Gary Kusin - Founder of GameStop | When You Lose Everything

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➡️ About The Guest

Gary Kusin is a pioneering American entrepreneur and business executive, best known as the co-founder of GameStop, a Fortune 500 company that revolutionized the video game retail industry. His journey began in cosmetics, founding Babbage's in 1984, which evolved into GameStop under his visionary leadership. Kusin's strategic acumen transformed GameStop from a single store into a global powerhouse with over 7,000 locations across 14 countries, reshaping how consumers access and experience video games.

Beyond GameStop, Kusin's impact on the business world is far-reaching. As CEO of Kinko's from 2001 to 2004, he orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, culminating in its $2.4 billion acquisition by FedEx. His expertise has been sought by technology giants, serving on the boards of Cirrus Logic and Sabre Holdings. Kusin's contributions to business have earned him prestigious recognitions, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award and induction into the Dallas Business Hall of Fame.

➡️ Show Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/garykusin-author/        

https://www.garykusin.com/     

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➡️ Talking Points

00:00 - Intro

02:02 - Gary’s Biggest Career Lesson

08:11 - The Role of Risk in Gary’s Journey

09:57 - Life After Selling a Company

11:42 - The Original Name of GameStop

15:17 - The Spark Behind GameStop

22:27 - Types of Entrepreneurs

22:46 - Building a Loyal Fanbase

29:34 - GameStop vs. Laura Mercier

36:39 - Life Post-Laura Mercier

40:56 - Sponsor: The Product Boss Podcast

31:37 - Selling to Private Equity

43:43 - Business Book or Memoir?

47:38 - Lessons from Gary’s Journey

54:14 - Ensuring Deal Success

1:00:09 - Insights from Gary’s Book

1:03:27 - Emotional Intelligence & Growth

1:09:26 - Finding the Right Mentor

1:11:43 - Advice to a Younger Self

1:13:43 - Balancing Work and Life

Welcome to the Success Story Podcast, hosted by entrepreneur, business executive, author, educator & speaker, Scott D. Clary (@scottdclary). On this podcast, you'll find interviews, Q&A, keynote presentations & conversations on sales, marketing, business, startups and entrepreneurship. Scott will discuss some of the lessons he's learned over his own career, as well as have candid interviews with execs, celebrities, notable figures and politicians. All who have achieved success through both wins and losses, to learn more about their life, their ideas and insights. He sits down with leaders and mentors and unpacks their story to help pass those lessons onto others through both experiences and tactical strategy for business professionals, entrepreneurs and everyone in between. To get more of the Success Story podcast, go to www.successstorypodcast.com.