As luck would have it, I had a cup of coffee this morning with a friend at what is probably the advertising industry's most famous Starbucks—the one where ex-JWT executive Michael Gates Gill found employment, and a book and movie deals for writing How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else. Sadly, there was scant evidence of Mr. Gill amid the tall lattes, save for a poster on the wall about how Starbucks is hiring that contained a picture of him. I realize now I should have endeavored to find out if he still pours the occasional cappuccino there. Also of note, is that while Starbucks did have at least one book for sale, there was no evidence that his tome is currently on the Starbucks' bestseller list. Not a copy to be found.Friday, March 14, 2008
No Michael Gates Gill found at Starbucks
As luck would have it, I had a cup of coffee this morning with a friend at what is probably the advertising industry's most famous Starbucks—the one where ex-JWT executive Michael Gates Gill found employment, and a book and movie deals for writing How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else. Sadly, there was scant evidence of Mr. Gill amid the tall lattes, save for a poster on the wall about how Starbucks is hiring that contained a picture of him. I realize now I should have endeavored to find out if he still pours the occasional cappuccino there. Also of note, is that while Starbucks did have at least one book for sale, there was no evidence that his tome is currently on the Starbucks' bestseller list. Not a copy to be found.
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13 comments:
Starbucks saved his life by providing a platform that allowed him to get the fuck out of Starbucks.
Or maybe he found a better gig at Dunkin’ Donuts.
I just finished reading this book, and he does not work in the Starbucks that he was first employed in. He works in a different Starbucks, closer to his home in Bronxville. Or, at least he did when the book was published last year in 2007.
actually, I should have worded this post a little differently, since he first found employment at one in the city. I actually was having coffee that morning at the one in Bronxville, but no Michael Gates Gill to be had.
Michael Gates Gill is still at Starbucks and he offered Dr. Young and I a cup of coffee. Check out our pics on our myspace page he is as nice as we thought he would be. www.myspace.com/youngfacessmiling
Just saw a CNBC interview with Michael Gates. What a pantload!
Child of privilege is right.
Tell a young family that runs out of money on Wednesday and has to wait until payday on Friday to buy groceries that they should lower their overhead. If you live in a 25-room mansion, like Gates once did, it's easy to reduce your overhead. My father worked in a sweatshop, when he wasn't on layoff. We ate plenty of spaghetti for dinner. Then I got to college on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and discovered that all those "Children of Privilege" who all grew up without a care envied those of us who had nothing.
Let them try it for a day or two.
I'm gonna start writing a book today entitled...
"How Having Plenty of Money Saved My Life."
Decades ago Mike introduced everyone he could to the Chemex drip-coffee method--you never know!
What an interesting book! Very powerful. I will be choosing this book for our book club to read - it is sure to bring about great discussion - very thought provoking.
Theresa Olsn
Wow, a powerful book with a powerful message. This will be a thought provoking discussion in our book club.
TheresaO
I am a fifty-one year old black woman. Even though manuscripts are edited to sell and to be appealing, I trusted the gist of Gill's memoir. He had an experience that was obviously worthy of a book; why shouldn't he make money off of it. I read a review by Genzlinger of the New York Times that was not favorable, which seemed to imply patronization of black people. I did not feel that way. But whether Gill's is completely legit or not, who cares. It was a good story, perhaps understood better by older people. You get out of life what you put into it, and Gills did just that.
He was there as of winter 2009:
http://us.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/02/05/starbucks.saved.my.life/index.html
Michael hired me to write copy at JWT. I knew him well in his days at the top and am not surprised to see his renaissance as a motivational figure. He is clever, inspiring and extremely inventive. Soon, once again, he'll have millions in the bank, but this time the money will be his, not his father's, mother's or wife's. Rock on, Michael!
I just finished the book! I went back and bought 7 more copies for my older friends (64yrs) and up ! We need some good workers,writers,and motivational speakers like you out there! THANKS MIKE ! YOU REALLY INSPIRED ME A LOT ! I CANT WAIT TO SEE THE MOVIE with TOM HANKS ! I love STARBUCKS--! I GO THERE EVERY OTHER FRIDAY(payday)! Maybe I'll fly to NYC & SEE YOU THERE! Maryellen
The book is great. But the message is for the unhappy career chasing person who has traded family and happiness for success. Anyone who thinks that he is a "pantload" must not be in the target audience and thus will not understand the message. The message is simple: Do what you love and what you love might surprise you. Things will not make you happy.
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