Daymond John is a world-renowned marketing and branding guru. As founder & CEO, Daymond John led his company, FUBU, to over $6 billion in sales and revolutionized the fashion industry in the process. Today, he continues to be revered as one of the greatest branding minds of all time and has parlayed his abilities for branding and marketing into many other opportunities and feats.
From being one of the most highly sought after keynote speakers and consultants, to being a co-star on ABC’s Emmy-Award winning and number one best business television show, SHARK TANK. Today he sat down on ‘Dot Complicated with Randi Zuckerberg’ to discuss how to fail your way to success:
“I liked the thought process of selling something to someone to make a profit.”
“I didn’t get diagnosed with dyslexia until 10 years ago.”
“Sometimes the guys making $15,000 are happier than the guys getting their second yacht.”
“I’ve had jobs since I was 10 years old. I worked a lot in the food industry.”
“For FUBU, I was always in love with disruptive technology. Our version of social media at the time, we called hip hop.”
“We had a communication with what was going on with people of color through hip hop.”
“The only men of color I saw growing up were Fred Sanford and George Jefferson. Two entrepreneurs.”
“The common misunderstanding is that we made FUBU for people of color. We made it for a culture.”
“The first places to really buy FUBU were in Japan and the skateboarders in Seattle. Then it really took off.”
“Any market starts off as what they call ‘niche’.”
“Most brands who started something started with a spark.”
“Think about the dilemma the man who invented the fax had in selling it.”
“In ’08 most of us were starting to feel the pinch, 8 of my clothing companies weren’t working.”
“When I first got called to do Shark Tank I said no because I had to spend my own money.”
“My strength is creating a lifestyle. I also know distribution.”
“I was only getting pitched apparel because people tried to put me in a box.”
“If you look at all the jobs I had and all the businesses I started, I was taking the jobs home with me. I was thinking about being a waiter again.”
“I was starting companies for the wrong reason—I only wanted money.”
“We’re in the day and age of social media. By the time 3 minutes pass you’ve got the girl, the car, everything you want on Instagram.”
“They don’t see Michael Jordan cut from teams, they think you just wake up and crush it.”
“$6 billion in the fashion industry over 20 years is alright.”
“We vet the people after the show. The pitches can last up to 2 hours.”
“The first season I lost about $750,000 because I didn’t have the right people around me.”
LL Cool J, an early adopter of FUBU
“Social media wasn’t really around as much in the first season.”
“I made all my money back on one deal in the third season.”
“Being competitive I said to myself, ‘I’m going to figure this out.’”
“Shark Branding was initially Stealth Branding. I’m a hands-on shark. I put in a lot of work.”
“I’ve done most of the product placement you see in music videos. If you drive this, drink this, and wear this here’s the extra $100 grand to make your video.”
“Because of all the failures and experiences I’ve had in life, I can give an honest delivery in my keynote speeches.”
“I’m not going to tell you anything new, but you can’t object from hearing my story.”
“I love hearing when people have failed. It shows that they’ve grown.”
“Think of President Obama when he speaks he takes the negative out. It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.”
“I realize what things I’m weak at. People don’t like to say they’re weak at things.”
“Barbara said she wrote a list of everything she hates and everything she loves. She tried to figure out how to grow the things she loves to create that company.”
“Anything is under $19 and is plastic, Lori can sell it. That’s her strength.”
“You have to know your strengths and weaknesses.”
“Never say that this market is THIS size. It doesn’t mean anything to anybody. It has nothing to do with your opportunity.”
“If you only talk about how much something sold for, it shows you don’t have idea on how to grow.”
“If you think you’re creating something new, you’re not. You’re creating a new delivery.”
“Walk in the room and be infectious. People want to know they can spend their time with you everyday. “
“Resonate with people with your morals.”
“Be transparent, show your failures.”
“You have to first test yourself and see if your message has value.”
“As a PAGE Ambassador we are to inspire those to be an entrepreneur, get access to capital, and show it’s possible to become an entrepreneur.”
Follow Daymond John @TheSharkDaymond
Tune into ‘Dot Complicated with Randi Zuckerberg’ every Wednesday at 12pm ET only on SiriusXM Business Channel 111
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