John Paul Dejoria Quotes

Powerful John Paul Dejoria for Daily Growth

About John Paul Dejoria

John Paul DeJoria is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and motivational speaker widely known for co-founding John Paul Mitchell Systems, a leading hair care products company, and Patron Spirits Company, the producer of Patrón tequila. Born on April 10, 1944, in Echo Park, Los Angeles, DeJoria was raised by a single mother who struggled financially. Growing up in poverty and dropping out of school at age 12, DeJoria's life took a dramatic turn when he joined the Navy at 17. The discipline and structure of the military provided him with a foundation for success. Post-military, DeJoria faced numerous hardships, including homelessness and rejection from more than 1,000 companies before presenting his hair care product idea. However, he persisted and teamed up with hairstylist Paul Mitchell in 1980 to create John Paul Mitchell Systems, which today is a billion-dollar business. In the early '80s, DeJoria also co-founded Patrón Spirits Company. He learned tequila production in Mexico and imported high-quality tequila to the U.S., launching Patrón Tequila, now a global luxury spirit brand. DeJoria's success story is marked by resilience, determination, and a relentless pursuit of his dreams. He emphasizes the importance of giving back, and through the John Paul Mitchell Children's Foundation, he has donated millions to charities supporting at-risk youth and education. Quotes like "Success unshared is failure," and "God gave me my ability. The government can't take it away...The worst thing the government can do is to persuade people not to use their abilities" encapsulate his belief in self-reliance, hard work, and philanthropy.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Success unshared is failure."

This quote emphasizes that success, in and of itself, lacks significance if it is not shared or used for the benefit of others. According to John Paul DeJoria, true success is measured by how one uses their achievements to uplift and help others. In other words, a successful person's responsibility lies in sharing their prosperity and knowledge with the community to foster growth and positively impact society.

"The secret of my success is that we have gone to market when the going was tough."

This quote by John Paul DeJoria emphasizes the importance of perseverance, particularly during challenging times, in achieving success. By continuing operations even when circumstances are difficult (i.e., "the going was tough"), DeJoria suggests that businesses can gain a competitive edge. His message encourages individuals to take calculated risks and not shy away from adverse situations, as it is often during such periods that growth opportunities may be uncovered. This philosophy underscores the value of resilience and strategic decision-making in overcoming obstacles on the path to success.

"I don't make resolutions. I make commitments to myself."

John Paul Dejoria's quote emphasizes the difference between making a resolution, which is often a vague or non-binding promise, and making a commitment, which implies a firm and steadfast intention. By choosing to commit to oneself, one demonstrates a higher level of determination and accountability. This mindset suggests that one will take concrete actions towards personal growth, rather than simply expressing intentions at the start of a new year or period. In essence, Dejoria encourages people to be more proactive in their self-improvement journey.

"You can't collect the wind, but if you see it coming, you can set the sails and catch it."

This quote emphasizes the importance of being prepared and proactive in life. Just as one cannot store the wind, there are many things we cannot control or possess directly. However, if we are aware of opportunities or challenges approaching (the "wind"), we can position ourselves to take advantage of them (setting the sails) rather than merely reacting (not catching the wind). This metaphor suggests that readiness and anticipation are key strategies for success in life.

"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it."

This quote by John Paul DeJoria emphasizes resilience and the pursuit of greatness in the face of adversity. It suggests that challenges, rather than being barriers to success, can offer an opportunity for personal growth and recognition when overcome. The more significant the obstacle, the greater the triumph in overcoming it, leading to increased glory or admiration. This perspective inspires individuals to persevere through hardships, as they have the potential to transform into moments of personal triumph and inspire others.

At least once a year, I meet with a group called the Giving Pledge. It's a group of billionaires - including me, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Ted Turner - who have pledged to give away most of their money to charity. We meet for three days to talk about what we're doing to help make the planet a better place to live.

- John Paul DeJoria

Doing, Year, Away, Pledged

My first job, 9 years old, part-time, was selling Christmas cards door-to-door. Ten years old, my brother and I had paper routes. We delivered a morning paper called the 'L.A. Examiner.' Get up at 4 o'clock, fold your papers, deliver them and get ready for school.

- John Paul DeJoria

Cards, Deliver, Had, Routes

I don't micromanage, but I do care deeply about every product we make. Every one goes through me, and I try most of our products before they go to market, including our John Paul Pet flea and tick shampoo. If I don't like it, it's not coming out.

- John Paul DeJoria

Through, Shampoo, Before, Flea

The biggest hurdle is rejection. Any business you start, be ready for it. The difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is the successful people do all the things the unsuccessful people don't want to do. When 10 doors are slammed in your face, go to door number 11 enthusiastically, with a smile on your face.

