Daymond John Quotes

Powerful Daymond John for Daily Growth

About Daymond John

Daymond John, an American entrepreneur, television personality, and motivational speaker, was born on February 23, 1969, in Brooklyn, New York. Raised by his mother, a garment worker, John's early life was marked by poverty and struggle. He attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where he honed his entrepreneurial spirit by selling clothes from a red box on the street. In 1989, John co-founded FUBU (For Us By Us), a clothing line that would transform urban fashion. Starting with just $40 borrowed from his Red Cross job, John and his partners turned FUBU into a global brand worth over $6 billion. In 2009, he became a judge on ABC's "Shark Tank," offering business advice to aspiring entrepreneurs. John is the author of five books, including the best-selling "The Power of Broke" (2016) and "Display of Power: How FUBU Changed a World of Fashion, Inspired a Generation, and Created an Empire" (2005). He has been awarded numerous accolades for his business achievements, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and induction into the International Marketing Trends Hall of Fame. In 2015, President Barack Obama appointed John as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship. Today, John continues to inspire millions through his successful businesses, television appearances, and motivational speeches, emphasizing the power of determination, innovation, and perseverance in overcoming adversity.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I don't want to be in a position where I have to depend on someone else for my future success."

This quote by Daymond John emphasizes self-reliance, personal responsibility, and independence in achieving success. It suggests that relying too heavily on others can limit one's potential for growth and advancement, as it may hinder their ability to control their own destiny. Instead, the speaker advocates for individuals to take charge of their future, seizing opportunities and making decisions that will drive their personal success. This perspective fosters a mindset of resilience, determination, and self-driven achievement.

"You can't start a business with the idea of making a quick dollar and exiting the market."

This quote emphasizes that genuine entrepreneurial success requires long-term commitment rather than short-term gains. In essence, it advises against starting a business solely for immediate profit and eventual exit. Instead, the focus should be on building a sustainable enterprise with resilience and growth in mind. The key to lasting success lies not only in the initial idea but also in the dedication, hard work, and adaptability necessary to navigate market challenges over an extended period.

"Always remember, you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."

This quote by Daymond John emphasizes the powerful impact that our closest relationships have on shaping who we are as individuals. It suggests that if we spend a significant amount of time with certain people, we tend to adopt their behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs over time. Therefore, it's essential to surround ourselves with people who possess qualities that align with our goals and aspirations in life, as they will significantly influence our personal growth and development.

"Entrepreneurship is not a straight line; it's a roller coaster, full of ups and downs."

This quote highlights that the entrepreneurial journey is not a predictable linear path but rather an exciting, unpredictable roller coaster ride, with its fair share of highs (ups) and lows (downs). It suggests that every successful entrepreneur will encounter challenges and setbacks along the way, just as they'll experience periods of growth and success. The key takeaway is to embrace the ups and downs, stay resilient, and keep pushing forward towards the ultimate goal: turning your vision into a thriving business.

"Success isn't always about greatness. It's about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come."

Daymond John's quote emphasizes that consistent effort, rather than exceptional talent or brilliance, is a key factor in achieving success. In other words, regular, diligent work lays the groundwork for success, and true greatness often results from this persistent hard work over time. This perspective highlights the importance of perseverance, discipline, and a steady commitment to one's goals as essential components of personal growth and accomplishment.

I believe the last thing I read at night will likely manifest when I'm sleeping. You become what you think about the most.

- Daymond John

Think, Likely, Read, Manifest

A lot of times, I can put a product together with a distributor when I go into my Rolodex for distributors. I can then put it together with a face, such as an artist. And then I can go into my databank of retailers and people that I've been working with through the years of retail, and then also manufacturing.

- Daymond John

Artist, Through, Been, Distributors

Fortunately, right now 'entrepreneurship' is one of the business world's biggest buzz words and so many young people in our country are looking up to this new generation of CEO's as their modern day rock stars. Whenever you have that effect, it makes the job of promoting entrepreneurship much easier.

- Daymond John

Young, Country, CEO, Fortunately

FUBU is pretty well licensed out in China and Asia. In America it's a little more of a challenge, obviously, because it's a branded sport.

