Summary

Beans is the story of The El Espresso, a legend in its own time inSeattle and a coffee company that has prospered by intentionallystaying small, inspiring fanatical customer loyalty in the process.Told over the span of a single day, it follows The El's founder,Jack Hartman, through a business crisis that will challenge him andmake him clear on why he does what he does. Unsure of whether hehas lost the passion needed to sustain his business, Jack hires aconsultant who flies to Seattle to "help" him but in reality bearswitness to the secrets of good business, whether it's a company of20 employees or 20,000. In the process, Jack learns about "the FourPs" and how applying these universal principles can reenergize hisemployees, his customers, and even himself.

Though fictionalized, this is a true story in the best sense ofthe word. It arrives at a time when people are yearning to returnto honest ways of doing business?before corporate dominance,inflated executive salaries, accounting trickery, and outrightgreed became so much a part of our everyday business headlines. Itis the story of how a pushcart David up against the corporateGoliaths succeeded by focusing on what is core to good business anda good life: honoring customers, trusting employees, buildingpassion around a product, and turning an honest profit.