Review
"What makes this book [Raising the Bar] worth reading is that he's [Gary Erickson] as honest about his mistakes as his successes." (Newsweek, October 4, 2004)
Review
"What makes this book [Raising the Bar] worth reading is that he's [Gary Erickson] as honest about his mistakes as his successes." (Newsweek, October 4, 2004)
Review
“Gary Erickson realizes that businesses have tremendous power to harm or protect the natural world, our common home. I applaud the efforts of Gary and Clif Bar to develop business practices that promote an ethic of global responsibility.”
--Mikhail S. Gorbachev, chairman, Green Cross International
“Gary Erickson believes that doing good and doing business should go hand in hand. Raising the Bar tells the inspiring story of a scrappy company’s battle to stay privately owned and to better its people, the community, and the planet in the process.”
--Ben Cohen, cofounder, Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, and president, TrueMajority.org
“This is a beautiful book about courage, commitment, integrity, and vision. It is also a story that reminds us that one person does make a difference by leading the way through the inspiration of the heart.”
--Julia Butterfly Hill, author, The Legacy of Luna
“Gary Erickson’s story is sheer inspiration. Reading it makes you want to ride a bike up a high mountain, dust off your musical instrument and join a jazz band, or launch an outrageous company. This is a life manual masquerading as a business book.”
--David Batstone, author, Saving the Corporate Soul
“In Raising the Bar, Gary Erickson’s incredible journey raises our expectations of corporate America and most importantly our hope for a better world.”
--Jeanne Rizzo, R.N., executive director, The Breast Cancer Fund
“My son Gary’s awesome true Clif Bar story, as told in this book, brings tears to my eyes, sends chills up my spine, and gives joy to my heart.”
--Clifford Erickson
“I can relate to a guy who’s faced a few challenges on a bike. Reading about Gary’s adventures in the mountains, on his bike, and with Clif Bar inspires me. Gary understands the meaning of adventure in life and business.”
--Tyler Hamilton, professional cyclist
“Whether I’ve been climbing or just visiting with Gary, he motivates me to consider what’s possible. He has a powerful dreaming mind and a kind of vision to make our world a better place. It’s awesome to see Gary and the people at Clif Bar turn their business into a way of life.”
--Ron Kauk, climber
Book Description
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.
From the Inside Flap
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, having 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 customers and a company hailed by Inc. magazine as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States four years in a row. The book is filled with compelling stories from Erickson’s life–trekking in the Himalaya Mountains, riding his bicycle over roadless European mountain passes, climbing in the Sierra Nevada–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, or adventure lover, or intrigued by a unique corporate culture, or just interested in a good story, Raising the Bar is for you.
From the Back Cover
The Fascinating Story of Clif Bar’s Maverick Founder, Gary Erickson "Best Mom & Pop business in America" –Reader's Digest America's 100 Best "Gary Erickson realizes that businesses have tremendous power to harm or protect the natural world, our common home. I applaud the efforts of Gary and Clif Bar to develop business practices that promote an ethic of global responsibility." –Mikhail S. Gorbachev, chairman, Green Cross International "Gary Erickson believes that doing good and doing business should go hand in hand. Raising the Bar tells the inspiring story of a scrappy company’s battle to stay privately owned and to better its people, the community, and the planet in the process." –Ben Cohen, cofounder, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, and president, TrueMajority.org "This is a beautiful book about courage, commitment, integrity, and vision. It is also a story that reminds us that one person does make a difference by leading the way through the inspiration of the heart." –Julia Butterfly Hill, author, The Legacy of Luna "Gary Erickson’s story is sheer inspiration. Reading it makes you want to ride a bike up a high mountain, dust off your musical instrument and join a jazz band, or launch an outrageous company. This is a life manual masquerading as a business book." –David Batstone, author, Saving the Corporate Soul "In Raising the Bar, Gary Erickson’s incredible journey raises our expectations of corporate America and most importantly our hope for a better world." –Jeanne Rizzo, R.N., executive director, The Breast Cancer Fund
About the Author
Gary Erickson–businessman, consummate outdoor enthusiast, and environmentalist–is founder of Clif Bar Inc. Erickson has been featured in People, Health, Fortune Small Business, Reader’s Digest, and many other magazines as well as newspapers and television.
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.
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