What do you think?
Rate this book
Kick Up Some Dust: Lessons on Thinking Big, Giving Back, and Doing It Yourself – The Inspiring Memoir of the Home Depot Cofounder, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist
A candid, rollicking business memoir from the cofounder of the Home Depot, filled with life stories, sage business advice, and timeless lessons for a life well lived.
With a foreword by Pitbull
“Do 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 fire, Bernie overcame a hardscrabble upbringing to author one of the most entrepreneurial stories in American history. Success was far from assured. As Bernie wryly remarks, “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…” Instead, they built the world’s largest home improvement retailer and transformed the industry.
It was a wild ride. After being fired at the age of 49, Marcus teamed up with Arthur Blank and Ken Langone in 1978 to build a better hardware store. That first day was so disastrous that the next morning, Bernie’s wife wouldn’t let him shave because she didn’t want a razor in his hands. The company went public in 1981, and today it employs 500,000 associates at 2,300 stores.
The same energy that made Home Depot successful helped Bernie give away more than $2 billion. There is no single, winning formula for success, but Bernie shares his secrets to show 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. Kick Up Some Dust will inspire you to dream, build, and give, and, maybe, change the world.
With a foreword by Pitbull
“Do 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 fire, Bernie overcame a hardscrabble upbringing to author one of the most entrepreneurial stories in American history. Success was far from assured. As Bernie wryly remarks, “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…” Instead, they built the world’s largest home improvement retailer and transformed the industry.
It was a wild ride. After being fired at the age of 49, Marcus teamed up with Arthur Blank and Ken Langone in 1978 to build a better hardware store. That first day was so disastrous that the next morning, Bernie’s wife wouldn’t let him shave because she didn’t want a razor in his hands. The company went public in 1981, and today it employs 500,000 associates at 2,300 stores.
The same energy that made Home Depot successful helped Bernie give away more than $2 billion. There is no single, winning formula for success, but Bernie shares his secrets to show 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. Kick Up Some Dust will inspire you to dream, build, and give, and, maybe, change the world.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published October 18, 2022
33 people are currently reading
1581 people want to read
About the author
Bernie Marcus
6 books9 followersBernard Marcus was an American billionaire businessman. He co-founded Home Depot in 1978. He was the company's first CEO and first chairman until retiring in 2002. In November 2024, Forbes estimated his net worth at US$10.3 billion.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 23, 2024
5 Stars for Kicking Up Some Dust: Lessons on Thinking Big, Giving Back, and Doing It Yourself (audiobook) by Bernie Marcus read by Fred Sanders.
As much time as I spend in Home Depot this book felt like a biography of my second family. I’m there nearly every day and sometimes three or four times in a day. Actually I listened to a small part of this book in Home Depot as I was picking something up for the next day’s job. I’ve been doing this for more than a decade. I know all of the different layouts of the stores and I recognize a lot of the staff. I’ve spent a lot of money at Home Depot and it was interesting to hear how some of it has gone to help so many charities and it’s made a real difference in so many people’s lives.
Bernie Marcus is just an amazing person. The challenges that he has overcome and everything that he’s accomplished is really inspirational. I think that this is a must read for anyone who is interested in business or charities. You can’t go wrong with his examples.
As much time as I spend in Home Depot this book felt like a biography of my second family. I’m there nearly every day and sometimes three or four times in a day. Actually I listened to a small part of this book in Home Depot as I was picking something up for the next day’s job. I’ve been doing this for more than a decade. I know all of the different layouts of the stores and I recognize a lot of the staff. I’ve spent a lot of money at Home Depot and it was interesting to hear how some of it has gone to help so many charities and it’s made a real difference in so many people’s lives.
Bernie Marcus is just an amazing person. The challenges that he has overcome and everything that he’s accomplished is really inspirational. I think that this is a must read for anyone who is interested in business or charities. You can’t go wrong with his examples.
March 1, 2024
I had never read a book by a billionaire before. But as a Home Depot associate, I felt it fitting this be my first. And now having read it, I can say it was both inspiring and a little bit like sitting with Grandpa hearing him rabble on about his whole life.
