Too often businesses, large and small, have structured themselves to be goal-oriented. Milestones, statistics and the bottom line are pursued like quarry-pelts to be displayed on the belts of CEOs. Business leaders cannot be faulted for such approaches because, for the most part, we all are products of a post-twentieth century Western (American) culture that sees society in terms of winners and losers. Worth is too often ascribed to birth order, gender, race, region, class and any other characteristics that can be assigned a category. This book is an amalgamation of every lesson and every distinction I have learned and have applied to my intension as a CEO. I recognize that each employee, vendor and customer have embarked on their own journeys and our collective steps become the journey of Bama Companies, Inc. Leaders are manifested many ways, CEO, president, Vice-president, manager, coach, parent, teacher or even shepherd. The ability to provide vision, motivation and support the diverse members of their culture is what determines if a person is in actuality a leader. A leader provides opportunities for participants to excel through encouragement, rather than discouragement in a culture that values more than just financial gains. At Bama we know that heart, energy and spirit need to be nurtured. We strive to fulfill the psychological, social, professional and inspirational needs of our people. Book jacket.