Bernie Marcus

“He understood that when you're that far ahead, when your principles are that sound, copycats just validate your model. They expand the market, they train your customers, and they make your innovation normal.”

“A Boston venture capitalist agreed to invest three million dollars. Finally, they thought. But as Bernie was driving the investor to the airport after supposedly sealing the deal but not signing, the man revealed his conditions. Eliminate all company cars, cut…”

“For two million dollars, Perot would own 70% of Home Depot. Bernie and Arthur would split 25%, and Ken would get five percent.”

“You can't give authenticity to an actor. The best spokesperson for your company are the people who actually believe in what you're building.”

“Saul told him the lawsuit consumed everything, every thought, all of his energy, and that even if you won, you still lost. Only the attorneys made money.”

“Customers didn't want to pay for wider aisles or brighter lights. They didn't want fancy displays or carpeted floors. They wanted help, knowledge, fair prices, and availability.”

“JCPenney was looking to sublease four massive department stores that were failing. The negotiations went great until Penny dropped a bomb. They had to take all four locations or none, and this was insane.”

“Thousands of regular Home Depot associates became millionaires through stock options, the lumber workers, the cashiers who joined early.”

“The dean said he could get Bernie into Harvard. Then came the catch. It would cost 10,000 dollars. Harvard has a Jewish quota, the dean explained. The money ensures you get one of the spots.”

“By his death, the Home Depot had 2300 stores across three countries, a hundred and fifty billion in annual revenue, and 460,000 employees.”

“Bernie and Arthur had grown it from four stores to nearly 80, each doing three million dollars a year, the highest volumes in the industry.”

“He stormed into his CEO's office, slammed the door, and threw his resignation letter on the desk. You don't need a banker, he told the CEO. You need a computer. Hire some young kid to come in here and do my job. I buy people. Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank are…”

“In 1997, Bernie Marcus stepped down as the CEO after 19 years at the helm. Arthur Blank took over, with Bernie staying on as chairman. The company they'd built now had over 500 stores and twenty-four billion in annual sales.”

“And Bernie would go on to give away more than two billion dollars to charity.”

“To him, you could make money honestly, or you could make money once.”

“In the spring of 1978, Bernie and Arthur show up for a corporate planning meeting at Dalen headquarters, and Sigilov lawyers and stenographers met them. Bernie thought it was a strange mix for a planning meeting, and they were fired on the spot.”