But truly, BM’s story is amazing. He has had some pretty wild things happen in his life and he always seemed to come out the other side. It’s a classically authentic American story. From rags to riches. But in a “do it yourself” kind of way. I found myself being envious as some parts of Bernie’s seemingly top-notch ability to work hard, find solutions and build relationships all at the same time. That, and he just never stopped. Even well into his “retirement” he has worked endlessly in philanthropy getting involved to improve medical care and research, single-handedly building the Georgia Aquarium, driving awareness for autism, starting institutions to strengthen Israel, just to name a few. It was clear that Bernie’s gives just as hard as he works.
There were a few key takeaways that were succinctly put at the end, but I’ll just call out a couple.
1) There’s no such thing as part time passion. You have to be all in all the time.
2) You have to craft a good story around your goal. Otherwise no one will take you seriously. Articulate your value proposition in simple, understandable terms. Refine it, memorize it, talk about it and watch people want to get involved.
One star was taken away mostly because this was more of an autobiography than anything that can really be directly applied. Still, reading good stories like this one shows that amazing things can be done with hard work and determination.
But truly, BM’s story is amazing. He has had some pretty wild things happen in his life and he always seemed to come out the other side. It’s a classically authentic American story. From rags to riches. But in a “do it yourself” kind of way. I found myself being envious as some parts of Bernie’s seemingly top-notch ability to work hard, find solutions and build relationships all at the same time. That, and he just never stopped. Even well into his “retirement” he has worked endlessly in philanthropy getting involved to improve medical care and research, single-handedly building the Georgia Aquarium, driving awareness for autism, starting institutions to strengthen Israel, just to name a few. It was clear that Bernie’s gives just as hard as he works.
There were a few key takeaways that were succinctly put at the end, but I’ll just call out a couple.
1) There’s no such thing as part time passion. You have to be all in all the time.
2) You have to craft a good story around your goal. Otherwise no one will take you seriously. Articulate your value proposition in simple, understandable terms. Refine it, memorize it, talk about it and watch people want to get involved.
One star was taken away mostly because this was more of an autobiography than anything that can really be directly applied. Still, reading good stories like this one shows that amazing things can be done with hard work and determination.
December 4, 2022
I have really reading enjoyed this book, enormous thanks to the HarperCollins Publishers for sharing a copy with me. I really enjoy reading autobiographies and business books so this one was the perfect mix that has taught me a lot. Not only was Bernie Marcus able to build a successful and socially responsible company, but he also always gave back to the community, It is really admirable how, being born to an immigrant family, he was able to become a billionaire and still stay kind and generous. Only after reading this book I found out that he was giving money to charities to help veterans, people with autism, strokes, build the Atlanta aquarium, gave away money in scholarships, and created a fund to help store employees in emergencies. Home Depot is also one of the companies that helps first responders with supplies free of charge in natural disasters. All of this reflects the culture of the company and Bernie as a person. I highly recommend reading this book, 5/5
April 3, 2023
Later = Never
January 20, 2023
I grabbed this book off the new release / new to the library shelf on a whim. It was an interesting read. I enjoyed reading about Mr. Marcus's (and Home Depot's) early life and the challenges that had to be overcome. Rather than a hard-hitting in-depth business book, the advice and stories remind me of the sort of thing you might hear from an older relative / mentor over breakfast or coffee.
March 7, 2023
There’s a Reason Why I Shop at HomeDepot
I have a better perspective every time I’m in the store. Very inspirational story for someone who dedicated most of his life to work and philanthropy.
I have a better perspective every time I’m in the store. Very inspirational story for someone who dedicated most of his life to work and philanthropy.
December 23, 2022
Phenomenal memoir about Bernie Marcus, founder of Home Depot. What an incredible man whose philanthropy is more extensive than you can imagine.
Great book.
Great book.
November 18, 2022
An inspiring book about a remarkable man. Not only did he help found Home Depot in his late 40s, he has since help start Autism Speaks and numerous other charities. He doesn’t believe in just throwing money at a problem. He rolls up his sleeves and helps the foundation remain sustainable and grow in the years to come. His philosophy of how an organization should function is simple but hard for many. Always work on improving, never become complacent no matter how successful you are. Hire people with the same philosophy not people simply looking for a job.
Bernie’s’ story includes many of his good deeds, so many it’s hard to believe this was all done in one lifetime. But he doesn’t tell these stories to boast, he tells them to show you what is possible. Even if you don’t have money, you have time and enthusiasm to donate and make a difference.
Bernie is truly living the American dream. He grew up poor with immigrant parents and now he is successful in every aspect of his life. A true inspiration for everyone.
