All Columns in Alphabetical Order


Wednesday, March 14, 2018

READ THIS: RISE AND GRIND OUTPERFORM, OUTWORK AND OUTHUSTLE YOUR WAY TO A MORE SUCCESSFUL AND REWARDING LIFE By Daymond John with Daniel Paisner @TheSharkDaymond


We absolutely applaud the principles recommended in this book.  If you've seen Shark Tank, you know Daymond John; if you are an entrepreneur that is successful, chances are you already are doing everything he recommends.  However, you might miss one or two points that you could incorporate into your successful routine to make it even better (ambiance in the workplace suggested by Catherine Zeta-Jones!).  If you are in need of motivation, this book is just what the doctor ordered.

Daymond has a great outlook and vision; we like how he says early on in the work to be explosive in a positive way: with joy and celebration like fireworks at Disney World (and if he thinks those are great, he should see the Macy's on July 4th here on the East River).  There are a lot of maxims included that you have likely heard before and that you could benefit from hearing again.  Common sense is actually not so common!

Our main criticism of this book however is the verbiage and word choice.  Conjunction is NOT a big word (p. 71); we remember the song from Schoolhouse Rock from our fifth grade English class (Conjunction Junction, What's Your Function?).  We are surprised Daymond has a co-writer as the book did not come off that way to us in any regard.  

You will find overly colloquial terms-we are horrified by "just sayin'".  The ideas are fabulously on-target but the writing level does not embody the sophistication level it should to the audience. In the future we suggest everyone honor great ideas with a more pronounced formal tone and less of a conversational tone to be most effective.  
In contrast, the writing style, word choice and content in Principles by Ray Dalio is absolute perfection and we could not recommend it more highly.

We like how Daymond introduces specific individuals that you know to see what are the keys to their success.  Catherine Zeta-Jones was the best and it made sense to start off with a firework. And we also applaud the Honeymooners reference on page 109.  Seeing Ralph Kramden on Shark Tank would have been priceless.  We also like how Daymond says delegate at your own risk; one example is we see brands on Twitter farming out their public name to clueless people that don't know anything about the brand.  You are in trouble if Peachy knows more about the brand than the people "answering your social media accounts."  Of course, we don't specifically tell you about them.  Own your brand personally and behave like it is your pleasure to interact directly with the public.

The format of using bold and checklists make this a great reference tool to go back to.  High five to everyone that alphabetizes their spices (p. 103), not a laughing matter.  And if you do this and own a restaurant in a geographical area we review, we absolutely want to hear from you.

Open up this book and let the ideas flow, motivated by Daymond.

***

Daymond John has never been a stranger to hard work. And he also knows how spectacularly a killer work ethic can pay off. As a young man, he started a hip-hop inspired fashion brand on the streets of Queens, New York, with a $40 budget by hand-sewing hats between his shifts at Red Lobster. Today, his brand, FUBU, has over $6 billion in sales.

While others might be searching for a shortcut to the top, says Daymond John, the truth is that if you want to get and stay ahead, you need to put in the work. You need to outthink, outhustle, and outperform everyone around you. You’ve got to rise and grind every day. 

In the anticipated follow-up to the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal bestseller The Power of Broke, RISE AND GRIND reveals how we can all achieve success and fulfillment. Daymond John shows how grit and persistence helped him overcome the obstacles he has faced in his own life, and ultimately fueled his success. He shares the habits and mind-set that empower him, letting us in on how he makes the most of his 24/7. And he opens up about his recent cancer scare and how it fuels him to continue to challenge himself. 

RISE AND GRIND also takes an up-close look at the hard-charging routines of individuals who have risen to the challenges in their lives and grinded their way to the very tops of their fields, such as:

· Oscar and Tony Award–winning actress Catherine Zeta-Jones

· Serial entrepreneur and mega influencer Gary Vaynerchuk

· Pastor and bestsell­ing author Joel Osteen

Along the way, RISE AND GRIND highlights the common threads among these highly successful individuals and shows how you can apply these lessons to your life. 

We all get the same twenty-four hours in a day, whether we have a million dollars in the bank or a hundred, John says. Here, RISE AND GRIND shows how to put those hours to work for you; whether you run a business or run a household—or anything in between—you’ll learn how to spend your days productively, meaningfully, and purposefully. This book is for anyone who wants to summon the inspiration to think bigger, push themselves harder, and relentlessly chase their dreams.


DAYMOND JOHN is CEO and founder of FUBU, a celebrated global lifestyle brand with over $6 billion in sales. He is one of the country’s most visible and respected entrepreneurs as one of the stars of the ABC series Shark Tank. He is the author of the instant New York Times bestseller The Power of Broke, as well as the bestsellers Display of Power and The Brand Within. Daymond has received more than thirty-five awards, including Brandweek Marketer of the Year and Ernst & Young’s New York Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He is CEO of The Shark Group, a premiere consulting firm whose clients range from Fortune 500 companies to new media businesses to celebrities. President Obama appointed Daymond as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship, a position focused on promot­ing entrepreneurship around the world.

For more information, please visit:

Back to TOP