Do the Hustle: Life Lessons from Studio 54, the Championship Lacrosse Field, and the Boardroom

by Don Kurz

Don Kurz has built and lost fortunes more than once. What he learned each time he had to start over is the real subject of this book.

An NCAA lacrosse champion. An Arthur Murray dance instructor. A Studio 54 fixture rubbing shoulders with Andy Warhol and Mick Jagger. A Nasdaq IPO. A hedge fund. Executive board chair and principal shareholder of one of the world's leading creative agencies. Don Kurz has lived enough lives for three memoirs, and in Do the Hustle, he distills all of it into one. This is not a standard business memoir. It's a masterclass in resilience for anyone who has ever built something, lost it, and had to decide whether to rebuild or walk away. Kurz moves from the discipline of elite college athletics to the glittering chaos of 1970s disco, from Ivy League academia to public company warfare, delivering hard won, practical wisdom on when to double down, when to pivot, and how to face brutal reality without lingering in regret.

Endorsed by Paul Rabil, National Lacrosse Hall of Fame member and cofounder of the Premier Lacrosse League, and Peter Milliman, head lacrosse coach at Johns Hopkins University. Marketing veteran Michael Kassan, American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame inductee, calls it proof that adversity handled with intention can become the best competitive advantage in business and in life. Do the Hustle speaks as directly to athletes and executives as it does to anyone navigating their own second act.

220 pages, Paperback

Published March 3, 2026

About the author

Don Kurz has spent sixty years decoding life's algorithm; building, losing and rebuilding fortunes, and learning that resilience beats flawless foresight every time. An NCAA lacrosse champion at Johns Hopkins, a former dance instructor at Arthur Murray Studios and a regular at Studio 54 dancing alongside Warhol and Jagger in its 1970s heyday, Kurz went on to take a company public on Nasdaq, co-found a hedge fund, and now serves as executive board chair and principal shareholder of Omelet, a creative agency behind campaigns for Google, Netflix and other major companies.

In his debut memoir, Do the Hustle, Kurz draws on this improbable range of experience: elite athletics, disco-era New York, Ivy League academia, and a range of high-stakes entrepreneurial ventures to deliver hard-won wisdom on knowing when to double down, when to pivot, and how to face reality without lingering in regret.

Kurz served twelve years on the Johns Hopkins University board of trustees, is a trustee emeritus for life, and has endowed the Kurz Family Scholarship for low-income students. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife Noelle and their rescue dog Velvet.

Reviews

[Elizabeth Fischer]

Our BYO Book Club discussion around Do the Hustle became one of the most memorable conversations we’ve had because the book naturally encourages dialogue. Every chapter seemed to open a different conversation about ambition, relationships, confidence, and resilience. I especially appreciated how Don Kurz shared lessons without pretending to have all the answers. That humility made the book feel authentic. The transition between sports, nightlife culture, entrepreneurship, and leadership could have felt disconnected in another author’s hands, but here it all worked surprisingly well. The biggest takeaway for me was the importance of adaptability and staying open to opportunities. The discussion afterward continued long after the event ended because people genuinely connected with the ideas presented.

[Scott Ryan]

Reading a traditional business or memoir book and more like sitting across from someone honestly sharing lessons earned through real life experiences. What stood out most to me was how Don Kurz connected worlds that normally seem unrelated, sports, Studio 54, leadership, business, and personal growth, into one clear message about resilience, adaptability, and human connection. During our BYO Book Club discussion, many of us kept returning to the idea that success is rarely linear. The stories felt genuine rather than polished, and that honesty made the lessons more impactful. I walked away feeling inspired to think differently about setbacks and opportunities.

[Gary Lyons]

One thing I appreciated about Do the Hustle was how conversational and accessible it felt. At our BYO Book Club gathering in Halifax, the discussion became incredibly engaging because almost everyone found a different lesson that connected to their own life. Some related to the leadership insights, others connected to the stories of risk taking, while a few of us were fascinated by the cultural moments connected to Studio 54. What impressed me most was Don Kurz’s ability to make complex life experiences understandable without sounding preachy. The book encourages reflection without forcing conclusions.

[Elizabeth Fischer]

What made Do the Hustle stand out during our BYO Book Club feature was the way it blended storytelling with practical wisdom. Don Kurz writes in a style that feels approachable and honest, which made the reading experience enjoyable even when discussing difficult lessons or failures. One of the most interesting parts of our group discussion was hearing how different members connected with completely different sections of the book. Some loved the business insights, while others were drawn to the stories of personal transformation and resilience. For me, the strongest message was the reminder that success is not about perfection but about learning how to navigate uncertainty

[Doretha Wintz]

At our BYO Book Club discussion, Do the Hustle generated one of the most balanced and engaging conversations we’ve had in a long time. What impressed me most was the honesty behind the storytelling. Don Kurz doesn’t present himself as someone who always made perfect decisions. Instead, he openly shares experiences that shaped his perspective over time. That vulnerability made the lessons more believable and more relatable. I especially appreciated the focus on resilience and intuition. Several members in our club discussed how the book challenged them to rethink how they respond to setbacks and opportunities in their own lives.

[Erich Metrics]

Reading Do the Hustle with BYO Book Club gave me a completely different appreciation for the power of life experience as a teacher. Don Kurz’s journey is fascinating on its own, but what made the book impactful was how he translated those experiences into lessons that feel relevant to everyday life. During our discussion, members repeatedly mentioned how natural and conversational the writing felt. The stories about Studio 54, sports, and business leadership could easily have become disconnected anecdotes, but instead they all supported a broader message about personal growth and resilience.