“Keep following your heart even when others scoff” – Howard Schultz

Do you know Howard Schultz?  Odds are, in the past week, you have probably purchased a beverage from one of his 6,800 shops.  Have you seen what he’s been doing lately?

In lieu of the teetering economic crisis, Schultz decided that instead of being a bystander, he is going to try and make a difference in the world and encourage others to do the same.

“We can’t wait for Washington,” he said. “Business leaders are going to have to galvanize their own constituencies and do everything they can to demonstrate confidence in the economy, and I think that can be contagious.”

Schultz is pushing fellow business owners and other ‘fellow concerned Americans’ to halt all campaign contributions until Congress can reach a bi-partisan agreement on the budget deficit plan.  He is encouraging others and himself to create additional jobs in the economy.  For his own company, he plans to remodel 1,700 Starbucks stores in the next year, and try to open up 200 new stores.  He is partnering with Opportunity Finance Network to launch a Create Jobs for the USA campaign that is collecting money from Starbucks customers and other givers in support of community business lending.

In the world of business, it is often difficult to find truly selfless acts.  Even in this situation, I am hard-pressed to believe that Starbucks isn’t somehow benefiting from the positive publicity.  However, looking at it from a ‘glass is full’ perspective, Schultz didn’t have to go out of his way and influence change in the world.  He didn’t have to raise his voice, he didn’t have to form these partnerships, he didn’t have to encourage his customers to give a little extra to help transform the economy.  But… he followed his heart anyway.

Do you think that others are scoffing?  Can you hear them… can one man really change the face of politics?  Is Schultz over-stepping his boundaries?  Can Starbucks really make a difference?

If Schultz’s heart feels right, do you think he even cares about the critics?  Keep following your heart.  When all else fails, keep following your heart.  It is what makes all the difference.

*For the month of October, I’m participating in a 31 Days series with eight other bloggers and numerous other writers.  I will be writing about 31 Days of Strength — the strength that comes from a variety of different sources including our heart, soul, mind, the words that we speak, the control over our thoughts & actions and the gifts that we provide to others. To see the entire series, please view my 31 Days page.