Rise and Grind

It’s time again to give this a re-read. In this book, Daymond John, entrepreneur, industry pioneer, and hugely successful in his own right, not only shares his motivations but breaks down the rituals and philosophies of some of today’s most successful people. Those profiled span across varied industries and different walks of life, but it’s clear that there is a common thread: a killer work ethic. It goes by many names; drive, determination, grit, hustle; but John calls it ‘rising and grinding.’

From the streets of Queens to the top of urban fashion, Daymond John is an entrepreneur, investor, author, tv personality, motivational speaker, and needless to say; this guy is busy. So, what keeps him going? How is he able to perform at a seemingly superhuman level? Luckily, in Rise and Grind: Outperform, Outwork, and Outhustle Your Way to a More Successful and Rewarding Life, John not only explains his routine and motivations but also explores those of his peers, granting us access to a rare variety of mindsets. Having this collection of stories is helpful in a couple of ways: 1. We’re bound to find some shred of truth that speaks to us on a personal level. And 2. Exposing us to so many others who have achieved their goals makes ours seem more attainable.

“The tips offered in this book may seem like they’re a little all over the place, but that just reminds us that there’s no one recipe for success.” As for myself, many instances rang true throughout these stories. But there was one in particular that totally spoke to me. The morning routine of Michael Parrella:

“He just lies there. For thirty, maybe forty-five minutes. “That’s my quiet time,” he says. “Sun’s coming up, it’s as quiet as anything in my house, and it’s really the only time in my day where I can think without interruption, so that’s become like my creative period.”

I thought, “perfect! This will definitely work for me!” I’m far from a morning person. It was a constant challenge to live up to the widely accepted rule of getting an early start. We’re familiar with the expressions: “the early bird gets the worm,” “early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise,” and yes, even the title of this book, “rise and grind,” alludes to getting out of bed at some ridiculous hour of the morning. Michael’s story helped me embrace what comes naturally. And that’s what this book is about. “We each throw our own stuff into the soup, based on whatever ingredients we’ve got in the kitchen. We get it done in our own way, in our own time.”

• they learn to “fail fast” —meaning, they stumble right out the gate a time or two, and then find a way to honor and learn from those early missteps as they move forward…

For nearly the first half of my life, I thought one had to dream, hope, pray, or luck their way into having a good life. This book provides a perspective that breaks down that myth. From the first page, we get a nugget of truth that sets us all at the same starting point:

“…we all get the same twenty-four hours a day, whether we have a million dollars in the bank or a hundred.”

Depending on how we put those hours to work determines what type of life we have. Also, just by knowing that most of the people in this book started out much like me, it switches the perspective of having dreams, into having goals. What makes this perspective even more attainable is the companion podcast, where we get to listen in on some of the interviews that created this book.

Along with putting my work ethic to shame, this book is an inspiration to do more. There are no magic formulas, no cutthroat strategies; it’s just discipline. This book is about finding balance, incorporating your “grind,” and making it your joy. It’s sure to stay on my nightstand for a while.

Rise and Grind: Outperform, Outwork, and Outhustle Your Way to a More Successful and Rewarding Life
by Daymond John, Daniel Paisner
Published January 23, 2018, by Currency

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