Brooklyn Roots, Diverse Circles: How Sports Pioneer Brandon Steiner’s Early Years Shaped His Understanding of People and Success

In You Gotta Have Balls, Brandon Steiner delivers an unflinching, insightful, and energizing guide to what it takes to succeed in both business and life. Steiner, known for pioneering the sports collectible industry and building a multi-million-dollar empire, offers readers a raw and authentic look at the mindset and principles that helped him turn his Brooklyn street smarts into a thriving career. The title itself—bold, catchy, and unapologetic—sets the tone for the entire book, which is built on the idea that to truly succeed, you need more than just ambition: you need guts, tenacity, and the willingness to embrace risk.

Steiner’s narrative begins with his childhood in Brooklyn, where he grew up with limited financial resources but an abundance of grit. He paints a vivid picture of his early life, marked by a deep sense of community and a mother who instilled in him the importance of relationships and trust. These lessons laid the foundation for his future success, both personally and professionally. He explains how his diverse social circle helped him understand people from all walks of life—a skill that became critical in his business, where relationships would play a key role in driving his success.

What makes You Gotta Have Balls so compelling is its mix of personal anecdotes and practical advice. Steiner doesn’t shy away from discussing his struggles, failures, and moments of doubt. In fact, he embraces them as critical parts of his journey. One of the key takeaways from the book is that failure isn’t just inevitable—it’s essential. Steiner argues that it’s through mistakes and setbacks that we learn the most valuable lessons. This mindset, combined with his relentless drive to be the best, is what propelled him forward at every stage of his career.

The book is filled with memorable stories about Steiner’s path to creating Steiner Sports, a company that revolutionized the sports memorabilia industry. He recounts the defining moment when he saw an opportunity to sell a signed photo of hockey legend Mark Messier after the New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup in 1994. This event sparked the idea that collectibles could be more than just a niche market—they could be a booming business. From there, Steiner began forming partnerships with high-profile athletes and teams, including the New York Yankees, and eventually secured deals with some of the biggest names in sports like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.

A significant milestone in Steiner's journey was landing the first-ever collectibles contract with the University of Notre Dame. This groundbreaking partnership gave Steiner the opportunity to work with one of the most prestigious and tradition-rich athletic programs in the world, further cementing his company’s status as a leader in the sports memorabilia industry. Steiner’s ability to forge these unique relationships, often by thinking outside the box, was key to his success and serves as a powerful example of his bold and unapologetic approach to business.

One of the strongest themes in You Gotta Have Balls is the importance of being “all in.” Steiner emphasizes that whether it’s business, relationships, or personal growth, success only comes when you fully commit yourself to the task at hand. He shares how this “all-in” attitude helped him take on monumental challenges, like purchasing the demolished Yankee Stadium and turning its remnants into valuable memorabilia. Steiner’s ability to see opportunity where others saw obstacles is a recurring motif throughout the book, encouraging readers to approach life with the same sense of boldness and curiosity.

Steiner also stresses the value of relationships over transactions—a lesson learned from his mother’s beauty salon, where trust and personal connection were the keys to keeping customers coming back. This principle guided his business philosophy, helping him build long-lasting partnerships with athletes, teams, and clients. He argues that business is about more than making deals; it’s about building trust, delivering value, and creating meaningful connections that benefit everyone involved.

While You Gotta Have Balls is filled with business wisdom, its appeal extends far beyond the entrepreneurial crowd. At its core, this book is about resilience, self-belief, and taking control of your destiny. Steiner’s enthusiasm for life and work is infectious, making his advice not just practical, but inspirational. He encourages readers to embrace the unknown, take risks, and never be afraid to fail. His message is clear: if you want to achieve greatness, you have to be willing to push yourself to the edge of your abilities—and sometimes, beyond.

In You Gotta Have Balls, Brandon Steiner delivers a refreshing reminder that success isn’t about playing it safe. It’s about having the courage to take risks, the resilience to bounce back from failure, and the determination to keep going when the going gets tough. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business professional, or simply someone looking for inspiration to pursue your dreams, Steiner’s book offers invaluable lessons on what it means to live boldly, fearlessly, and with purpose.

Brandon was a guest on my radio show, The Mentors Radio, which is broadcast worldwide on The Salem Radio Network, IHeartRadio, and TuneIn Radio. You can now listen to this show on your favorite podcast platform or by clicking on this link: https://thementorsradio.com/370-you-gotta-have-balls-a-conversation-with-serial-entrepreneur-brandon-steiner/