Brandon Steiner shares a pivotal childhood memory from his paper route, where he earned just 8 cents per delivery for 34 daily customers. Business was slow until his mother asked, "What else could you do for them?" He started delivering each paper with a fresh bagel, boosting demand so quickly that within a month, he needed a cart to haul 250 papers.
This hustle led to a job at a local bagel shop, earning $1.50 an hour from 3:30 a.m.—impressive pay for a kid in 1973. One morning, Steiner experimented by sprinkling seasonings on a bagel, creating his own twist. Voila! He quips, "Bagels are hard to digest—better stay away," showcasing his quick wit and endless stories packed with life lessons.
Today, Steiner is a renowned entrepreneur who founded Steiner Sports in 1987 with $4,000, a Mac computer, and an intern. Over 25+ years, the company has built relationships with 2,000+ athletes, major leagues, and teams nationwide. As the leading producer of authentic, hand-signed collectibles from stars like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Peyton Manning, they've traded everything from signed jerseys to Yankee Stadium dirt, revolutionizing the sports memorabilia industry and helping businesses leverage sports for growth.
Success isn't without setbacks. After selling Steiner Sports to Omnicom Group for $25 million in 2000, Steiner hit an emotional low. In his 2018 book, Living on Purpose, he reflects: "After tireless effort building a business and industry for nearly two decades, I was emotionally bankrupt. You need chaos before clarity." From status and wealth, he confronted deeper questions: "What do I really have? Who am I?" Self-analysis, goal-setting, and friends' advice helped him rebound.
Steiner continued leading the company, spotting opportunities in athlete endorsements and appearances from his hospitality background. His philosophy evolved post a 2002 Harvard Business School seminar: embrace failure as part of success. "No matter how successful you are, there will be losses," he says. "The smartest business people pivot quickly—the ego is the enemy."
Turning 60 in June, the Brooklyn native now in Scarsdale, NY, shows no signs of slowing. He runs his business, cherishes family (30-year marriage, three kids), supports Syracuse University's sports programs, and stays healthy. "This is where I wanted to be—family intact, healthy, happy. I'd be silly not to appreciate it."