Quotes from the book:
All good companies tell a good story —why their product or service will make your life better. I’ve seen many businesses and great causes fail because the founders can’t articulate why their idea or product is worth buying. This is a failure of storytelling. A good story needs a good hook. Every good hook needs three things: passion, an emotional connection and the ability to communicate purpose and value in simple terms.
Success depends on making your intentions clear.
You won’t get anywhere if you don’t believe that you can “do it yourself.”
Bernie’s’ story includes many of his good deeds, so many it’s hard to believe this was all done in one lifetime. But he doesn’t tell these stories to boast, he tells them to show you what is possible. Even if you don’t have money, you have time and enthusiasm to donate and make a difference.
Bernie is truly living the American dream. He grew up poor with immigrant parents and now he is successful in every aspect of his life. A true inspiration for everyone.
Quotes from the book:
All good companies tell a good story —why their product or service will make your life better. I’ve seen many businesses and great causes fail because the founders can’t articulate why their idea or product is worth buying. This is a failure of storytelling. A good story needs a good hook. Every good hook needs three things: passion, an emotional connection and the ability to communicate purpose and value in simple terms.
Success depends on making your intentions clear.
You won’t get anywhere if you don’t believe that you can “do it yourself.”
May 8, 2023
I loved this autobiography of a great man, Bernie Marcus. He has lived an amazing life and had a phenomenal career. His most well-known accomplishment was being one of the founders of Home Depot, but he didn't start that project until he was almost 50 years old. As a child, he grew up in extreme poverty (their family didn't have a home with heat until he was 15 years old!), and he did every odd job you can think of just to stay alive.
Throughout his career, he learned valuable lessons about business, relationships, ethical behavior, and just life in general. After he retired, he pursued philanthropy with the same determination which made him a wealthy man. He has giving billions of dollars to charitable causes, and he not only gives money, but stays involved with the groups he supports to make sure his money is being used wisely. He shares all this in his book, with honesty and humor.
I am not a business-person, but I found this book to be very interesting! I loved his do-it-yourself attitude and his commitment to integrity and respect for all people. The life-lessons he shares would no only be worthwhile for anyone in business, but for people in general.
Throughout his career, he learned valuable lessons about business, relationships, ethical behavior, and just life in general. After he retired, he pursued philanthropy with the same determination which made him a wealthy man. He has giving billions of dollars to charitable causes, and he not only gives money, but stays involved with the groups he supports to make sure his money is being used wisely. He shares all this in his book, with honesty and humor.
I am not a business-person, but I found this book to be very interesting! I loved his do-it-yourself attitude and his commitment to integrity and respect for all people. The life-lessons he shares would no only be worthwhile for anyone in business, but for people in general.
September 3, 2024
A great book overall, but I just wanted to point out one flaw I found, and voice one complaint and correction.
Correction:
Hardcover Version - Page: 197
"He had the perfect blend of experience with business and nonprofits and had an uncanny ability get to the heart of an issue."
As an author myself, I absolutely hate it when folks don't point out any of the discrepancies in my book. The discrepancy above may already have been found and fixed, but if it hasn't, now you know.
Complaint:
You referred to someone in your book as an "ex-Marine", which is an impossibility. As a disabled combat Marine veteran myself who served and fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, I can assure you that there is no such thing as an ex-Marine. Once a Marine... always a Marine!
Correction:
Hardcover Version - Page: 197
"He had the perfect blend of experience with business and nonprofits and had an uncanny ability get to the heart of an issue."
As an author myself, I absolutely hate it when folks don't point out any of the discrepancies in my book. The discrepancy above may already have been found and fixed, but if it hasn't, now you know.
Complaint:
You referred to someone in your book as an "ex-Marine", which is an impossibility. As a disabled combat Marine veteran myself who served and fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, I can assure you that there is no such thing as an ex-Marine. Once a Marine... always a Marine!
Read
May 20, 2024This was a fun book to read. A book that's about determination, never giving up, trying different things, and not being defeated because of everything not working out. I also liked that Mr. Marcus has the mindset to help and give to causes that are out there making a different to save lives of others.
June 30, 2025
I am happily surprised at other people's reviews. Sometimes when I tell someone I have read this book, I get the "You know he voted for Trump, right?" You know who didn't vote for Trump? This book. I bet if the book did have a vote though, then it would vote for your POLITICALLY POLARIZED MORONIC BUTT to SIT DOWN and READ the damn book instead of complaining who wrote it.
