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You Gotta Have Balls: How a Kid from Brooklyn Started From Scratch, Bought Yankee Stadium, and Created a Sports Empire
A Brooklyn kid hustles his way to the top of a sports marketingand memorabilia empire Brandon Steiner went from a kid who sat in the nosebleed seatsat Yankee and Shea Stadiums to CEO of Steiner Sports MarketingInc., one of the largest sports marketing and memorabilia companiesin the United States, with an inventory of more than 10,000collectibles. You Gotta Have Balls details Steiner'smultiple entrepreneurial adventures, where he has both learned andtaught others his fair share of "rules." Along the way, hedeveloped some of the most innovative approaches tobusiness—methods that many of today's companies would be wiseto observe and employ themselves. You Gotta Have Balls follows Steiner on his pathway tosuccess by demonstrating the business philosophies that allowed himto become the powerful magnate that he is. These idealsinclude: Learn to clearly identify ways to help others rather than sellto them, to align employees and partners with their strengths, andto discover a path where you're most likely to succeed.
- GenresBusiness
224 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2012
6 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 14, 2013
I rarely give a book five stars but it is an excellent read. The book is not too wordy, but enough words just at the right spots. It is an encourage to shoot for your own spot in life no matter what that may be.
October 8, 2012
Talk about a rags to riches story... It is a great story and nicely written causing me to feel like I was there watching him growing up. A short read and well worth the trip.
January 2, 2026
So to be honest, I started this book at the end of last year to add to my total books read but I didn’t get to finish until today, Jan 1.
It is a great read. I remember buying this book from Steiner Sports in a mall on Long Island. We walked out of the Apple Store and saw a huge line coming out of Steiner. So we got in line to see what was happening. Brandon Steiner and 2 MLB players were signing balls and this book. I was able to shake his hand, got a few signed photos and a baseball signed by all three of them, including HoJo, the famous NY Met.
The book is a great look at how hard work and commitment to your vision is key to success. It has many great pearls of wisdom for life and I added many quotes from the book to my list.
It is a great read. I remember buying this book from Steiner Sports in a mall on Long Island. We walked out of the Apple Store and saw a huge line coming out of Steiner. So we got in line to see what was happening. Brandon Steiner and 2 MLB players were signing balls and this book. I was able to shake his hand, got a few signed photos and a baseball signed by all three of them, including HoJo, the famous NY Met.
The book is a great look at how hard work and commitment to your vision is key to success. It has many great pearls of wisdom for life and I added many quotes from the book to my list.
June 9, 2019
This is my 2nd book I read that is written by Brandon Steiner.
What can I say, he walks the talk and very inspiring. Thanks Brandon ...
What can I say, he walks the talk and very inspiring. Thanks Brandon ...
January 22, 2020
Ask yes or yes questions, good material
January 1, 2014
It’s always interesting to read a book about someone you know. I have interviewed Brandon Steiner a number of times over the past couple of years for different articles. He’s always struck me as confident and hard working.
However, I didn’t know much about his background. The questions for my interviews rarely led into his childhood and how he grew up.
All that was discussed in “You Gotta Have Balls” by Brandon Steiner. It revealed a lot about him and I was surprised to learn as much as I did. Brandon Steiner grew up poor.
He didn’t let his upbringing negatively affect his future. He worked harder than most people around him – proven by the 14 or so hours he put in every day at many of his jobs. He took positions most others wouldn’t and made them work for him by thinking how he can do it differently.
Steiner took calculated risks in business and used his many contacts over the years to be at the point of where he is now – president of an established sports memorabilia firm that was able to buy the old Yankee Stadium before it was torn down.
This was a really a story about how hard work, a great work ethic and few risks could take you places. There are many things people who are starting out in business could learn from this book (and even some who have been working for a while).
The book was very well done.
However, I didn’t know much about his background. The questions for my interviews rarely led into his childhood and how he grew up.
All that was discussed in “You Gotta Have Balls” by Brandon Steiner. It revealed a lot about him and I was surprised to learn as much as I did. Brandon Steiner grew up poor.
He didn’t let his upbringing negatively affect his future. He worked harder than most people around him – proven by the 14 or so hours he put in every day at many of his jobs. He took positions most others wouldn’t and made them work for him by thinking how he can do it differently.
Steiner took calculated risks in business and used his many contacts over the years to be at the point of where he is now – president of an established sports memorabilia firm that was able to buy the old Yankee Stadium before it was torn down.
This was a really a story about how hard work, a great work ethic and few risks could take you places. There are many things people who are starting out in business could learn from this book (and even some who have been working for a while).
The book was very well done.
October 1, 2013
True work ethic and power to keeping going up the ladder instead of maintaining is why Brandon is successful. This man built an empire on his vision, his determination, his guts and his beliefs that he could help himself and others at the same time -- he was/is the motto "Win Win" I really enjoyed this book and yes I am a sports fan, but Brandon is more than sports he is a business man and customer service giver. Great book.
September 28, 2013
It's no secret.
I'm Executive VP at Steiner Sports.
This book is a story of a kid that started with nothing, and bought Yankee Stadium.
The book has it all and everything you don't learn in Sports Marketing class.
I have known Brandon for twenty five years, and the guy is a class act
on and off the field.
This book is the equivalent of a Phd in sports marketing and life.
I'm Executive VP at Steiner Sports.
This book is a story of a kid that started with nothing, and bought Yankee Stadium.
The book has it all and everything you don't learn in Sports Marketing class.
I have known Brandon for twenty five years, and the guy is a class act
on and off the field.
This book is the equivalent of a Phd in sports marketing and life.
December 29, 2014
Surprisingly, a very inspiring story of success and creativity. Highly recommended.
March 4, 2019
The stories of the challenges the author went through as a child and the success he achieved through it is very motivational. The advice in the book is also very valuable.
May 31, 2019
Enjoyable, easy read. I'm not sure we all have or should have the kind of energy Mr. Steiner has. I'm glad he found the collectible business.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews