When Ray Davis took over the regional South Umpqua Bank (and its five branches) in 1994, many poked fun at his insistence that employees answer the phone with a cheery "World's Greatest Bank." Eleven years, $7 billion in assets, and more than 120 bank stores later, many now accept that statement without question. Other banks scoffed when Davis sent his tellers to the Ritz-Carlton to learn customer service. But with two top design awards, a name change, and a completely new definition of the banking business, Umpqua has become a growth powerhouse, increasing 30 times in size.

This book tells how any business can use the same leadership discipline and creative thinking that made Umpqua Bank get bigger, better, more agile, and more customer focused, and turned it into a relentless competitor. This book shows how to truly lead—as opposed to manage, plan, or strategize—through extreme growth. Ray Davis’s insights will help you

* Discover what business you are really in and create your competitive advantage
* Build an organization with committed employees
* Connect marketing strategy and execution on the ground
* Create learning opportunities for all managers and staff
* Fight the syndrome that often pulls people back into old routines
* Rise above the day-to-day conflicts to achieve a strategic perspective on your company and where it is going
* Manage mergers and acquisitions in ways that support rather than dilute your culture

This book is written for any leader who wants to create a competitive atmosphere for exceptional growth.