Beyonce: How Positive Thinking Transforms Your Life!

There are certain things that are downfalls when success— whenever you, you have success, there are downfalls, but that's just a part of life. And it doesn't matter if you are a singer or a lawyer, a doctor, that's just life. And it's just what you do with those trials and tribulations and how you use that as positive ammunition. And I know that I've been pretty fortunate. I haven't had to go through a lot of crazy things because like I said, I have kind of this wall around me. I'm surrounded, I'm protected from a lot of craziness.

You talk about the power of family and them being able to help you through that, but at the end of the day, that sort of thing comes down on you. So when all that kind of stuff is going on around you, what goes on in your head?

I just try to stay focused. I try to keep my eye on whatever I'm doing at the time and stay positive. I try not to waste my energy on negative things. Like I said, surround myself with people that make me want to be better and that don't talk negative about other people and that just don't really have negative vibes because life is too short. And, you know, even when people have negative opinions about things things that I do. I try not to focus on that. Everyone has their opinion. I try to stay as positive and happy as I can because I know that I'm blessed and I know God has favor on my life.

Need motivation?

Watch a top 10 with Believe Nation.

Hey, it's Evan Carmichael, and I watch these videos every day because I need them for motivation. Being around successful entrepreneurs every morning helps me believe that I can do great things too. It's like your morning coffee but for your goals, kickstarting your day with a blast of positivity. So here is a challenge for you. Try watching one video every morning for the next 30 days, and let's find out together if they help you do great things too. If you're in, leave a hashtag #believe in the comments below so I can celebrate with you. So today, let's learn from one of the best, Beyoncé, and our take on her top 10 rules of success.

Believe.

Rule number 2 is persevere.

You co-wrote and produced all the stuff on Survivor. Was this the plan? Did you want to do that or that just fall into place that way?

Well, I actually co-wrote and produced on The Writing's on the Wall and on the first album. The first album, I was too young. I didn't know that I was supposed to get percentages and credit for it. The second album was when I realized that I could produce with just us in the studio. We really didn't need anybody else. And by the third album is when I realized that I should be getting credit for it. And it's not anything that I planned. I didn't say, "I want to write this album." We just went in the studio, started writing, and Survivor was the result.

Is it hard to get a co-producer or producer credit on the album? And would you think it'd be a lot easier if you were a bloke, if you were a guy?

I think being a young woman, a young black woman made it a lot harder. I think more so, well, I don't know if it was me being young or if it was me being a woman, but those two together and me being black just made it three times hard. I actually just won the songwriter of the year for ASCAP a couple months ago, which is a huge accomplishment for me, but I was the second woman ever to win that out of all of the ASCAP writers, which is ridiculous 'cause there's so many women that are great. So it's definitely hard being a woman, but I'm very grateful that I got that opportunity, and I'm happy that I'm opening the doors to other female artists. And now just about every female artist that's out, young artists, they're all writing their own songs. So it's really, really great.

Rule number 3 is focus on quality.

You started so young in this industry, and I wonder, at age 25, how have your priorities changed as a woman?

They've definitely changed. I think I think now instead of quantity, it's all about quality and making sure I'm a lot more specific about the things that I do and make sure I'm not afraid to grow and take a risk and be innovative. And I always try to top what I just did, and I never want to do the same thing twice.

Do you think that sort of thing comes with age, or do you think there are some key moments that kind of taught you lessons along the way?

Well, I feel like I've always kind of been that way. I've always tried to be a leader. I've always tried to challenge myself. And I get really bored easily. And I know when I don't work hard for something, it's not— I don't appreciate it the same. Which is why I was excited about Dreamgirls, because the director and the producer told me initially they didn't know if I could play the part. They didn't know if I could be young Deena, 16-year-old naive young girl. And when I did the reading, I brought the tears. I brought everything they needed. And I think it surprised them, it surprised me, and I had to really work at it. It wasn't something that just came easy. I didn't have to just show up for work. And whenever I have to challenge myself and whenever I have that little insecurity and that, that worry, you know, it makes me just work harder. And I think that's a part of growing up.

Is that where you get your strength from, do you think? Your confidence?

