Comments on: Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman http://tapasfera.com/2009/12/let-my-people-go-surfing-the-education-of-a-reluctant-businessman/ Mon, 07 May 2012 17:35:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jim Estill http://tapasfera.com/2009/12/let-my-people-go-surfing-the-education-of-a-reluctant-businessman/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Jim Estill Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:30:33 +0000 http://tapasfera.com/2009/12/let-my-people-go-surfing-the-education-of-a-reluctant-businessman/#comment-17 From my Blog: <br /> <br />I read an interesting book called, "Let my people go surfing - the education of a reluctant businessman" by Yvon Chouinard who is the founder and owner of Patagonia. The surfing in the book refers to real surfing (in waves) unlike the surfing that most of readers coming to this blog are doing. The book is an interesting and farily easy read. Because his original start was a love of outdoor adventure and what they primarily sell is outdoor wear, his employees and his culture centre around the outdoors and the cool factor around outdoor adventuring. <br /> <br />He has created a perception that Patagonia is a "good for the world" company and much of the book centres around the good works that Patagonia does. <br /> <br />I am always inspired to read success and trials and tribulations of other business people and that is why I enjoyed the book. <br /> <br />This all ties back to my thoughts on branding. Patagonia has created a brand. The book is even part of it. The brand is the culture. Interesting. Rating: 4 / 5 From my Blog:

I read an interesting book called, “Let my people go surfing – the education of a reluctant businessman” by Yvon Chouinard who is the founder and owner of Patagonia. The surfing in the book refers to real surfing (in waves) unlike the surfing that most of readers coming to this blog are doing. The book is an interesting and farily easy read. Because his original start was a love of outdoor adventure and what they primarily sell is outdoor wear, his employees and his culture centre around the outdoors and the cool factor around outdoor adventuring.

He has created a perception that Patagonia is a “good for the world” company and much of the book centres around the good works that Patagonia does.

I am always inspired to read success and trials and tribulations of other business people and that is why I enjoyed the book.

This all ties back to my thoughts on branding. Patagonia has created a brand. The book is even part of it. The brand is the culture. Interesting.
Rating: 4 / 5

]]> By: Liesl Bubnik http://tapasfera.com/2009/12/let-my-people-go-surfing-the-education-of-a-reluctant-businessman/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Liesl Bubnik Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:08:31 +0000 http://tapasfera.com/2009/12/let-my-people-go-surfing-the-education-of-a-reluctant-businessman/#comment-16 The founder of Patagonia discusses how the company started and how it has developed a new way of business. Great book for anyone. Rating: 5 / 5 The founder of Patagonia discusses how the company started and how it has developed a new way of business. Great book for anyone.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Adam Lenhard http://tapasfera.com/2009/12/let-my-people-go-surfing-the-education-of-a-reluctant-businessman/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Adam Lenhard Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:12:56 +0000 http://tapasfera.com/2009/12/let-my-people-go-surfing-the-education-of-a-reluctant-businessman/#comment-15 I like Patagonia and admire the company's philosophies, but this book felt like one big, long self-aggrandizing advertisement for the company. The title of the book really says it all if you're looking for good business management practices. No need to read any further. But the history of the company is quite interesting, and their efforts to be environmentally responsible are inspiring. Rating: 2 / 5 I like Patagonia and admire the company’s philosophies, but this book felt like one big, long self-aggrandizing advertisement for the company. The title of the book really says it all if you’re looking for good business management practices. No need to read any further. But the history of the company is quite interesting, and their efforts to be environmentally responsible are inspiring.
Rating: 2 / 5

]]> By: The Truth http://tapasfera.com/2009/12/let-my-people-go-surfing-the-education-of-a-reluctant-businessman/comment-page-1/#comment-14 The Truth Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:15:32 +0000 http://tapasfera.com/2009/12/let-my-people-go-surfing-the-education-of-a-reluctant-businessman/#comment-14 If someone was to investigate the claims made in this book, there would be conflict. Patagonia is a corporation, like any other. Their main purpose is profit. Do they offer loads of color variations on their underwear for the environment, or because Yvon is a "reluctant businessman"? I doubt it. <br /> <br />They do contribute money to the environment. This is true. But where do you think this money comes from? Their employees are paid at the bottom of the scale, and their prices are at a premium. So shouldn't their employees be getting credit for these contributions instead of Yvon? <br /> <br />At best, this book is a manifesto of what a company could do, not what any company is currently. From what I've heard, The Management section in this book is nonsense. If anyone was to investigate the claims made in this book in detail, and make the authors prove what they claim, Patagonia would be caught with their $125 pants down, revealing their $35 underwear. Rating: 1 / 5 If someone was to investigate the claims made in this book, there would be conflict. Patagonia is a corporation, like any other. Their main purpose is profit. Do they offer loads of color variations on their underwear for the environment, or because Yvon is a “reluctant businessman”? I doubt it.

They do contribute money to the environment. This is true. But where do you think this money comes from? Their employees are paid at the bottom of the scale, and their prices are at a premium. So shouldn’t their employees be getting credit for these contributions instead of Yvon?

At best, this book is a manifesto of what a company could do, not what any company is currently. From what I’ve heard, The Management section in this book is nonsense. If anyone was to investigate the claims made in this book in detail, and make the authors prove what they claim, Patagonia would be caught with their $125 pants down, revealing their $35 underwear.
Rating: 1 / 5

]]> By: Samuel Stigler http://tapasfera.com/2009/12/let-my-people-go-surfing-the-education-of-a-reluctant-businessman/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Samuel Stigler Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:31:03 +0000 http://tapasfera.com/2009/12/let-my-people-go-surfing-the-education-of-a-reluctant-businessman/#comment-13 Although I unfortunately have not yet had the chance to read this book, I was deeply inspired by Yvon Chouinard's recent talk (part of his book tour) at Lewis & Clark College. It was amazing to hear his story, and from what I hear most of the other people in attendance also loved his talk. Rating: 3 / 5 Although I unfortunately have not yet had the chance to read this book, I was deeply inspired by Yvon Chouinard’s recent talk (part of his book tour) at Lewis & Clark College. It was amazing to hear his story, and from what I hear most of the other people in attendance also loved his talk.
Rating: 3 / 5

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