although at times the story can drift into feeling like propaganda for the Starbucks corporation (They give even their part-time employees benefits! They call their employees partners!), the strongest and sweetest aspect of the story to emerge is the unlikely but touching friendship formed between Gill and his manager, Crystal.
It truly is a testament to changing one's life for the better and finding happiness, friendship and wisdom in unexpected places.
And that's who this book is primarily for. Once you reach a certian age you project the wrong image to your employers clients and investors, (especially if you're in sales & marketing). Youthful employees show the company is "leading edge" and "future thinking". "Experience is over-rated." The modern corporation wants young and maleable employees that are full of boundless energy and enthusiasm, not yet jaded by years of toiling in the corporate trenches. "Over qualified = Too old" That's the hiring manager's inclination and bias against the older job candidate. Not mine.
This book gives those who've been cast out the courage to re-invent themselves, rather than simply giving up. It's not about the money and the status it affords. It's about the WORK. The DOING day in and day out. With hard work, skill and a little luck, you made it once in life. You can do it again and be more satisfied and happier than ever. That's the message of this book.
How much money do you really need? How big a house? How new a car? How much STUFF? Who're you trying to impress anyway? Read this book and let it all go. "Status" is a superficial concept that only leads to misery. This is what you'll learn.
What I loved was the riches-to-rags story. The emotional tapestry of Gill's relationship with his parents and children, the Great American Company downfall of pathetic JWT, the realization that people just scraping by are just as good as me, the hope that a large company can actually have a great culture of respect.
What I hated was a sneaking suspicion that the story was carefully designed and assembled to snub JWT. It kind of peters out at the end because he just moves on to a different Starbucks and there's no resolution on the brain tumor issue. But I still hope Gill gets rich off this book and can eventually hurl raspberries at all his smarmy ex-coworkers and ex-social class.
