1130 - Man Down: When Success Becomes Your Biggest Risk

01:53 - Dan built Australia’s top craft brewery and held $15 million in equity, which he left all behind as the business collapsed under debt.

04:44 - Despite the risks, transparency mattered more to Dan than protecting his image.

08:17 - Dan saw clear signs the business was nearing insolvency. His warnings were ignored as costs kept climbing.

12:18 - Personal relationships led to turmoil that paralyzed the company during a critical period.

15:09 - Decision-making shifted to directors and staff who didn’t share Dan’s urgency. 

17:55 - When things looked safe, Dan signed personal guarantees that later put his assets on the line.

20:31 - Believing the company was trading insolvent, Dan stepped down rather than commit a crime.

23:05 - Dan now believes no one should sign guarantees without full control. It’s a recipe for disaster.

26:11 - Investors and creditors were wiped out. Though Dan lost everything too, he still feels responsible.

28:04 - Dan’s detailed reports showed the forecasts were fantasy. Leadership refused to act until it was too late.

31:35 - The company’s growth story unraveled as debts mounted. Financial discipline came too late to save the business.

34:46 - Liquidation erased old investors while a new group restarted the brand. Early action might have prevented this.

38:00 - Dan’s focus has shifted to small, profitable ventures. He no longer wants to build a giant company.

40:32 - Dan’s coffee business is designed to stay lean and sustainable, placing stability over fast growth.

43:37 - Losing everything took a huge emotional toll. Dan still carries guilt and anxiety about it.

45:58 - James shares his approach of low-risk royalty deals, contrasting the benefits of staying detached from ownership.

48:40 - James and Dan both agree simplicity protects your peace of mind.

53:47 - Dan hopes his story will help othe01:53 – Dan Norris built Black Hops Brewery, Australia’s top craft brewery, and held $15 million in equity in Black Hops Craft, which he left behind as the business collapsed under debt.

04:44 – Despite the risks of exposing startup failure, transparency mattered more to Dan than protecting his image or the reputation of Black Hops Brewing.

08:17 – Dan saw clear signs Black Hops Brewery was nearing company insolvency. His warnings were ignored as costs kept climbing.

12:18 – Personal relationships within Black Hops led to turmoil that paralyzed the company during a critical period.

15:09 – Decision-making shifted to directors and staff who didn’t share Dan’s urgency as Black Hops brewing faced mounting debt.

17:55 – When things looked safe, Dan signed personal guarantees tied to Black Hops Brewery that later put his assets on the line.

20:31 – Believing the company was trading insolvent, Dan stepped down rather than commit a crime, a decision he describes fully in Black Hops Down.

23:05 – Dan now believes no one should sign guarantees without full control over a business. In his words, it’s a recipe for disaster and contributed to the business collapse.

26:11 – Investors and creditors were wiped out. Though Dan lost everything in the startup failure of Black Hops, he still feels responsible.

28:04 – Dan’s detailed reports showed the forecasts at Black Hops Craft were fantasy. Leadership refused to act until it was too late.

31:35 – The company’s growth story unraveled as debts mounted. Financial discipline came too late to save Black Hops Brewery.

34:46 – Liquidation erased old investors while a new group restarted the Black Hops Brewing brand. Dan believes early action might have prevented this.

38:00 – Dan’s focus has shifted to small, profitable ventures. He no longer wants to build a giant company like Black Hops Brewery again.

40:32 – Dan’s coffee business is designed to stay lean and sustainable, placing stability over fast growth after witnessing the startup failure firsthand.

43:37 – Losing everything in the collapse of Black Hops Craft took a huge emotional toll. Dan still carries guilt and anxiety about it.

45:58 – James shares his approach of low-risk royalty deals, contrasting the benefits of staying detached from ownership—a different path than Dan’s with Black Hops Brewing.

48:40 – James and Dan both agree simplicity protects your peace of mind after the lessons learned through Black Hops Down.

53:47 – Dan hopes his story of Black Hops Brewery will help others avoid similar pain. James acknowledges his honesty and resilience in sharing it.