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How Far Do You Want to Go?
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.
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. American Dreamer 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.
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. American Dreamer 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.
- GenresBusiness
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2023
23 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 16, 2023
The American dream is alive and real. It’s nice to see someone embodying the somewhat stereotypical attributes of the American dream in a manner that cannot be derided, or in other ways maligned by the crowd. With the telling title How Far Do You Want to Go?: Lessons from a Common-Sense Billionaire, John Catsimatidis writes in an unusually thoughtful and straightforward manner about the relevant topics. There’s never a sense of spin or condescension, as can be the case with even the best intentioned leadership and business advice books. Nor does it have the crass bullishness of work like Think Big and Kick-Ass: In Business and in Life. Catsi Matidis instead has this kind of storyteller house-style, making the concepts and on-the-ground strategy feel immediately accessible. This is indicative in the wording of the title, akin to an MLA or position paper. Because at the end of the day, in a nutshell that is what the book conceptually focuses the most upon. How far is one to go, in a manner that is practical, realistic, and ensures the success they crave?
“What can I tell you? I learn something new every day,” Catsimatidis writes, in aforementioned style. “…‘God bless America, land that I love.’ I knew a little about the history of this stirring anthem. It was written by Irving Berlin, an immigrant not so different from me, who’d come to the United States from Russia at age five. Berlin wrote the words and music in 1918 while serving in the US Army at Camp Upton in Yaphank, New York, about sixty-five miles from Federal Hall. But he put the song aside because he didn’t believe it fit well in Yip Yip Yaphank, a musical revue he was writing at the time. Not until 1938, with the rise of Adolf Hitler, did Berlin, who was Jewish, believe the time was right to resurrect the song. It was introduced by the singer Kate Smith on her radio program on Armistice Day. I’m not sure how many of the people in Federal Hall knew that story. But they understood the feeling behind it, which was impossible not to share. Their voices filled the grand, domed hall.”
Part of what contributes to Catsimatidis as a reliable narrator is his openness about starting from the bottom, and making it to the top. He is indicative of the American dream because he’s a part of it, starting as an immigrant arriving in the country not speaking a word of English. By framing the narrative from that specific angle, he’s able to make the material feel viscerally affecting. For someone serious about success, it only adds to why they already would want to read this book. Things stay relatively simple in terms of the presentational mechanics, enabling Catsimatidis to focus on communicating concepts freely – without the kind of excess, flowery prose or narrative salesmanship other books rely upon. He tells it, simply put, like it is. It’s a welcome relief, even an elixir to what can put the average person off on this subject. When you look at it as achieving a part of the American dream, that is something to celebrate – bar none. Catsimatidis is able to communicate this beautifully, and that’s something to be commended.
“What can I tell you? I learn something new every day,” Catsimatidis writes, in aforementioned style. “…‘God bless America, land that I love.’ I knew a little about the history of this stirring anthem. It was written by Irving Berlin, an immigrant not so different from me, who’d come to the United States from Russia at age five. Berlin wrote the words and music in 1918 while serving in the US Army at Camp Upton in Yaphank, New York, about sixty-five miles from Federal Hall. But he put the song aside because he didn’t believe it fit well in Yip Yip Yaphank, a musical revue he was writing at the time. Not until 1938, with the rise of Adolf Hitler, did Berlin, who was Jewish, believe the time was right to resurrect the song. It was introduced by the singer Kate Smith on her radio program on Armistice Day. I’m not sure how many of the people in Federal Hall knew that story. But they understood the feeling behind it, which was impossible not to share. Their voices filled the grand, domed hall.”
Part of what contributes to Catsimatidis as a reliable narrator is his openness about starting from the bottom, and making it to the top. He is indicative of the American dream because he’s a part of it, starting as an immigrant arriving in the country not speaking a word of English. By framing the narrative from that specific angle, he’s able to make the material feel viscerally affecting. For someone serious about success, it only adds to why they already would want to read this book. Things stay relatively simple in terms of the presentational mechanics, enabling Catsimatidis to focus on communicating concepts freely – without the kind of excess, flowery prose or narrative salesmanship other books rely upon. He tells it, simply put, like it is. It’s a welcome relief, even an elixir to what can put the average person off on this subject. When you look at it as achieving a part of the American dream, that is something to celebrate – bar none. Catsimatidis is able to communicate this beautifully, and that’s something to be commended.