- Daymond John

More, Pretty, Asia, Licensed

If you don't educate yourself, you'll never get out of the starting block because you'll spend all your money making foolish decisions.

- Daymond John

Foolish, Making, Your, Decisions

I don't care if you're my brother - if we go play football, I'm gonna try to crack your head open. It doesn't mean that I don't love you. It doesn't mean that I don't respect you.

- Daymond John

Love, Play, Gonna, Play Football

I think Wall Street is very important, especially to tech companies. Wall Street will get in their rhythm and go fund tech companies, and tech companies will go create jobs and employ a lot of people, so there's that aspect of Wall Street.

- Daymond John

I Think, Very, Employ, Tech Companies

When you have a large amount of the workforce being laid off, some of them have no other choice but to go out there and invent something.

- Daymond John

Some, Amount, Laid, Workforce

No matter what business you're in, business is business, and financing and money are critical. I would have made a lot fewer mistakes if I had more schooling in that area.

- Daymond John

Business, Critical, Area, Financing

As an entrepreneur, you never stop learning.

- Daymond John

Learning, Never, Stop, Never Stop

Learn as many mistakes and what not to do while your business or product is small. Don't be in such a hurry to grow your brand. Make sure that you and the market can sustain any bumps that may occur down the road.

- Daymond John

Mistakes, Small, Your, Down The Road

One of my business partners would remind me that no fashion line lasts forever, that we would hit the down curve eventually, and that we needed to look for new brands that complement the first one.

- Daymond John

New, Lasts, Brands, Business Partners

Five days a week, I read my goals before I go to sleep and when I wake up. There are 10 goals around health, family and business with expiration dates, and I update them every six months.

- Daymond John

Wake Up, Week, Before, Goals

I had a little delivery van, and I did work around Queens. I was also a waiter at Red Lobster, so I was working on the business in between jobs.

- Daymond John

Business, Delivery, Van, Lobster

I'm the kind of person that when I saw a lack of African Americans in the apparel business, that was something I set out to do, and I lead by example.

- Daymond John

Lead By Example, Set, Apparel

I already have enough apparel businesses that are either doing well or not really doing anything at all, and I'm looking to broaden my portfolio.

- Daymond John

Enough, Doing, Really, Apparel

A savvy entrepreneur will not always look for investment money, first.

- Daymond John

Money, Will, Always, Savvy

Mentors, by far, are the most important aspects of businesses.

- Daymond John

Important, Most, Far, Businesses

I look to work with businesses that know what they are doing but need larger distribution or exposure.

- Daymond John

Doing, Larger, Exposure, Businesses

I started FUBU in 1989 but ran out of money three times and closed it down.

- Daymond John

Money, Times, Closed, Ran

Most brands started from a strong base and kept a strong belief.

- Daymond John

Strong, Most, Brands, Base

An entrepreneur needs to know what they need, period. Then they need to find an investor who can build off whatever their weaknesses are - whether that's through money, strategic partnerships or knowledge.

- Daymond John

Through, Needs, Period, Entrepreneur

An entrepreneur must pitch a potential investor for what the company is worth as well as sell the dream on how much of a profit can be made.

- Daymond John

Worth, Sell, Made, Entrepreneur

I value an entrepreneur I can get behind and trust, because I know they are attempting to move forward in life.

- Daymond John

Trust, Behind, Attempting, Entrepreneur

I never knew anything other than wanting to be an entrepreneur. I tried my first business when I was 6 years old, and I started another business when I was 8. I don't think I knew anything besides that.

- Daymond John

Think, Other, Wanting, Entrepreneur

As an entrepreneur, you love your business like a child, and you're taught to be laser-focused on the business.

- Daymond John

Love, Business, Taught, Entrepreneur

Every problem can be solved as long as they use common sense and apply the right research and techniques.

- Daymond John

Problem, Common, Apply, Common Sense

I've come to learn that my initial investment is more about the person versus the product that I am buying into. I've also learned that I really do enjoy giving worthy people an opportunity of a lifetime.

