And the Robert F. Kennedy quote that inspires him.

When you have the opportunity to ask some of the most interesting people in the world about their lives, sometimes the most fascinating answers come from the simplest questions. The Thrive Questionnaire is an ongoing series that gives an intimate look inside the lives of some of the world’s most successful people.

Thrive Global: What’s the first thing you do when you get out of bed?
Howard Schultz: Enjoy a spectacular cup of aged Sumatra coffee that I brew at home in a French press.

TG: What gives you energy?
HS: Hearing from Starbucks partners, [our employees], and customers. In the hundreds of emails I receive each week, people open their hearts and share personal stories. The courage, dedication, gratitude, and generosity I read about is incredibly emotional, a slice of humanity that never ceases to inspire me.

TG: Share a quote that gives you strength when times are tough?
HS: “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” —Robert F. Kennedy

Originally published at medium.com