RISING AND GRINDING WITH DAYMOND JOHN
Don’t tell Daymond John there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done. He might just tell you off.
After all, the father of three is running three businesses he’s launched—the urban clothing brand Fubu, where he’s been CEO since 1992, brand management agency the Shark Group, and the newly opened co-working space Blueprint + co. And as one of Shark Tank’s original judges, he’s nearing his 10th anniversary on ABC’s smash show. He has plenty of bite left, too—just ask the co-stars he heckles to distract them from negotiating deals.
The entrepreneur and investor prefers to measure his days by what he doesn’t do, thus ensuring there is “time enough” for what he aims to accomplish. Setting goals and achieving them in a timely fashion is a prominent theme in Rise and Grind: Outperform, Outwork, and Outhustle Your Way to a More Successful and Rewarding Life. John’s fourth book, Rise and Grind explores the daily routines of successful self-starters—including Shark Tank contestant Kristina Guerrero, founder of TurboPup, television mogul Nely Galán, Al and Brittani Baker, co-inventors of Bubba’s-Q Boneless Ribs, and entrepreneur and extreme athlete Kyle Maynard, who was born with incomplete limbs, yet still climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.
John explores how they all reached the top of their fields. (Hint: These are not linear paths.) He also outlines his own practices for productivity and explains how he used the obstacles in his life to fuel his success.
In an exclusive interview with Inc., John speaks of his daily rituals, the healthy level of paranoia every entrepreneur should have, and why his Monopoly game is especially vicious.
How did you start your morning?
I tried to bang out about 100 pushups in sets of 20 and 25. I packed my clothes for tomorrow’s [photo] shoot. My daughter came in around 9, and I played with her for a little while. I did my goals—I read my list of goals every morning. I meditated while doing my goals at the same time. Then I probably ate something like granola, a smoothie, and a green drink. Sent out as many emails as I could before I even looked