- Daymond John

Enjoy, Lifetime, About, Versus

There really is no shortcut just because you have a name, or you have some kind of access or some way you can solve all the problems. And I think one of the things I learned with FUBU, you have to understand that there's really only two ways of operating a business: more sales, or lower overhead.

- Daymond John

Some, Access, I Think, Shortcut

Mentors don't have to be the Daymond Johns or the Mark Cubans. A person running a successful bodega or a tax firm in your community for the last 20 years, that person is working just as much as the individual who's running General Mills.

- Daymond John

Running, Years, Your, Just As Much

When looking at trends I always ask myself basic and timeless questions about business, and the one I seem to always come back to is, 'How is this different than anything else in the marketplace?'

- Daymond John

Business, Myself, Always, Timeless

I like to look at things that have been developed and re-developed over the course of time so I know the bugs are worked out of it. And in the business itself, I like to look at sales, by far. I want to see that there is a vetted track record of sales to show the price point has worked.

- Daymond John

Show, Been, Developed, Track Record

I always tried to align myself with strategic partners, friends, and information to help me with the things that I did not know, and ultimately, I made it.

- Daymond John

Always, Made, Strategic, Align

When I first got into business, I made a lot of bad decisions.

- Daymond John

Business, Bad, Lot, Decisions

The things that I've learned is, try to make all the mistakes with your own money and on a small level so that when you are responsible for a partner's money or assets, you've learned, and you don't make bigger mistakes.

- Daymond John

Small, Level, Learned, Assets

I think African Americans are resilient and hustlers by nature. I think they need to understand that you can take that hustle to the boardroom, but it has to be an education process.

- Daymond John

Process, Think, I Think, Hustle

I've learned, like with anything else, business is only as good as your connections and your resources. And some of the resources that I have are the fact that I work with huge artists.

- Daymond John

Business, Fact, Some, Connections

If you go out there and start making noise and making sales - people will find you. Sales cure all. You can talk about how great your business plan is and how well you are going to do. You can make up your own opinions, but you cannot make up your own facts. Sales cure all.

- Daymond John

Own, Cure, About, Noise

My parents always taught me that my day job would never make me rich; it'd be my homework.

- Daymond John

Homework, Rich, Always, Parents

The only thing that scares me in the tech area is that it moves so fast that you have to be ready to invest in 20 things. Because if you just invest in one, next week, somebody has a better mousetrap, and you get taken to the cleaners.

- Daymond John

Week, Next, The Only Thing, Mousetrap

In the founders, I look for a person I feel is trustworthy, driven and smart. I invest in the person first, because in the event the business fails, the person and I can move forward and create another business.

- Daymond John

Business, Forward, Move, Move Forward

Good grooming is integral and impeccable style is a must. If you don't look the part, no one will want to give you time or money.

- Daymond John

Give, Will, Part, Grooming

When I first came into money, I bought six or seven homes. One weekend I went to Miami and bought an apartment and a mansion several blocks from each other, which was not that bright!

- Daymond John

Other, Six, Which, Homes

I'm a big advocate of financial intelligence.

- Daymond John

Finance, Financial, Big, Advocate

I consider each business investment based on concept and revenue.

- Daymond John

Business, Concept, Based, Revenue

Poor people put a low value on themselves and their efforts.

- Daymond John

Poor, Low, Efforts, Poor People

I've failed way more than I've succeeded.

- Daymond John

More, Way, Than, Failed

I'm a firm believer in utilizing celebrities because they tap into people on an emotional basis.

- Daymond John

Firm Believer, Firm, Tap, Believer

I think that in the earlier days, when I was a 'wantrepreneur,' I was really doing things because I thought what I wanted was to be rich.

- Daymond John

Doing, Think, I Think, Earlier

In my mind, there are too many copycat web products out there that are doing the same thing.

- Daymond John

Mind, Doing, Same Thing, Web

If I invest in a CEO, I need him or her to have experience in sales.

- Daymond John

Her, Need, Invest, Sales

You don't have to work for a big corporation if you don't want to.

- Daymond John

Work, Want, Big, Corporation

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.