November 7, 2025
Lost a star because some times it just felt out of sequence, almost as if the author remembered a chapter he meant to include and just randomly shoved it in wherever. But overall an enjoyable read on the history of Home Depot, and I thought it was cool story on how the Georgia Aquarium was brought to life because of it.
March 21, 2023
I received this book from Goizueta Business School in February. I was so excited that I finished it in the two following weeks. The book left me three thoughts.
1. Entrepreneurship is hard
I do not hide the fact that I dream to be a business owner. When I was young, I thought this role was meaningful in creating jobs to thousands of people and having money to do charity. Reading this book is like experiencing the whole journey of young Bernie to Bernie - Co-founder of Home Depot. I was filled with his hope, excitement and also hardship. In my opinion, this book will give a realistic picture of doing starts up and share related lessons including leadership, product-building, story-telling, etc. To be honest, I am a bit more reserved about the start-up dream after reading this book and that feeling made me agonize.
2. It is about not just making money but also using money
From what I understood from the book, building a successful business is not the end goal of an entrepreneur. The journey of doing business should go along with the journey of giving. Being rich will be more meaningful if the money is used efficiently to help people around. I like his idea of applying concepts or principles while doing business to doing charity: not only giving the money but making the charity organization self-provide and sustain in the long run. Furthermore, we do not need to wait until we are rich so that we can give.
3. The "do-it-yourself" triangle encompasses self-belief, self-awareness and action-together.
"Do-it-yourself" is the "Think-like-an-entrepreneur" concept that Bernie uses across the book. It is not totally new from my point of view. However, it conveys basic lessons that sometimes we forget and need to be reminded. He emphasized "do-it-yourself" in both business and charity contexts. The definition of "do-it-yourself" is to believe that you have the ability to make a difference, to be willing to ask questions, dig into the details of something that you care about and to get involved and kick up some dust using your strengths but it does not mean that you have to do it all alone.
This book is useful for those who are curious about the world of entrepreneurs and the American Dream of the child of an immigrant.
SPOILERS - some quotes or thinkings I like from the book:
1. Leadership
+ If you treat people well, they feel their work matters. And if you make them feel like they own a piece of the company, even better. Respect breeds respect. If they hate you or the company, the work against you. Same thing with customers.
+ Building a culture that people are not afraid to speak their mind.
+ If you settle for less than your values, you are dead in the water.
+ Hard-work, common sense and dedication can take you wherever you go.
+ The power of listening: Look at a situation critically to really understand the issue, to trust my own judgement but not be so stubborn that I wouldn't listen to other' viewpoints and take advices.
+ Everybody is important and if you denigrate waiters, salespeople, your employees, or the plumber who fixed your sink, it reveals a flaw in your character.
2. Attitude towards failure
+ Get out & do -> Fail -> Learn: Transparent when you made a mistake. Don't overstate your abilities or capacity. Do your due diligence before you make an investment or final decision.
+ Recognize the problem early (via field trips).
+ Mistakes are the dues you pay on the way to success. My work is not driven by perfection, but by experimentation. Sometimes one mistake is that you identify the wrong problem/ less burning problem to solve. The key is to not let your ego overwhelm your common senses, know that's not working and try something else "Try again. Fail again. Fail better". Avoid complacency.
+ Success: don't wait for others to do the hard work. Get out there and do it yourself. Being open to new ideas, embracing the need to constantly pivot and understanding that you are lucky if 3 out of 10 things work.
3. Story-telling
+ Hook = passion + emotional connection + the ability to communicate purpose and problems in simple terms.
+ Don't be discouraged if you fail and don't take all the credit when you succeeds. Winston Churchill said, success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts. Sometimes a good story does not resonate right away.
+ How to tell a good story: It is about values + Be memorable + Don't shy away from difficult issues.
+ Integrity = you have to tell a universal truth. We are in the selling business and the ability to tell a good, honest story can make or break you.
4. Giving
+ The feeling of giving is priceless. The highest level of giving: establishing a personal relationship with the needy person and helps in a way that does not make them feel subordinate.
5. Others
+ 3 things to sharpen your thinking: draw on your strengths and values, focus on your vision without practical constraints, and get an insider's perspective.
+ Strategic hiring: 70 within + 30 outside.
+ Training employees and getting all stakeholders involved via customer services and store visits.