- John Paul DeJoria

Door, Unsuccessful, Your, Successful People

I remember once in junior high school, on a Friday, my mom came home from work and said to my brother and I, 'You know, between us, we have only 27 cents, but we have food in the refrigerator, we have our little garden out back, and we're happy, so we are rich.'

- John Paul DeJoria

Happy, I Remember, Back, Junior

I'll never retire. I like what I'm doing.

- John Paul DeJoria

Doing, Never, Like, Retire

Rail travel for me is the most relaxing, most scenic way to see the country.

- John Paul DeJoria

Country, See, Most, Scenic

By loving yourself, you're going to be a happy person. A lot of people don't like themselves for whatever reason.

- John Paul DeJoria

Reason, Like, Going, Happy Person

Yes, everyone deserves to have national health care in a great nation such as ours. We just need to find ways to do it and not be overtaxed.

- John Paul DeJoria

Nation, Need, Everyone, Great Nation

I wanted to do my part to help preserve that golden age of travel... I step aboard The Patron Tequila Express railcar, and I go back in time to the days when a long journey was something fun and very special.

- John Paul DeJoria

Back, Part, Very, Golden Age

Being able to communicate with a loved one that you haven't talked to in a while because of some communication break makes their life and your life in a much better place.

- John Paul DeJoria

Communicate, Some, Break, Loved One

America is one of the biggest businesses in the world, and the people who run it can't balance their budget. We need business people in there and lobbyists out of there.

- John Paul DeJoria

Business, Business People, Businesses

I'm not a detail guy. I depend on accountants and administrators to do my detail stuff for me, but I do know the overall picture and I know that if you put business people together in a room, not just politicians, they could shrink the deficit tremendously by good business tactics.

- John Paul DeJoria

Good, Depend, Guy, Business People

I don't use e-mail or a computer. I would be so inundated that I wouldn't be able to get any work done. Instead, I do everything in person or on the phone.

- John Paul DeJoria

Work, Use, Instead, E-Mail

Most people would rather sit on a plane for two hours than spend two days on a train, but there's nothing comparable to taking a relaxing rail journey with your family or good friends.

- John Paul DeJoria

Journey, Hours, Plane, Train

When you start with next to nothing, all you've got is a lot of thought, a lot of innovation, figuring new ways to do things without using a lot of money.

- John Paul DeJoria

Innovation, New, Next, Figuring

You'd be safe to hold 5% of your assets and savings in gold and silver. Insurance for the future.

- John Paul DeJoria

Insurance, Gold, Assets, Savings

In philanthropy, many of us give a little bit and each year we give more and more to see what actually works and not just throw money out there and see if it's going to work. If the government did the same thing, fabulous.

- John Paul DeJoria

Year, Same Thing, Works, Philanthropy

I make the majority of my money from Patron, but my passion is with Paul Mitchell: I spend 85 per cent of my time on it.

- John Paul DeJoria

Patron, Cent, Mitchell, Per

Good hairstylists never die. Vidal Sassoon and Paul Mitchell will always live on.

- John Paul DeJoria

Die, Never, Always, Paul

I could go insane if I obsessed over every little detail of all of my companies. My management philosophy is to pay attention to the vital few and ignore the trivial many.

- John Paul DeJoria

Over, Obsessed, Could, Vital

We're the only major company in the U.S. that is solely in the professional beauty industry. We promised hairdressers when we started that we would stay with them. If I went retail tomorrow then we would be four times our size overnight, but I'm going to be the one guy who kept his word.

- John Paul DeJoria

Beauty, Guy, Industry, Retail

Why pour shampoo into a rabbit's eyes to see how much shampoo you can put in an adult's eyes before they go blind? I'll put them in my hair, in my eyes before I would give them to anyone else.

- John Paul DeJoria

Blind, Shampoo, Before, Pour

I'm an independent, straight in the middle. I've donated to candidates that I thought would be good that are Republican and Democrats alike.

- John Paul DeJoria

Independent, Middle, Donated, Candidates

We are the first to ever publicly advertise we don't test on animals.

- John Paul DeJoria

Animals, Test, Ever, Publicly

I like to live well and I feel good about it because I know how much we give back. There's plenty for my family, now let's take care of the rest.

- John Paul DeJoria

Feel, Back, About, Feel Good

Vidal Sassoon was the most famous hairstylist in the history of the world.

- John Paul DeJoria

World, Famous, Most, The History Of

Success unshared is failure.

- John Paul DeJoria

Success, Failure

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