Sure the numbers are important, but it is the people that get you there! Largely because of Wall Street's (and some CEO's) continuing emphasis on quarterly profits, many business leaders are distracted in the most effective ways to build their companies. To truly produce a great company, and solid long term profits, leaders must accept the fact that the People are Everything. Proper attention to the handling of the people, and how to energize them, will have a greater effect than over-applied attention to anything else, including the product, the finances, the facilities, or marketing. After all it is the people who do all the work, and the people are the ones that make everything happen. Carefully applying the eight ideas in this book can begin a change for the better that will astonish everyone. The author, Lawrence Haines, began his career as a fresh-out-of-university mechanical engineer in a large world-wide manufacturing company making computer operated control valves, the high-tech end of the valve business. He and his partner worked their way up in that company until they were running the operations worldwide. With exciting new ideas to improve their field, they left to begin their own company, Valtek Incorporated. They built a successful international operation in the same high-tech control field. Those who witnessed the new company's growth were astonished that it was possible to enter a market that already had several large and dominating competitors. The company quickly threatened existing competitors. Haines designed the leadership that placed Valtek in the international marketing arena within a few short years. The firm was given "company of the year" awards by national investment groups. The staff responded enthusiastically to both the atmosphere and growth of their organization, and particularly to its team-like qualities. Haines has logged extensive international expertise in organizing business people in many countries. His experience with many businesses and particularly with the needs of the people in those businesses, provides a refreshing look at what it takes to build a people-energized, profitable business.