Start Me Up and Keep Me Growing: Management Learnings from the Rolling Stones

(Paperback)

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The worlds most famous and long-living band started out 60 years ago in London with the mission to bring American blues music to a European audience. The young band expected to last two years at best, the rest is history. This easy-to-read and thoughtful book looks at how the Stones managed to last six decades in a rapidly changing world. How they relentlessly competed, disrupted, changed, adapted, innovated, grew artistically, financially and as pillars of society and how they manged to overcome the inevitable challenges of interpersonal dynamics in their life-spanning career. Written in the style of a chronological business school case study, this book looks at the evolving decision-making processes of the Stones as a professional services firm. It emphasizes the commonality of all business collaborations, where different temperaments must join forces to bring about lasting success. Corporate executives, start-up founders and talent managers can find a wealth of inspiration during a flight (long-haul or delayed). Management school professors, coaches and personal development trainers may use the book as a working tool and exploit its many narratives about hiring, firing, investing, and spending. All readers will likely find that there is as much halo in between the lines as there is ink on paper.

Reviews

Thinking about the Rolling Stones as a professional services firm is an original take many (highly entertaining!) analogies hold true, and the story of a successful rock band provides great inspiration for structuring professional services organizations. Dr. Heidi K. Gardner, Distinguished Fellow at Harvard Law School and Co-founder of Gardner & Co.

It is great to learn from such an exceptional rock act, as likewise Professional Services Firms are full of Rock Stars! Fostering a partnership culture with the right mix of camaraderie, collaboration and room for merit-based rewards is indeed also at the core of consultancies. Ignacio Garcia Alves, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arthur D. Little.

This genuinely entertaining book is on point: rock bands as consultancies are businesses, and they rely on the creativity and goodwill of their members for success. The same mechanics are at work in my own record company where I work with fantastically creative and committed artists. Carsten Hess, Partner at Avisa Partners, Founder, CEO at Chesseurope srl, Co-Founder & Business Angel @ GrandChess Arts & Entertainment.

A lovely case study for anyone who works with people and organizations, and a treat for those who admire the Rolling Stones for their music and career achievements.Professor Robert Eccles, Visiting Professor of Management Practice, Said Business School, University of Oxford

Start Me Up and Keep Me Growing by Bertold Br-Bouyssiere is not just a most important, smart and enjoyable book, but one that would give you profound understanding of the intricacies of the modern human condition and lessons for the times to come. Competitiveness is at the heart of human nature at any organizational level: states, political parties, businesses or musical associations. We admire how the key individuals of the Stones were able to maintain an equilibrium of power for such a long time, and we also admire the wisdom of the others who helped in making this adventure last.Professor Dr. Alexander Mirtchev, LLM, PhD, Vice-Chair of the Atlantic Council of US, President Krull Corporation

Bertold has written a witty, enjoyable and relatable book for anyone running a growth business. Whether still in the garage or already gone viral, this book will be a page-turner for start-up entrepreneurs and leaders of mature businesses alike. Whether its about articulating your vision, getting initial traction, hyper-scaling or staying the course, Bertolds decades of experience as a legal counsellor, technician, rainmaker and then elected board member of a global professional services firm, are lovingly translated through the eyes of a lifelong Rolling Stones fan. Start Me Up and Keep Me Growing is not just for law firm partners, but for anyone building a growth business, especially startup founders.Louis Lehot, Partner, Foley & Lardner

Great to read about the Stones from a business angle. Discipline, team-work, creative and financial ingenuity, exactly what all professional services firms are all about!Todd Seelman, Managing Partner Denver, Lewis Brisbois

With acumen and insight, this entertaining reflection on the Stones success shows how professional services firms can preserve talent and grow corporate wealth. Overcoming insecurities and interpersonal tensions is key in working together in a creatively professional manner.Michael Magotsch, Partner, RIMN FALKENFORT

An incredible success story that reveals an unexpected level of professionalism while acknowledging luck and the blessings of higher authority.Norbert Mller, Founder, Advacon Consultancy.

It is fun to read about the worlds greatest band through the lens of a competition lawyer. Throughout the years, the Stones have expanded their market position through a multitude of horizontal and vertical collaborations. They contemplated mergers and proved to be a disruptive innovative force. In a major sub-segment of the wider rock n roll market they hold a dominant position, and in todays digital jargon they have achieved gatekeeper status.Ingo Brinker, Partner & Chair of Antitrust, Gleiss Lutz

Author Bio

Bertold Br-Bouyssiere, a passionate Rolling Stones fan of many years, is an international business lawyer and member of the EU Brussels Bubble with three decades of legal, governance and management experience.