Kick Up Some Dust

Lessons on Thinking Big, Giving Back, and Doing It Yourself

By: Bernie Marcus

Narrated by: Fred Sanders

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

""A classic Cinderella story of the American dream fulfilled, told with humor and honesty."" — GARY SINISE

""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."" — Financial Times

The start of Home Depot sounds like the beginning of a bad joke: Two Jews and an Italian decide to build a new kind of hardware store... In 1978, Bernie Marcus's livelihood depended on just such a scenario. Having been fired at the age of forty-nine, he teamed up with Arthur Blank and Ken Langone on a bold new endeavor. Their first day in business was so disastrous that the next morning, Marcus's wife wouldn't let him shave because she didn't want a razor in his hands. But the last laugh would be theirs, as the business partners grew Home Depot into the world's largest home improvement retailer, empowering millions of Americans to ""do it yourself.""

""Doing it yourself"" has been the theme of Bernie Marcus's entire life. By the time he was fifteen, he had held more than a dozen jobs, joined a gang, and worked as a hypnotist in the Catskills. The son of a cabinetmaker and garment worker who survived the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, Bernie overcame a hardscrabble upbringing to author one of the best entrepreneurial stories in American history. Today, Home Depot employs 500,000 associates at 2,300 stores and is one of the most recognized and admired companies in the world.

The same energy that made Home Depot successful has helped Bernie give away more than $2 billion and pioneer a new model for philanthropy, transforming millions of lives. There is no single, winning formula for trying to make the world a better place, but Bernie shares what he's learned—that the skills needed to build a Fortune 500 company are the same ones that can help cure cancer, treat veterans with PTSD, and transform autism treatment. And it doesn't take a fortune to make a big difference in your community.

Kick Up Some Dust will inspire you to dream, build, and give—and, maybe, change the world.

A business model must read!

will listen again! I was fortunate enough to work for Home Depot in the late 80's, early 90's, to understand first hand this man's mission! he's everything described in his own words!

Inspirational and Charming

A great memoir of a business icon. Inspirational advice while carefully weaving in historical Americana.

Wow

This is a must read. Heartfelt and inspiring. I will listen to it again! Thank you Bernie.

This is how CEO’s should be

I’ve been a Home Depot customer for decades. I’m a DIY woman. Bernie Marcus has changed my perception of CEO’s and I will always walk HD’s stores with a new sight.
A wonderful book to read, a great man’s story. I hope every employee of HD listens to this book and feels more proud than what they already are.
Bernie and his leadership team are what CEO’s should be.
Bernie’s philanthropic life amazing. Great man, great company, great heart.

Bernie is an inspiration

I really enjoyed this book and have been taking notes on what on the great charities he is involved in. Great read