Gil Reihana was the chief executive officer of X-Stream, a company he launched in Auckland, New Zealand, six years ago at the age of 25, after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in information technology and management. He had inherited $300,000 and had persuaded various family members to invest additional money. XStream assembled personal computers for the New Zealand and Australian markets and sold them through a number of chain stores and independent retailers. The company had soon established a reputation for quality hardware, customized products, excellent delivery times and after-sales service. Six months ago it had started a software division, specializing in webpage design and consulting on various applications for the development of electronic business. Gil was driven by a desire to succeed. He had started working part-time at an electronics retailer at age 16, and in his spare time took apart old computers in his garage to see how they were made. He was extraverted, energetic, and enthusiastic, often arriving at work before 5 a.m. and seldom leaving before 7 p.m. He felt that work should be challenging but fun, too.