Creating a Culture with Coffee
I was visiting my daughter in a large coastal city. She took me to this cool coffee roastery where we experienced the making of coffee and tasted different coffees from around the world. Excellence was evidenced from the time we entered the building until we left. There was nothing left to chance. The atmosphere, the logistics, the team, and the product all were focused on one thing: providing an experience that was above par for those who love coffee. That’s where Kevin comes into the picture. He was our barista, and like everything else, his service and knowledge were incredible. As I observed how he made serving coffee look and feel like an art form, I had to ask him how he came to work at this top-of-the-line coffee establishment.
As he created his masterpiece of aroma and taste, he shared a bit of his story. He said, "I visited this city a few years ago and was introduced to this place. I knew then that this is what I wanted to do. I developed a plan to study everything I needed to know to become a barista that met the high standards of this establishment. For one year I worked in other coffee shops while I honed my skills to become employed here. I studied every aspect of this place until I was ready for my interview. Seven months ago I was hired. The rest is history. I'm doing what I love and looking forward to growing with this organization."
Creating a culture of excellence attracts team members of excellence. Kevin is an example of a bright young millennial who knew what he wanted and was willing to work hard to achieve his goal. It’s a great reminder that focus and hard work are still the secret ingredients to success. Choose to invest the effort to create a culture of excellence in your life both personally and professionally and you will make a difference!
