Raising the Bar

I just finished a great read - Raising the Bar. I was drawn to this book while reading Small Giants, a book that showcases 14 companies that made the decision to focus on quality and remain independent.

Raising the Bar tells the story of Clif Bar & Company. from the perspective of one of the founders - Gary Erickson. In a nutshell, Gary got the idea for a good tasting, healthy bar during an epiphany at the end of a long bike ride. After months of development in his Mom's kitchen, the first Clif Bar was introduced by Gary and his partner. Tapping into natural demand for their products, the company grew quickly. After turning down $120M for the company, Gary bought out his partner and refocused the company on a foundation of five aspirations:

1. Sustain the brands
2. Sustain the company
3. Sustain the people
4. Sustain the community
5. Sustain the planet

This is a useful model, predicated on commitment, for creating a sense of shared understanding about the company, for setting goals, and for guiding decision making. At the end of each year, Clif Bar & Company reflects on performance against each of these aspirations.

I encourage you to read Raising the Bar for the details, and to understand why Clif Bar & Company chose to become what Gary metaphorically calls a white road company rather than a red road company.