Hopeful Eavesdropping

1. Barista Schmarista

I went to SBUX yesterday afternoon for some caffeine and some inspiration, as I am wont to do. It was crowded so I was forced to sit next to a group of people talking. "Sigh", I sighed.'

Well, it ends up that that group was a Starbuck employee meeting. Little eavesdropping skill was required as they were pretty loud. I was kind of irritated at the noise, and they seemed a shrill, ninnified group of 20-something with their reality shows and jeejahs. But then something happened.

The slightly older guy was obviously the manager, and he started moving the meeting to the business of schilling coffee at the Bolingbrook Promenade. I heard snippets about the schedule and clean-up and "just say yes" to customers and blah blah blah. This is important. That is important. Our store and such.

The reaction for the 20-something ninny squad to this managerial preaching?

Rapt attention. Passion.
They debated the tattoo policy at the store. They gave feedback on the new frappa-whatever. I couldn't understand a lot of what they were (loudly) dicsussing because I'm not fluent in Starbuck-ese, but whatever it was, they were all engaged, deeply connected to the store and committed to doing a good job.

The reaction to this reaction by the manager?
Rapt attention. Passion.
He was taking down notes from the conversation with his flock.

It was a wonderful thing to see such passion in the workplace.
It was some hopeful eavesdropping.

QOTD

"I don't like any of the drinks that have been pre-sweetened, in terms of frappuccino and things like that. Those are fabulous beverages, but I'm a purist when it comes to coffee."
- Sbux CEO, on Sbux drinks that he doesn't like, yahoo interview

2. Gas Buddy

On average, gas prices are up about a buck over the past year. Gas Buddy is a nice, simple site to follow this:

 www.gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx

Let's see... 12,000 miles a year, getting 24 mpg... that's 500 gallons of gas a year. So, that buck a gallon costs $500 a year. Of course, you might be hit by another $500 buying products and services that are impacted by gas prices rising as well.

3. Visualization

Nice visualization, from the boys at Bespoke.

Source: bespoke post

See the 1987 crash? He he.
buy high, sell higher... yow, bill

PS - Go Hawk!