Starbucks, Addiction, & Volunteering

Business thought leaders say that Starbucks is not about the coffee, they say it’s about the experience.

Well, they are partially right: Starbucks is not about the coffee, it’s about the sweet sugar of caramel blended with ice on a 100+ degree day in the Northern California Central Valley. Starbucks has the unique ability to mix the correct ingredients, served at the right time (which is a Frappuccino on a hot summer day), to the right people.

A lady I know very well has become addicted to Starbucks (as I have been in the past). She is an 84 year old lady who had never experienced the tasty sweet Carmel Frappuccinos that Starbucks makes so well. It’s been about two weeks since she experienced the drink, which she talks about them everyday, and purchases herself a drink about three days a week.

One day while she was talking about Starbucks, I asked myself the question,

“How could I as a nonprofit leader create such an outstanding experience for my volunteers that they will become addicted to volunteering with me and tell other people about it?”

Is such a thing possible? I think yes!

I believe that it’s a matter of mixing the right ingredients, served at the right time, to the right person. This lady’s Frapaccino was mixed with excellent ingredients, that was served to her on a hot summer day, to a lady who enjoys the taste of caramel and coffee.

As a nonprofit leader you need give your volunteer the correct volunteer opportunity, at a time of the day and week that he is available to volunteer, offered to a person who has a sincere heart to serve and help people.

In other words, serve up an outstanding volunteer experience, and people will keep coming back for more!