Lead from the Core: The 4 Principles for Profit and Prosperity

by Jay Steinfeld

Jay Steinfeld, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and the founder and CEO of Blinds.com (acquired by Home Depot), never planned to create the biggest online window blinds retailer in the world.

Against all odds to succeed, Steinfeld’s journey in business included failed acquisitions, partnerships gone wrong, perpetual self-doubt, deaths in his family, budget-limited guerilla marketing, corporate buy-outs, brutal market competition, and a complete disruption of industry leaders, including Amazon and big-box retailers.
To build something meaningful like Steinfeld, you need to do more than dream about it. You need to Lead from the Core.

Learn Steinfeld’s “Four Es”—a set of guiding principles that help overcome any obstacle to your organization’s success: Evolve Continuously, Experiment Without Fear of Failure, Express Yourself, and Enjoy the Ride.

In these pages, you’ll also learn specific, actionable tactics, including:
-How to start a business with little money and experience
-Ways to avoid the early failure that plagues many businesses
-Strategies to scale beyond the startup phase
-Exactly how to communicate with boards and investors
-Proven lessons to attract potential acquirers of your company

Told with humor and heart, Lead from the Core is not just a roadmap to make your company a resounding success. It’s a masterclass for leaders looking to prevent costly business mistakes, no matter where you are in your journey.

Genres: Nonfiction, Leadership, Business

256 pages, Hardcover

First published November 30, 2021

About the author

JAY STEINFELD founded and was the CEO of Global Custom Commerce, which operates the world’s number one online window covering retailer Blinds.com. Bootstrapped in 1996 for just $3000 from his Bellaire, Texas garage, Global Custom Commerce was acquired by The Home Depot in 2014. Jay remained as its CEO and later joined The Home Depot Online Leadership Team. After stepping away from these roles in early 2020, he has increased his involvement on numerous private company boards and serves as a director of the public company Masonite (NYSE: DOOR). He also teaches entrepreneurship at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business and supports numerous charities. Jay is an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year and has earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Houston Technology Center. Active as an industry speaker on topics including corporate culture, core values, how to scale a start-up, and disruption, he has more than 100 published articles. He also sings in the same barbershop quartet of which he’s been a part for nearly fifty years. He lives with his wife, Barbara, in Houston, Texas, has five children and seven grandchildren whom he proudly refers to as his seven start-ups. Visit Jay at www.jaysteinfeld.com

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly inspirational life changing principles for business and life

This book truly captures the genuine nature of our culture that stems from our founder and lives on to this day. As a current employee, GCC is truly a special place where you are stretched beyond your comfort zone at times. This book provides an accurate picture of experimentation, while encouraging open collaboration where associates have the freedom to express themselves and speak up. It is how great things are achieved and part of GCC's secret sauce. The core values are not simply a plaque on the wall of ideals, as Jay alludes to in this book, but something we live and breath everyday. Jay tells the story of how The Home Depot bought into the culture and vision he cast around the four E's, and the technology and platforms that would become a game changer for the company. I am still Enjoying the Ride! Thanks Jay!

[Dan C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lead from the Core is great storytelling, humorous, emotional, and instructive... all at the same time. Such a fast read that it's going to take me a few readings (and better note taking) to extract the powerful lessons. Great book!

[Shannon Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book.

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read for anyone who wants to be better than they ever thought possible, which is what Jay has been trying to help people do for decades now.

[Jenifer Burkardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read! I thoroughly enjoyed this book about Jay’s journey in building the largest online window covering retailer in the world. I re-read, highlighted and earmarked many sections. This is a book I will often revisit. The guiding principles of the Four E’s are applicable both personally and professionally.

[Carl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very good read from beginning to end. More than principles,profit, and prosperity. A true journey well worth the read. Jay guides and explain how a culture run business succeeds by helping others to become better.

CD