1. Entrepreneurship is hard
I do not hide the fact that I dream to be a business owner. When I was young, I thought this role was meaningful in creating jobs to thousands of people and having money to do charity. Reading this book is like experiencing the whole journey of young Bernie to Bernie - Co-founder of Home Depot. I was filled with his hope, excitement and also hardship. In my opinion, this book will give a realistic picture of doing starts up and share related lessons including leadership, product-building, story-telling, etc. To be honest, I am a bit more reserved about the start-up dream after reading this book and that feeling made me agonize.
2. It is about not just making money but also using money
From what I understood from the book, building a successful business is not the end goal of an entrepreneur. The journey of doing business should go along with the journey of giving. Being rich will be more meaningful if the money is used efficiently to help people around. I like his idea of applying concepts or principles while doing business to doing charity: not only giving the money but making the charity organization self-provide and sustain in the long run. Furthermore, we do not need to wait until we are rich so that we can give.
3. The "do-it-yourself" triangle encompasses self-belief, self-awareness and action-together.
"Do-it-yourself" is the "Think-like-an-entrepreneur" concept that Bernie uses across the book. It is not totally new from my point of view. However, it conveys basic lessons that sometimes we forget and need to be reminded. He emphasized "do-it-yourself" in both business and charity contexts. The definition of "do-it-yourself" is to believe that you have the ability to make a difference, to be willing to ask questions, dig into the details of something that you care about and to get involved and kick up some dust using your strengths but it does not mean that you have to do it all alone.
This book is useful for those who are curious about the world of entrepreneurs and the American Dream of the child of an immigrant.
SPOILERS - some quotes or thinkings I like from the book:
1. Leadership
+ If you treat people well, they feel their work matters. And if you make them feel like they own a piece of the company, even better. Respect breeds respect. If they hate you or the company, the work against you. Same thing with customers.
+ Building a culture that people are not afraid to speak their mind.
+ If you settle for less than your values, you are dead in the water.
+ Hard-work, common sense and dedication can take you wherever you go.
+ The power of listening: Look at a situation critically to really understand the issue, to trust my own judgement but not be so stubborn that I wouldn't listen to other' viewpoints and take advices.
+ Everybody is important and if you denigrate waiters, salespeople, your employees, or the plumber who fixed your sink, it reveals a flaw in your character.
2. Attitude towards failure
+ Get out & do -> Fail -> Learn: Transparent when you made a mistake. Don't overstate your abilities or capacity. Do your due diligence before you make an investment or final decision.
+ Recognize the problem early (via field trips).
+ Mistakes are the dues you pay on the way to success. My work is not driven by perfection, but by experimentation. Sometimes one mistake is that you identify the wrong problem/ less burning problem to solve. The key is to not let your ego overwhelm your common senses, know that's not working and try something else "Try again. Fail again. Fail better". Avoid complacency.
+ Success: don't wait for others to do the hard work. Get out there and do it yourself. Being open to new ideas, embracing the need to constantly pivot and understanding that you are lucky if 3 out of 10 things work.
3. Story-telling
+ Hook = passion + emotional connection + the ability to communicate purpose and problems in simple terms.
+ Don't be discouraged if you fail and don't take all the credit when you succeeds. Winston Churchill said, success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts. Sometimes a good story does not resonate right away.
+ How to tell a good story: It is about values + Be memorable + Don't shy away from difficult issues.
+ Integrity = you have to tell a universal truth. We are in the selling business and the ability to tell a good, honest story can make or break you.
4. Giving
+ The feeling of giving is priceless. The highest level of giving: establishing a personal relationship with the needy person and helps in a way that does not make them feel subordinate.
5. Others
+ 3 things to sharpen your thinking: draw on your strengths and values, focus on your vision without practical constraints, and get an insider's perspective.
+ Strategic hiring: 70 within + 30 outside.
+ Training employees and getting all stakeholders involved via customer services and store visits.
March 23, 2024
A fun, inspirational read. A story of entrepreneurial determination, generosity, failure and success.
November 7, 2024
RIP Bernie. Not a lot of books make me want to purchase the company’s stock. This is one of them
December 28, 2024
Too repetitive. The guy caught some breaks with influential people who supported him.
February 21, 2025
A good biography by one of the cofounders of Home Depot. Talks about his life, business, charitable giving, and making a difference in the world. 4+
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews