‘Shark Tank’ investor Daymond John reveals the book he's read 20 times

Another short read.  Recommended book by Shark Tank investor.  He's read it over 20 times.

Here is the link:

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/11/03/shark-tank-investor-daymond-john-reveals-the-book-hes-read-20-times.html

Here is the copy and paste in case the link goes away down the road:

Daymond John, the founder of the $6 billion hip-hop culture clothing line Fubu and star in the hit ABC show "Shark Tank," grew up in Hollis, Queens, where there weren't lots of models of entrepreneurs for him to look up to. 

"We never got to see the heroes. We saw pimps and drug dealers," says John, speaking at Forefront, the first large-scale live event of the I Will Teach You to Be Rich community in New York City.

And those who did get ahead were those who got an education, got a job in a company or factory, and worked hard for somebody else, day in and day out.

"You weren't supposed to work on your dream, you were supposed to work on [your employer's] dream. And hopefully if they succeeded in their dream they would then reward you," says John.

The first individual John saw that broke that mold was Russell Simmons, who was traveling the world selling hip-hop. "How could you actually make money doing something you love?"

Inspired, John educated himself. He read the classic guide to business Think and Grow Rich, written in 1937 by Napoleon Hill. 

"The first book I ever read in my life: Think and Grow Rich. I have read it 20 times since then," says John.

Hill was inspired to write the book by a challenge set forth by the business magnate Andrew Carnegie to analyze the paths to fortune by more than 500 wealthy businessmen, including the Henry Ford and John D. Rockefeller, and document their paths to success. 

The secret is fearless, all-consuming determination and faith in yourself, a message that would sound hopeful to a kid from Queens with low funds and big dreams. 

"If the thing you wish to do is right, and you believe in it, go ahead and do it! Put your dream across, and never mind what 'they' say if you meet with temporary defeat, for 'they,' perhaps, do not know that EVERY FAILURE BRINGS WITH IT THE SEED OF AN EQUIVALENT SUCCESS," writes Hill.

Not only did John take this advice, he now distributes it widely and with his own brand of inspiration.

"You either think like a shark or you don't. There is no difference with you or I. You have to understand that. Think about it," says John. 

"If you think that anything can hold you back, well, I am dyslexic. Some people would [say] that being African American is a challenge. I am short. I got left back in school. I didn't go to college. I don't know anybody with a famous last name. I am not a relic of anybody with a famous last name. I could call Elton John and tell him I am his son, but he probably wouldn't believe me. ... I can't sing rap, I can't shoot a basketball, can't play basketball, or whatever you do with a basketball," says John. All the same: "I am here with you." basketball," says John. All the same: "I am here with you."

What Gum in the Trash Taught Me

When I was in my mid 20s I was at work one day and I had a piece of gum in my mouth.  It got old and needed to be rid of. 

I looked around try to find something to put it in - piece of paper or tissue.  I finally found a little piece paper, lifted it up towards my mouth, put the gun into the paper, and quietly threw it into the trash can.

I didn't know it, but a coworker was watching me.

After I disposed of the gum in the trash can folded up in the paper, she says to me very seriously, "I sure wish my kids knew to do that."  

I thought for a moment and then explained, "well, I know to do this because I live on my own now."

I had learned the hard way having to throw away my own trash now from my cute little apartment (at the time) that it's much easier to throw away your trash without gum being stuck to the bottom of a trash can.   And, it made sense why my Mom always stressed for me to do that, lol.

So I told her that it's really real-life experience why I do this.  Her kids will get "it" about the gum (and other things) when they move out of their own as well.  

PepsiCo CEO says this one skill was crucial to her success

I love leadership articles, especially short and effective ones.

Here is what the CEO of PepsiCo says of this one skill that was crucial to her success: http://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/23/pepsico-ceo-says-this-one-skill-was-crucial-to-her-success.html

It will take one whole minute to read the article - I loved what she said, and it made me think about my "hip pocket skill."

Oh, and, in case the link breaks a year down the road, let me paste it here:

Indra Nooyi, CEO at PepsiCo, has a reputation. And it's helped her become one of the most powerful women in business.

"Interestingly, over my entire career what I've been known for is making simple the complex, whatever the issue is," Nooyi tells LinkedIn Executive Editor Daniel Roth.

As Nooyi's colleagues always say, "If you give it to Indra, it will get addressed."

To get ahead, it helps to have a "hip-pocket skill," something you're known for being great at and can develop even further, according to the CEO. Something akin to what CEO John Nesheim dubbed your "unfair advantage."

For example, when PepsiCo was working with Quaker Oats, the company had to go through a complicated process with the Federal Trade Commission. The company's lawyers were handling it, but Pepsico's leadership team wanted to better understand what was going on. So they put Nooyi on the job.

"I went to school on the FTC process," she says. "I became a student, and now I could explain, in very simple terms, what needed to be done."

The CEO recommends professionals find a specific talent they have and hone it.

Your "hip-pocket" skill could be excellent communication,an ability to be a team player or a facility for learning new things. As long as it's truly useful and relatively rare, it will serve you well.