Yeah, definitely. I still have things that I'm not confident about, and I still, um, have my insecurities. And but, but ultimately, I'm not afraid of them. I embrace them, and I try to— whatever I don't do right, I try to acknowledge that I didn't do right and fix it and grow from every experience.

Rule number 4 is be competitive with yourself.

I'm competitive really with myself, right? Honestly, like, I— every time I start an album, I go and watch all of my performances, and I try to figure out, okay, what is it that I could have done better, or what worked? And really, my references— I go back to myself and try to better myself. So I'm really tough on me. More so than, than anyone else. I'm not a competitive person that walks in thinking about other people and how I can compete with them, or especially not my husband.

Also, to make sure you're actually taking action after watching this video, I've designed a special free worksheet just for this video. The worksheet will highlight our favorite lessons from the video that will inspire you to remember what you learned today and actually apply them. The worksheet will also give you space to write down what your key takeaways are and your specific plan of action to make sure you're getting results. If you want the worksheet designed specifically for this video, absolutely for free, there's a link in the description below. Go click on it and start building the momentum in your life and your business. I'll see you there. Rule number 5 is write your own story.

I know how hard it is to step out and bet on yourself. There was a pivotal turning point in my life when I chose to build my my own company many years ago. I had to trust that I was ready and that my parents and mentors provided me with the tools I needed to be successful. But that was terrifying. The entertainment business is still very sexist. It's still very male-dominated. And as a woman, I did not see enough female role models given the opportunity to do what I knew I had to do. To run my label and management company, to direct my films and produce my tours. That meant ownership. Owning my masters, owning my art, owning my future, and writing my own story. Not enough Black women had a seat at the table, so I had to go and chop down that wood and build my own table. Then I had to invite the best there was to have a seat. That meant hiring women, men, outsiders, underdogs, people that were overlooked and waiting to be seen. Many of the best creatives and business people who are those supremely qualified and talented were turned down over and over as executives at major corporations because they were female or because of racial disparity. And I've been very proud to provide them with a place at my table. One of the main purposes of my art for many years has been dedicated to showing the beauty of Black people to the world. Our history, our profundity, and the value of Black lives. I've tried my best to pull down the veil of appeasement to those who may feel uncomfortable with our excellence. To the young women, our future leaders, know that you're about to make the world turn. I see you. You are everything the world needs. Make those power moves. Be excellent. And to the young kings, lean into your vulnerability and redefine masculinity. Lead with heart. There's so many different ways to be brilliant. I believe you and every human being is born with a masterful gift. Don't make the world make you feel that you have to look a certain way to be brilliant. And no, you don't have to speak a certain way to be brilliant. But you do have to spread your gift around the planet in a way that is authentically you. To all those who feel different, if you're a part of a group that's called "other," a group that does not get the chance to be center stage, build your own stage and make them see you. Your queerness is beautiful. Your blackness is beautiful. Your compassion, your understanding, your fight for people who may be different from you is beautiful. I hope you continue to go into the world and show them that you will never stop being yourself, that it's your time now. Make them see you.

Rule number 6 is keep on growing.

The most important thing is to try and stay true to who you are, obviously, and I presume that's one of the things your mother would have said to you from the word go. The most important way to live your life is be whoever you are and don't be somebody else. That was easy enough maybe in '97, '98, but down the line now, now that you've been around a good while, is it still as easy?

Well, who you are changes, you know, with age and with your environment. And, um, I still believe in 90% of the same things, you know. I still have the same friends. I, I I still am the same person. I treat people the same way. But certain things, when you travel the world, your views on certain things open up and you realize things that you didn't know. And especially with age, certain things that you say you never do, certain things you thought you would never like, you like. Certain things that your mother did that you said, "Oh, I hate," you start doing. You know, so definitely we've changed a lot. We've matured a lot. And a lot of things, like I said, that I thought I'd never do, I've done, and I enjoy it. So I'm growing and I'm changing. So who I am is forever changing, but basically the same— the core beliefs and the morals and how I treat people and certain things stick with you forever if you surround yourself with people that keep you grounded and you don't have people around you that let you just do whatever you want.

Rule number 7 is get up when you are down.

