GOAT Wisdom

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 great 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, G.O.A.T. 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.