our Core Values
~ our enduring commitment:
At The Executives Institute, we believe leadership is more than a title, a position, or a collection of skills, it is a lifelong discipline. The greatest leaders never stop learning, never stop refining their judgment, never stop investing in others, and never stop thinking about the legacy they will leave behind. These are more than our core values; they are a way of thinking about leadership itself. They define how we approach business, how we serve one another, and how we fulfill our mission of preserving and advancing America’s entrepreneurial wisdom. Every program, every conversation, and every contribution to the Institute is guided by these four enduring commitments: Discover. Practice. Contribute. Preserve.
Discover
Every great leader is also a student.
We believe wisdom is earned over generations, not invented overnight. Discover means seeking out the timeless principles, proven strategies, and hard-earned lessons that have shaped successful businesses throughout history. We study the ideas that have stood the test of time, not because the past has all the answers, but because it provides the strongest foundation for solving today’s challenges.
Practice
Knowledge changes nothing until it changes how you lead.
Reading a great idea is easy. Living it is far more difficult. Practice means intentionally applying timeless business principles in the daily realities of leadership —making decisions, serving customers, building teams, and overcoming setbacks. Progress is measured not by what we know, but by what we consistently do.
Contribute
Every leader has something worth passing on.
No book contains every lesson. Some of the most valuable insights come from experience, the failures that reshaped us, the decisions that tested us, and the moments that changed the course of our businesses. Contribute means sharing those lessons generously so others can learn faster, avoid unnecessary mistakes, and build upon the experience of those who came before them.
Preserve
The greatest legacy of leadership is what remains after we’re gone.
Business wisdom is too valuable to disappear with retirements, career changes, or the passing of a generation. Preserve means protecting the principles, stories, and practical knowledge that define American entrepreneurship and ensuring they remain freely available for those who follow. Through thoughtful stewardship, generous support, and a commitment to future generations, we help build a resource that will continue strengthening leaders long after our own careers have ended.
~ why everything is free
America was built by people who believed an idea could become something much bigger when it was shared.
Benjamin Franklin understood this long before “entrepreneurship” became a business-school term. He built a library because he believed knowledge should be accessible. He gathered the Junto because he believed ambitious people become better when they learn from one another. He helped create institutions that outlived him because he understood that a prosperous nation depends on people willing to build, improve, teach, and contribute.
That spirit runs through American enterprise, from Franklin to Henry Ford to the entrepreneurs building companies today. American entrepreneurship has created businesses, jobs, industries, technologies, and opportunities that have fueled not only our own economy, but the world economy.
The Executives Institute exists in that tradition.
We believe timeless business knowledge should not be locked behind a subscription, a paywall, or a sales funnel. The books have already been written. The principles have already been proven. What matters now is putting those principles back into the hands of people willing to build something.
So we make the Institute free.
Not because this knowledge isn’t valuable. Because it is.
We believe a stronger American economy begins with stronger entrepreneurs and business leaders. If one timeless principle helps a business owner make a better decision, build a stronger company, create another job, serve another customer, or keep a good business alive for another generation, the investment pays forward.
Benjamin Franklin called his Junto a club for mutual improvement. We see The Executives Institute as part of that same American tradition: learn from those who came before us, learn from one another, put the lessons to work, and leave something better for those who come next.
That is why everything is free.
“We achieve more when we chase the dream instead of the competition.” – Simon Sinek
~ organizational structure and transparency
The Executives Institute is the educational initiative of The 100, Inc., an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to preserving, teaching, and passing down foundational business principles for the benefit of entrepreneurs, business leaders, students, and the general public.
The Institute’s educational resources are freely available and are supported through voluntary, tax-deductible contributions from individuals and organizations who believe these principles should be preserved for future generations.
The name The Executives Institute and its associated trademarks are owned by Grindstone Ventures, LLC and are licensed to The 100, Inc. for exclusive use in carrying out its educational mission. This licensing arrangement protects the long-term identity of the Institute while allowing the nonprofit to focus exclusively on serving the public through education.
The 100, Inc. is governed by an independent Board of Directors and operates exclusively for educational purposes in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The organization is committed to sound governance, financial transparency, and responsible stewardship of every contribution entrusted to its mission.
~ a not from our Founder
The Executives Institute exists to serve the public through education. We do not operate as a membership organization, networking association, or commercial training company. Our mission is to preserve and freely share timeless business principles so they remain accessible to current and future generations of entrepreneurs and business leaders.
We are not trying to invent a new philosophy of leadership. We are committed to preserving the best one. The Executives Institute belongs to every business leader willing to discover timeless principles, practice them faithfully, contribute generously, and preserve them for those who follow. Great businesses are built one decision at a time. Great institutions are built one generation at a time. We invite you to help build both.
Over the years, I’ve heard hundreds of entrepreneurs say something to the effect, “I wish there was a way to collect and share all of the best advice and experience of the other small business owners across the country”. I agree. So we built it. (I should say —we’re building it)
This year, 2026, we’re laying the foundation for a national archive of those stories and experiences, with the intent that it never actually be finished. We are inviting executives across the U.S. to help shape the cirriculum by sharing the lessons they’ve learned. My hope is that years from now, someone starting a business will have one place to study not just the great business books, but the wisdom of the people who actually built companies.
If this resonates with you, I hope you’ll join us in building something that lasts. One day, someone you’ll never meet will face a business challenge you’ve already overcome. Your experience could become the advice that changes their future.
Thank you for being here. I appreciate it.
Kurt McSparron
text me at 701-541-1073 or email: kurt@the100.work or thedean@theexecutivesinstitute.com