I’m sitting here at Starbucks waiting for my Caramel Ribbon frappucino. First I stood in a line at around 20 people and then the wait. Amazing so many people will stand in such a long line and wait around for a coffee based drink. It also costs around $6 but it is the “venti” but really it’s only ice,espresso, milk, and some whipping cream and syrup. So how does a start up coffee company, which started with one small store in Seattle expand around the world with its whole premise being charging ridiculous prices for coffee and making you wait in long lines for it. It’s amazing that it’s done so well.
The education system needs to learn a few things from company’s like Starbucks. Is education really not selling a product to students. We want them to buy into a system, follow the rules, willingly accept the process, and have the buy-in to return over and over for years after their first visit to the institution/company. So how does Starbucks successfully do this when the education system has failed miserably to get their “customers” to become compliant followers to the system created?
Let’s look at this from another view:
1. Most people have a coffee machine/ blender at home so they can make coffee products at home.
2. Most people can purchase whipping cream, syrups, flavored crumble, ice, etc at their local grocery stores.
3. All these products can be purchased and it would cost a fraction of the cost of repeated visits to Starbucks.
4. Don’t forget – most people have their own cups at the homes.
5. Most people have chairs and could play music to create the same ambience that Starbucks provides.

Hhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Okay so the majority of people could have the time, the knowledge, and the equipment to make Starbucks drinks quite easily. But millions of people descend on the stores daily to purchase easy-to-make coffee drinks for insane prices. And this cycle continues on a daily basis and has continued for years.

So how can the education system change so students willingly come to school, are willing to pay to attend, and accept the system in place without question. You have to remember that most people could acquire the same knowledge at the public library, in a shorter time period than the usual 13 years of education, and without all the time restraints and constrictions placed on them throughout the years. This will not be easy…

Check back in for the next post for more on this intriguing topic.