“The Gain Principle will be a game-changer for any aspiring business leader or executive. From the first page, you feel like you’re sitting down with an old friend who is sharing the playbook to his incredible journey. Steve’s insights on how to navigate from a modest start to the top echelons of the media world are both profound and practical. His “GAIN” system—Go, Assess, Identify, and Next—is a testament to his thoughtful analysis of success, born from decades of real-world experience. What I love about this book is its authenticity. Steve doesn’t just recount his wins; he dives into the challenges and lessons learned along the way. Whether you’re a young professional at a crossroads or a seasoned executive looking for fresh inspiration, this book offers an approach that is as motivating as it is actionable. Steve’s storytelling is compelling, with rich anecdotes that make you feel the highs and lows of his journey. His reflections on pivotal moments and the people who influenced him are particularly resonant. This isn’t just a business book; it’s a guide to personal and professional growth that’s grounded in the real-life trials and triumphs of a media titan. Highly recommended for anyone serious about leveling up their career and life. I can’t wait to read it again!”

Joe Mechlinski, New York Times bestselling author and CEO of SHIFT

“Over the past few months, I’ve been experiencing a lot of change. I decided to evaluate and guide myself based on the GAIN model that Steve’s wonderful book The Gain Principle outlines so clearly. As entrepreneurs, sometimes we rest on our laurels and past successes. This lulls us into a comfort zone that can cause complacency, lost customers, and revenue and process breakdowns. Using the GAIN model, I knew I had to make a decision and Go. I Assessed my options with perspectives from past key clients, internal leaders, and team members of my company, an executive coach who has known me for thirty-plus years. Then I Identified a new approach for key messaging, new processes, and a plan to move forward in each of these areas by getting my team involved and on board. And now I am living Next by refining and carrying out our new messaging. I can now add one more step in my Next stage: what strategic partner can best help me execute and carry out this plan. Steve’s book has been with me every step of the way. It couldn’t have come at a better time in my business life cycle. I recommend this to everyone in a leadership position who desires to do more and be their best throughout their career.”

Michael W. Kublin, president, PeopleTek Inc., and Amazon bestselling author of The Leadership Lessons of Howard Stern

“The Gain Principle can immediately transform the way you lead and live. I’ve had the pleasure of working directly with Steve and have seen his framework in action. If you work it, it will work for you. The growth cycles of Go, Assess, Identify, and Next are simple, straightforward, and transferable. The most game-changing element that Steve shares is leapfrogging. Readers and leaders will learn how to bring massive transformation to their lives and to their organizations. Simple. Clear. Effective. The Gain Principle is a must-read and must-apply for anyone seeking to achieve sustained success.”

Andrew Freedman, bestselling author and managing partner

“Steve Pruett’s personal mentorship transformed my career. In this candid book, Pruett shares the framework that propelled his remarkable rise in the media industry: the growth cycles of Go, Assess, Identify, and Next. Applying these principles to my own career unlocked opportunities and growth that I never imagined possible. The Gain Principle is an indispensable guide for anyone striving to optimize their potential and achieve enduring success.”

Frankie Russo, bestselling author and eight-time Inc. 500 Entrepreneur

“Steve Pruett’s The Gain Principle is more than a career-transformation book. It’s a life-transformation book. Having had the honor of knowing Steve for over sixteen years, I have long been in awe of his professional wisdom and personal fortitude. Throughout this book, Steve combines unvarnished personal stories with insightful self-reflection exercises to create an inspiring road map for supercharging your own journey to success. It’s a fantastic read!”

Carrie Radovich, executive and leadership coach

“In The Gain Principle, Steve Pruett takes us on the remarkable journey of his career and shows us how we can be equally successful in any area we choose. From his good but humble origins in the backwoods of Arkansas to the rarified boardrooms of New York, whether in the c-suite of Sinclair Broadcasting or as the executive chairman of Cox Media Group. Mr. Pruett has seen it all: the early days of UHF television, the glory days of cable and retrans, to today’s world of streaming. But The Gain Principle is more than a memoir—much more—because Mr. Pruett has been more than an executive. He’s also been a leader, mentor, and coach, and The Gain Principle is also a road map for success. He distills the ideas and actions that helped make him so successful into one word: GAIN, which stands for Go, Assess, Identify, Next. Following his framework can be as life-changing for you as it has been for him. If you only read one book this year, read The Gain Principle.”

Charlie McLravy, CEO, fiction writer