Raising the Bar (ePub)

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.