Raising the Bar : Integrity and Passion in Life and Business - The Story of Clif Bar and Co

by Erickson, Gary; Lorentzen, Lois

• ISBN13: 9780787973650
• ISBN10: 0787973653
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-08-20
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

In April of 2000, Gary Erickson turned down a $120 million offer to buy his thriving company. Today, instead of taking it easy for the rest of his life and enjoying a luxurious retirement, he's working harder than ever. Why would any sane person pass up the financial opportunity of a lifetime?Raising the Bar tells the amazing story of Clif Bar's Gary Erickson and shows that some things are more important than money. Gary Erickson and coauthor Lois Lorentzen tell the unusual and inspiring story about following your passion, the freedom to create, sustaining a business over the long haul, and living responsibly in your community and on the earth. Raising the Bar chronicles Clif Bar's ascent from a homemade energy bar to a $100 million phenomenon with an estimated 35 million consumers, and a company hailed by Inc. magazine as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. four years in a row. The book is filled with compelling personal stories from Erickson's life-trekking in the Himalayan mountains, riding his bicycle over roadless European mountain passes, climbing in the Sierra Nevada range--as inspiration for his philosophy of business. Throughout the book, Erickson--a competitive cyclist, jazz musician, world traveler, mountain climber, wilderness guide, and entrepreneur--convinces us that sustaining one's employees, community, and environment is good business.If you are a manager, executive, business owner, or board member, Raising the Bar is your personal guide to corporate integrity. If you are a sports enthusiast, environmentalist, adventure lover, intrigued by a unique corporate culture, or just interested in a good story, Raising the Bar is for you.

Author Biography

Gary Erickson&#8211;businessman, consummate outdoor enthusiast, and environmentalist&#8211;is founder of Clif Bar Inc. Erickson has been featured in People, Health, Fortune Small Business, Reader&#8217;s Digest, and many other magazines as well as newspapers and television. <p> Lois Lorentzen is professor of social ethics at the University of San Francisco. She is the author or editor of seven books and holds national offices with both academic and nonprofit organizations.

Table of Contents

1. Send Them Home

(Or, Why Walk Away From $60 Million?)

2. The Epiphany Ride

(The Early Years of Clif Bar).

3. A Drifting Boat

(Getting Clif Back on Course).

4. White Road/Red Road

(A Philosophy For Life and Business).

5. Tales From the Road

(Nine Lessons and a Love Story).

6. Solo Climbing

(Maintaining Control For the Long Haul).

7. Sustaining Our Living Company

(Five Aspirations Business Model).

8. Moments of Magic

(The Jazz of Business).

Appendix.

Resources.

Acknowledgments.

Index.

About the Authors.