A Letter to Our Youngest Daughter - The Value of a Cup of Coffee, The Sequel
A few years ago, I published a letter I had sent to our youngest daughter about the value of a cup of coffee. (In case you missed it, here it is, A Letter to Our Youngest Daughter ). It was a playful, yet important lesson in opportunity cost, financial responsibility, and the magic of compounding interest.
At the time, I was convinced her daily coffee habit could be the difference between financial security and missed opportunities. What I didn’t anticipate was how she would take that lesson and apply it in ways far beyond what I had imagined.
It is time for another letter. This one tells her all the lessons I learned observing her journey.
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Dear Michelle,
Today, I find myself writing you a second letter about the lessons we can learn about the value of a cup of coffee. This letter is different than the one I sent you as a middle teen. It’s not about teaching you another financial lesson, but to recognize how you have turned a simple cup of coffee into a masterclass in business, leadership, and responsibility.
When you took a job as a barista at a fast-growing coffee chain, I thought it would be a great experience — a job that would teach you the value of hard work, customer service, and maybe even reinforce a few of those financial principles we talked about. But in just a few short years, you didn’t just work at the coffee shop; you climbed the ranks. From barista to assistant manager, to store manager, and now overseeing multiple locations—you’ve taken on more than I would have expected in the few short years you have worked there. You’re not just serving coffee; you’re running a business.
You’ve learned to hire and train employees, ensuring they have the skills and confidence to serve customers with the same dedication and attention to detail that made you a great barista. You’ve managed procurement, keeping your stores stocked with the necessary supplies while balancing the costs to maintain profitability. Your dedication to service has made your stores top performers, proving that customer satisfaction is a main driver of the bottom line.
As a facility manager, you’ve assured the stores you oversee are not just clean and welcoming, but that they operate efficiently, with equipment and machinery in good working order. You’ve taken on the responsibility of maintaining strong fiscal controls. You’ve also mastered the art of interpreting reports, using them not just as a record of what has happened, but as a tool to make informed decisions about what should happen next.
Remember that opportunity cost lesson? You’ve turned it into a daily practice. When you analyze store performance, decide on staffing levels, or negotiate with suppliers, you’re evaluating trade-offs and making choices that optimize resources. You’re not just thinking about the cost of a single cup of coffee anymore, you’re thinking about inventory management, labor efficiency, and customer retention.
A nice benefit for your effort? Your hard work and leadership have been recognized. As a leading store manager, you were invited to an annual planning meeting with senior management, an opportunity that few at your level receive. You’ve not only proven your ability to manage multiple stores, but you’ve demonstrated leadership and strategic thinking that go beyond daily operations. You’ve become a businesswoman in your own right, and I couldn’t be prouder.
So, what’s the next lesson? The truth is, you’re already teaching me. You’ve shown that care for people, hard work, curiosity, and a willingness to take on responsibility are the real drivers of success. You’ve taken the lessons of a simple financial concept and turned them into a foundation for leadership. You’ve learned that opportunity cost isn’t just about saving money—it’s about investing time, energy, and effort into the right opportunities.
A few years ago, I was worried about how much a cup of coffee could cost you. Today, I see that a cup of coffee has given you direction, a purpose, and a deep understanding of what it takes to run a business. Skills and characteristics that will take you wherever you want to go.
The value of a cup of coffee? For you, it’s been priceless.
Love, Dad.
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