G.O.A.T. Wisdom - How to Build a Truly Great Business--From the Founders of Beekman 1802

Twelve timeless principles for building a business, from the founders of Beekman 1802.
Have you ever wanted to create a business that's not only good but great? Have you ever felt as though you're destined to do something bigger and more significant with your life? If so, you should know that you don't need millions in funding, a marketing department, or influencer status.
If you have an idea, the determination to bring it to life, a deep and abiding belief in your product, and a devotion to your customers, you already have the humble starting point behind one of the world's fastest-growing and most beloved brands: Beekman 1802.
Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell launched Beekman 1802 in one of New York State's poorest counties with no funding, and in the middle of a punishing recession. They didn't have much of a business plan. But they did have some timeless wisdom that Brent's and Josh's parents and grandparents had taught them-the "greatest of all time" principles for good living that can also be used as a foundation for any business.
In this book, for the first time, Ridge and Kilmer-Purcell present the twelve principles that made the biggest difference in their entrepreneurial journey, and show how these principles are relevant for anyone ready to defy the odds and grow a brand that matters.
Whether you're launching your own venture, growing a side hustle, or looking to make a bigger impact on your company, G.O.A.T. Wisdom will give you the tools, the confidence, and the inspiration to build something meaningful and lasting that your customers will value and feel they can't do without.

About the author

Brent Ridge, MD, cofounded Beekman 1802 in 2008 and has worked alongside Josh Kilmer-Purcell to lead the company ever since. Prior to his entrepreneurial career, Ridge was Vice President of Healthy Living at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. He also built a distinguished medical career as a specialist in geriatric medicine, completing a fellowship at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and joining the faculty there as an assistant professor. He founded the Martha Stewart Center for Living at the Mount Sinai Hospital, one of the world's leading geriatric centers.
Josh Kilmer-Purcell cofounded Beekman 1802 in 2008 with Brent Ridge and has helped lead the company ever since. He is also a New York Times bestselling author, with three memoirs to his credit: I Am Not Myself These Days, Candy Everybody Wants, and The Bucolic Plague. Prior to founding Beekman 1802, Josh was an award-winning creative director at several top New York City advertising agencies, serving clients including Delta Air Lines, Absolut Vodka, Target, Nestlé, and Unilever.

Summary

How the founders of Beekman 1802 turned a dream into a multimillion-dollar business—and how you can, too.
After growing up in rural, middle-class families in North Carolina and Wisconsin and moving to New York to scale the heights of the corporate ladders in advertising, healthcare, and media, Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell returned to their roots and launched Beekman 1802 in one of New York State's poorest counties, with no funding in the middle of a punishing recession. They didn't have much of a business plan. But they did know a few things: they wanted to build a truly good company. They wanted to sell high-quality beauty and skincare products made from goat's milk that would enrich their customers' lives. They wanted to make the world a better place by spreading kindness. And they wanted to build a business that would last.
Beekman 1802 is recognized as one of America's most esteemed beauty and lifestyle brands. But it wasn't built on current management fads; it was built on timeless proverbs that Brent's and Josh's parents and grandparents had taught them—the "greatest of all time" principles for good living that also can be applied to any business.
For the first time, the authors present the twelve principles that made the greatest difference in the growth of Beekman 1802 and show how they are relevant for anyone seeking to run an enduring business of their own or harness the entrepreneurial spirit to rise within a big corporation.
Packed with anecdotes from Brent's and Josh's own experiences, insights from other successful entrepreneurs, compelling social science research, and a lot of practical advice, GOAT Wisdom is more than a business guide—it's a source of inspiration.
Part All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten and part Chicken Soup for the Soul, everyone from dreamers and humble hustlers to entrepreneurs and corporate intrapreneurs will find this wisdom to be insightful and refreshing.

Report

"vulnerable and informative" "Readers...will find plenty of solid tips." - Publisher's Weekly
Advance Praise for G.O.A.T. Wisdom:
"G.O.A.T. Wisdom is a glorious and profound book that will make you think deeply, feel more, and take meaningful action. With soul-stirring stories and zingy insights, this isn't just a book you read, it's one you experience, share, and return to again and again." - Sally Hogshead, New York Times bestselling author, Fascinate: How to Make Your Brand Impossible to Resist
"Very few brands have the depth of commitment and humanity that Beekman 1802 has-and that's how you build brand loyalty and inspire brand advocacy." - Kory Marchisotto, Chief Marketing Officer, e.l.f. Beauty; President, Keys Soulcare
"In G.O.A.T. Wisdom, Ridge and Kilmer-Purcell share the twelve guiding principles that helped them turn a small goat farm into a phenomenally successful business. Rooted in kindness, authenticity, and community, the lessons show that success comes from hard work and staying true to the values that matter." - Dave Kimbell, former CEO, Ulta Beauty
"Knowing who you are is more important than what you do. Beekman 1802 uses this ethos as a blueprint for everything else. Building a brand this way encourages trust and advocacy from the community that lasts beyond any product drop or trend while fostering a positive environment for its workforce and business partners." - Tarang Amin, Chairman and CEO, e.l.f. Beauty
"G.O.A.T. Wisdom may be the most practical, most commonsense business book you'll ever read. You'll be both entertained and enlightened, picking up strategies that fueled Beekman 1802's success and learning how to avoid the mistakes its two founders made along the way. Highly recommended!" - Pamela N. Danziger, founder, Unity Marketing; author, Meet the Henrys: The Millennials That Matter Most for Luxury Brands; and coauthor, The Corporateneur Plan

Product details

• Authors: Josh Kilmer-Purcell, Kilmer-Purcell Josh, Brent Ridge
• Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 01.07.2025
• EAN: 9781647829773
• ISBN: 978-1-64782-977-3
• No. of pages: 288
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Business > General, dictionaries; HEALTH & FITNESS / Beauty & Grooming, Biography: business & industry, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Entrepreneurship, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Industries / Retailing, Biography: business and industry, Cosmetics, Hair & Beauty, Retail & wholesale industries, Entrepreneurship / Start-ups