I get dropped off at the shareholder meeting. I am alone. I think this is better than having someone with me. In fact, I only shared with a few people about what I am doing. Today I know I have a big thing to do and I don’t want to be concerned about how anyone else is reacting. I have a carefully put together packet for Howard: my letter, resume, the nondisclosure agreement, and copies of my press. The letter is handwritten on theme paper and put in a card. My sister made the card. She gave it to me for Christmas in an assortment. On it is a photograph that she took of coffee beans when she was in Costa Rica for vacation. Who knew it might end up in the hands of Howard Schultz? I look for a seat on the edges of the rows so that I don’t have to trip over people when I get up. This year is one of the most packed meetings. I am pretty sure that has to do with how well the stock price is doing. I wonder if they are going to mention the Create Jobs for USA campaign at all.
The lights go down and the meeting starts. I am constantly reminding myself that I don’t have to be nervous. I don’t have to have a dry mouth or weak knees this year. A lot has happened since the last time I was here. I am not the same person. I have gone through things I would never have thought I would have survived through so beautifully. I am stronger and more powerful. I can’t even remember what it was like to be that girl that had a question about grocery margins. I had a bigger mission now. And there was no rule that it had to be anxiety ridden.
I am delightfully surprised that the first hour or so of the meeting is about making a difference in our communities, the American Dream, and what Starbucks is doing about it. And by the way, I heartily recommend watching that segment of the meeting. Especially the part from Doctor Reverend Calvin Butts from Harlem. You can actually click on a drop down menu below the video and choose his name to watch that segment. Completely moving and inspirational man. Anyway, I am feeling validated and empowered. I am also enjoying myself. I am in the moment and paying attention. I didn’t know that was really possible. Before I know it, the Question and Answer period comes up.
I gather my things and stand up. I notice that I am not as nervous this year. My knees feel relatively steady even. My turn comes up and I do not have anything in particular rehearsed. In fact, I deliberately did that. I wanted to make sure that I was genuine and not “canned”. I just told myself to make sure that I tied in what I had to say with what Starbucks is up to and to make sure that I asked Howard to be an investor and mentor and that I got my packet to him. While those few elements sound relatively simple, I knew it would be pretty easy to lose courage to ask for anything.
I start by introducing myself. I secretly cringed the moment after saying that I was “highly decorated” when I was a manager in Chicago. I specifically told myself not to use those words. I guess I should have told myself other words to use instead.
Next, in my head the words “acknowledge Howard” were there and I don’t even know what’s coming out of my mouth. Then everyone starts clapping in support of what I said and I realized that everyone thought that was all I had to say and that they expected me to sit down! I tell myself to keep going. A smile crosses my lips at the challenge. In my head, it was more like a sneer like “Oh you are not getting rid of me that easy!” So I forge ahead and I trip on my words (these moments seemed like an eternity) but I get it all out. I ask Howard to consider being an investor and mentor.
As soon as the words leave my lips I am relieved. My job is officially done here. I had coached myself ahead of time that all I had to do was get those words out and get the packet to him. But then Howard says thank you for coming to the meeting, “someone” will look it over, and thank you very much. My moment was done. Time to sit down.
Fifteen minutes later. I am devastated. I tell myself that I sold out the opportunity and let everyone down. I didn’t make sure the packet got to HOWARD. I flew across the country, did all the things that I had to do to get to that moment, and I let Howard dismiss me. Not that he was being disrespectful in any way. He was being very gracious. I was telling myself that I gave up a minute too early. That my packet was going to end up in a trash can in Human Resources. Defeat.
And then…
You can get to the webcast here. They do ask you to fill out a form and I can assure you that they won’t use your information for evil or to spam your email account. I am at 2:35-2:37. http://investor.starbucks.com/phoenix.zhtml?p=irol-eventDetails&c=99518&eventID=4687629