Business for Punks: Break All the Rules--the BrewDog Way

As a business owner and punk from the foundation, this caught my eye.PROI love the brand, can't get it here in the US, yet.They have been wildly successful and often in high risk, balls out ways and there should be a lot to learn from high growth pioneers.A lot of solid advice that is readily applicable; I agree with a lot of it, not all.CONThe whole "At Brewdogs this is what we do/did and why we're so awesome/irreverent/unique/anti" gets old. NOTE TO JAMES: Punks communicate their point by helping the person see themselves in the storyYou really can overdo the analogies and catch phrases. NOTE TO JAMES: Punks alter their approach to speak to the various ways people listen thus furthering their master plan.Many times when explaining an idea James repeats it in a number of iterations as if he had written several ways to convey the message and just used them all. NTJ: Punks craft their message, distill it and push it for maximum effect.You don't need to hammer it home by saying hammer, hammered, hammerhead.....please....stop....no really. NTJ: Punks have more than a hammer in their toolbox and yes sometimes we use a wrench as a hammer to hammer things. See what I mean =:-oNOTE TO SELF: I have yet to write a book so there's that, and I did enjoy reading it and look forward to trying thier brew as soon as it is available.

As a craft beer fan, I’d heard and read some about BrewDog and James Watt, although here in California, I have yet to find their beer. Reading “Business for Punks” is a great way to get an education about the Scottish brewery that’s soon to open a big, shiny facility in Ohio. While Watt has a bit of a reputation for arrogance, I came away dazzled by his intelligence, writing and out-of-the-box thinking. He writes in a very entertaining style (so long as you don’t mind salty language and an in-your-face attitude). There’s no debating the tremendous financial success that Watt and partner Martin Dickie have had. Their Equity for Punks crowdfunding campaigns have brought thousands of investor/fans into the BrewDog fold.If you’re into craft beer culture or employed in it, if you’re a business person, you'll get a lot out of this book.

Great story. Inspiring, and the design and loyout of this book makes it an easy read. I know more about punk, than James Watt know about it though. But he knows more about beer than I do so its a one sided trade. At times his punk references seemed like he was only mildly familiar with punk. but it's okay. I got the points he was making.

I respect what The Brewdog guys achieved, but the book is boring, and basically contains a couple of advice kept repeating over and over without enough proper examples. You don’t need to buy the book, it’s enough to follow them on the net, which is a wise thing to do. (Probably this was their goal anyway.

Great book! I'm glad to see that I was righ about all the thing I've done on the way to starting a nano brewery of my own. A rich source of inspiration and ideas for all aspects of running a small business. Screw corporations whose only goal is profit! Do what you love and do it right from the start! Support others like you and nurture true values - love, friendship, honesty . Share postive energy and never give up on your dreams! Cheers from Republic of Srpska, Bosnia&Herzegovina.Highlander Craft Brewery #gorstak

Excellent business review!

Good book full of awesome stories and advice... advice to not follow according to the authors. But take it or leave it, you'll enjoy the book

It's been awhile since I read a "business" book I really loved. I say this with a caveat though.If you have a product already, something in mind, a revolution? this book will help you out greatly.You have a product, you know you need to hire people, etc.. This book will lay a lot of the basicsout for you and keep you on a great course of action.. now on the other hand?If you are like myself struggling to find yourself, and are just trying to survive..in this wonderfully big world.It's a great read, but I would say its like sleeping with a beautiful toned goddess your never going to see againcause you let her down. Because you just don't live up to her standards.But if all the above does not apply and you just want to read the perspective ofa great character..James watt.. check it out! Unless you already "Know it all" it will be avaluable read. I'm sure you will gleam a gem from it.

Hmm. How do I rate this book? Well I think that depends on which way I rate it.The first, most obviously, is the content. Actually, this is a pretty good primer on starting and running a business. Most of the advice is pretty standard, but there is an energy and drive which is lacking from most books of this nature. The advice that such energy and drive is essential for a successful business start-up is absolutely on the money. Also focus on things like cash rather than profits is great advice. I've been involved in 5 start-ups, none anything like as successful as BrewDog, and all would have been better with this advice.The second is the writing and the writing style. I think it's either a love it or hate it in terms of style. At first it irritated me intensely. Then I realised it was meant to irritate me as I am probably, in the authors eyes, one of the old farts in a suit who the book riles against. Once I had realised this, I started to enjoy it. The tone is part of the message - and it is a good message. But to be frank this worked for the first 100-150 pages. After that it just started to bore me and grate on my nerves.Finally, this book is not really just a book about business start-up - it's all part of the branding and marketing of BrewDog itself. Now you could argue any book by someone who runs a business is a bit of its marketing. That's probably true, but it is even more so with this book. It is just so much about the BrewDog brand. Buying this book is like buying a piece of advertising. And isn't BrewDog a very self-satisfied brand. Like any branding it is all about making you think BrewDog is something different and special, and influencing you to go out and buy their product. BrewDog really does sound different from many other businesses, but in the end it is obsessed with selling its product and growing. So it's not that different - and honestly not really that Punk.Four stars for the content. Three for the style, although you may like it more than that. Two stars for the blatant use of the book as an advert for BrewDog. Averages out at 3 stars.On the other hand 5 stars from a business perspective on a brillant piece of branding - but that's not really rating the book!

Very interesting insight full of useful headlines and the need to watch the money and live the brand Considering I run the Arran brewery and have a couple of books myself It reminded me of what I should be doing and painfully of mistakes I have made by not doing. A must read for all hopeful craft brewers

If you’ve reached a decision to start your own business and are in the early stages of trying navigate the vast swathes of new information and knowledge that will be essential to its success (or failure) then you can’t go wrong by reading about the exploits of the Brew Dog boys. The greatest thing you will take from this and what hopefully stays with you on your journey is the universal sense of determination in the face of almost constant doubt that that affects all entrepreneurs.

Oh the irony...follow your gut, don’t listen to advice. But here’s what you need to do to be successful.If you enjoy an authoritarian tone, this book is for you. If however you’re planning a true ‘punk’, rebellion, do-it-your-own way approach to business this condescending book may not be for you.

Excellent book, really good alternative to the numerous run of the mill "business books" out & about. The Author demonstrates that you can kick all the traditional (mostly boring) business strategies out of the window, thus creating success (your way) whilst having fun along the way.... I'm coming away from book better armed for future than before! Which is what we're ultimately looking for with a publication like this. Oh... And thinking James is a bit of legend.