February 4, 2024
An easy to read book. John Catsamatides the billionaire tells about his coming to this country as a 6 month old and growing up in the US. He tells us about all his investments and purchases and how he went from helping out in a relatives grocery store to owning grocery stores, oil and gas companies, airlines and real estate. As he relates his business he shows what it takes to be successful.
December 8, 2025
van zero naar miliardair. Begonnen met immigratie van Griekenland naar US. Supermarkt opengedaan, dan meerdere, dan airline overgekocht. Dan in politiek gegaan.
Regels voor succes:
You can't win if you're too afraid of losing.
Know your products, customers and vendors better than they know themselves - and treat them all like family.
Hire people who know more than you do and inspire them to do their jobs.
People do what you inspect, not what you expect.
Mentors are hugely valuable - but take only the best from each one.
Always be seeking the next opportunity.
Own the real estate.
Great succes comes with great effort - outwork everyone.
Take reasonable risks - between reasonable and risky
The right time to negotiate is when the other person needs the deal.
Seek allies in unexpected places, and dream up mutually beneficial ideas.
Time is the most precious commodity - use every second purposefully.
Failure is not an option - ever
Help others at every opportunity. You'll benefit as much as they do.
Dedicate everything to the people you love most.
Have fun.
Regels voor succes:
You can't win if you're too afraid of losing.
Know your products, customers and vendors better than they know themselves - and treat them all like family.
Hire people who know more than you do and inspire them to do their jobs.
People do what you inspect, not what you expect.
Mentors are hugely valuable - but take only the best from each one.
Always be seeking the next opportunity.
Own the real estate.
Great succes comes with great effort - outwork everyone.
Take reasonable risks - between reasonable and risky
The right time to negotiate is when the other person needs the deal.
Seek allies in unexpected places, and dream up mutually beneficial ideas.
Time is the most precious commodity - use every second purposefully.
Failure is not an option - ever
Help others at every opportunity. You'll benefit as much as they do.
Dedicate everything to the people you love most.
Have fun.
May 13, 2023
John Catsimatidis recounts his life from before he was born and when his parents brought him here to America from Greece. The book is a very quick read and very interesting how he started out with a share in a grocery store and kept going from there. He is very likable, and you find yourself rooting for his success. Loved his story, and he is still going as not only the owner of WABC 770 AM, but also a host on his own radio network. I think the lesson is that you have to be willing to take risks.
January 11, 2026
Well written recap of Mr. Cat’s life my only critique is some pages when it came to giving lists on the name dropping of companies or names was exhausting and I’m sorry but I’d find myself glancing past I really don’t see how it added to the story due to its frequency.
Otherwise a beautiful story of an immigrant realising the “American Dream” and I think this one really epitomises it. What a story, what a life. You can tell this is a man who managed to remain down to earth through it all, an intriguing window into one of the most successful Greek businessmen of the last century.
Otherwise a beautiful story of an immigrant realising the “American Dream” and I think this one really epitomises it. What a story, what a life. You can tell this is a man who managed to remain down to earth through it all, an intriguing window into one of the most successful Greek businessmen of the last century.
October 9, 2023
Very clean read, enjoyed seeing the American dream come true for someone, and, at least from the book perspective, has a clear head. Catsimatidis appears to be a lucky, hard working, humble businessman and politician, who has been able to dip his toe into everything from grocery stores, to radio, to NYC politics to baseball and more. This was a solid read about not only his life but his thinking and great stories along the way.
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May 30, 2023Excellent success story of an immigrant that is living the American Dream. If you're a New Yorker is a very wonderful read as John grew up and works in Manhattan.
February 15, 2024
real and honest
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews