A candid, rollicking business memoir from the Home Depot cofounder, filled with personal stories, savvy business advice, and timeless lessons for a life well lived.
With a foreword by Pitbull
"An extraordinary story. ... [Tells] Marcus's version of the American dream, from tenement to boardroom, homespun into lessons for readers wanting to make it in business or philanthropy." — The Financial Times
The Home Depot employs over 500,000 associates at 2,300 stores and is one of the most recognized and admired companies in the world.
As Chairman of The Marcus Foundation, Bernie Marcus has gifted more than $2 billion for medical research and facilities, military veterans, Israel, autism and community enhancement.
Bernie Marcus is a strong supporter of capitalism — the free-enterprise system, democracy and America.
On America's Roundtable, Bernie Marcus shares his life story, featured in his book titled, "Kick Up Some Dust: Lessons on Thinking Big, Giving Back, and Doing It Yourself."
John and Margo Catsimatidis | A Conversation with Billionaire Entrepreneur John Catsimatidis | New Memoir — "How Far do You Want to Go? Lessons from a Common-Sense Billionaire"
Billionaire entrepreneur John Catsimatidis, owner and CEO of the Red Apple Group, reveals how his instincts and common sense have propelled him to massive business success in this detailed account of an incredible rags-to-riches story.
In his own words, John Catsimatidis shares with our engaged listeners how his instincts and common sense propelled him to massive business success in this detailed account of an incredible rags-to-riches story.
John's dedication to family, faith and country will inspire everyone. John's story focuses on the humbling experiences of a Greek immigrant family coming to America and embracing the American Dream through a strong work ethic and sacrifices. Today, his job creation endeavors through the Red Apple Group employs thousands of our fellow Americans, from New York to Pennsylvania, Florida, and other places.
Our conversation focuses on John's new book — "How Far Do You Want to Go? Lessons from a Common-Sense Billionaire," and the vital issues of the day impacting our fellow-Americans:
— The dynamism of America's immigrant spirit which is creating jobs and fueling economic growth.
— The significance of advancing economic liberty and forging energy independence in America.
— Applying common-sense reforms at the local and national levels that will empower people.
— Why education and strong families are vital for America's future. Our Republic's 250th anniversary in 2026.
— The foundation of faith in America, and the importance of philanthropy in supporting local communities and civil society endeavors.
John was born on the Greek Island of Nisyros in 1948 and 6 months later his parents emigrated to New York City in search of a better life. They settled on 135th Street in Harlem and his father found work as a busboy and his mother was a stay-at-home mom.
John is a true son of New York; he was educated in both the parochial and public school systems earning his high school diploma from Brooklyn Tech. John enrolled in New York University to study electrical engineering; going to school during the day and working in a small grocery store on nights and weekends to help his parents pay the bills. During his senior year, with just 8 credits remaining, John dropped out of NYU to work in the grocery business full-time. By his 25th birthday he was already a success with 10 Red Apple Supermarkets scattered along Broadway on Manhattan’s Upper Westside.
Now, four decades later the Red Apple Group has evolved into a diversified corporation that has holdings in the energy, aviation, retail and real estate sectors and over 8,000 employees, with approximately 2,000 located in New York City. John and his wife Margo Catsimatidis live on Manhattan’s Upper East side and are parents to 2 grown children; Andrea and John Jr.
John is a firm believer in giving back to the community and has been a strong supporter of the Police Athletic League for nearly 30 years.
He serves on the Board of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund, and over the years served in a variety of volunteer positions in the Greek Orthodox Church.
In March 2020, John Catsimatidis’s Red Apple Media Inc., a subsidiary of Red Apple Group, Inc. completed the acquisition of TALKRADIO 77 WABC.
“We look forward to working with this legendary New York staple radio station with all of its employees and talent,” said Catsimatidis. “It is exciting for our company to be stepping into the broadcasting industry with WABC as the anchor for our growing media assets as we expand into the future.”
TALKRADIO 77 WABC is a commercial talk radio station licensed to New York City, New York, serving the greater metropolitan area. The station currently serves as a flagship station for syndicated hosts Mark Levin and John Batchelor; is the radio home for Bernard McGuirk, Sid Rosenberg, Curtis Sliwa and Juliet Huddy, Brian Kilmeade, The Ben Shapiro Show, and Red Eye Radio. One of the country’s oldest radio stations, WABC began broadcasting in 1921, originally as WJZ in Newark, New Jersey.
Listen live — at 8:30 A.M. ET | Saturday morning via SuperTalk FM | https://www.supertalk.fm/
Join us this weekend on America's Roundtable as Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy host Billionaire entrepreneur John Catsimatidis, owner and CEO of the Red Apple Group. John Catsimatidis will reveal how his instincts and common sense propelled him to massive business success in this detailed account of an incredible rags-to-riches story.
Born on the small Greek island of Nisyros, John Catsimatidis immigrated to the States with his family and quickly became a true New Yorker, raised in Harlem. He went to school by day and worked in a small grocery store by night to help his parents pay the bills until, just eight credits short of graduating from New York University, he opted to work in the grocery business full-time.
Today, that grocery business has become the Red Apple Group, a conglomerate with interests in energy, real estate, aviation, baseball, entertainment, and media, including the iconic radio station WABC, where John hosts leading figures in government, politics, business, and economics.
As Catsimatidis has discovered, the American Dream doesn’t come with an instruction manual—or even a sign to let you know when you’ve arrived at the finish line. How Far Do You Want to Go? tells Catsimatidis’s dynamic story, from his beginnings in the grocery business to entering the political arena, including a New York City mayoral campaign. He’s tried his hand at nearly everything, but he’s far from finished with his adventures. Now, he offers readers a glimpse into the wisdom he’s gained—and the excitement he has for what the future holds in store.
