Bata

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"Bata - shoemaker to the world" is the story of the man, his family and their business. Eloquently told and rich in anecdotes, it traces the road from the Bata family's humble beginnings in a Moravian village to Tom's undisputed claim to the title of shoemaker to the world. His entrepreneurial upbringing, his fight for control of the family enterprise, his unique partnership with his wife and the way he went about implementing his business philosophy add up to one of the great success stories of the twentieth century. "I am by nature a gregarious guy. I love being with people from all walks of life, and though I was parents' only child, I was seldom alone. All my life I have been surrounded by friends, fellow workers, colleagues, customers and members of my family. [...] Almost every time I say "I", I should by rights be saying "we"... " Thomas J. Bata.