Sometimes we don't always feel beautiful. Sometimes we have our days where, you know, we feel under the weather or sad or overwhelmed. And I know for me, whenever I have those days, I try to put on my best outfit, my best makeup, and my sexy heels. And when you look good, it makes you feel good. And so I really, you know, am a strong believer when you're feeling down, you don't just stay in the bed and just, you know, soak in that. You pull yourself together, and it is the beginning of overcoming whatever you're going through.

Rule number 8 is believe in your intuition.

What has your female intuition taught you along the way?

Um, you always have to believe in that intuition. Um, it's a difference between insecurity and intuition. Sometimes, you know, when you're insecure, you you have these feelings, but it's really you. And you have to know the difference between the two. And I feel like whenever someone makes you feel insecure and kind of takes you out of who you really are, then usually, you know, you're better off not around that person. And that's if it's a friend, if it's a boyfriend, whatever. Anyone around you should just make you feel stronger and make you feel better and make you want to grow.

Do you have confidants you talk to, or are you a confidant to people? Because it seems like you've got tons of great advice to give everybody.

I do. Everyone does. I have my mother who I respect and trust because she's been here longer than I. I grew up in her hair salon around older women and—

Thank you.

And I've been eavesdropping on all of their conversations since I was a little kid. And I think I have an old soul. I've always had that. But I definitely have my friends that I go to and I talk to. And I have a lot of friends that come to me, which, like I said, is really healthy for me. Because it inspires a lot of songs and makes me think. I love to think. I love to think about people's problems and try to work them out.

Rule number 9 is always be creative.

I always was a creative child, and my parents encouraged it, and I always was doing something creative, whether it was writing songs or poems or making clothes or dancing, putting on shows, whatever. It was something creative. I think that that's so wonderful for kids. I think it just, it gives you so much confidence and you just feel so, so good about yourself and you feel like you can accomplish anything. And creativity can't be judged. So you just, it just is great for self-esteem for kids.

And number 10, the last one before our very special bonus clip. Is don't judge others.

The rumors in the industry, the stuff that's written about you guys, um, at first, was that the hardest thing to get over?

Yeah, definitely.

Is it easier now because you realize that people are always going to write complete bull about a band that gets bigger and bigger all the time, and you've got to understand you don't have to believe this stuff?

Yeah, well, um, it's getting better. It's still hard sometimes, certain things. I don't even read interviews anymore because there's a certain image of lead singers in girl bands. And it's not just me, it's everyone that's successful. And I don't know if Diana Ross or whoever started this whole image, and even when you're not that, they'll make you that. And it's really, it's really irritating to me. I know you gotta sell, sell magazines, but I don't read certain things. Certain things, this is like, okay, I'm so used to it, it's just I already expect certain things. But it was very hard for me in the beginning to read things about my family and things about my dad and things about me and things about how we get along that ain't true, you know. But I think people now, the more people see us and the more they meet us, you realize that, you know, certain things are not true. I just hope society believes— I mean, can understand that everything they read is not the truth, you know. You think 'cause you read it in a magazine, then it's the Bible, like it's the truth. It was written down, I read it. But you don't realize that anybody can write anything they want.

So do you realize also that you've read magazines, from National Enquirer to whatever, and believe things and realize, "I shouldn't have believed that"?

Yes, that's the— definitely. I never judged people, but I was still young, and still, for some reason, when you hear things about celebrities, it's very entertaining to you, 'cause you don't think they're normal people. Now, I don't read that gossip stuff about anybody. They know already not to come with me with that. They know, girl, did you?

Yeah.

I don't want to hear that. Because first of all, how do you know? How do you know that that's true? How do you know that that wasn't made up? It could be made up just like it was made up about me, because I've been judged. So I don't judge other people. It was very risky for me to step out on my own. I want to leave a footprint. Being a young woman, I want to set the example that it's possible for us to own our own businesses and own our own record labels. And sometimes we don't reach for the stars. Sometimes we are satisfied with what people tell us we're supposed to be satisfied with. And I'm just not going for it.

For 10 more amazing rules from Jay-Z, check the video right there next to me. I think you'll love it. Continue to believe, and I'll see you there.

Shakespeare was a man who wrote poetry. I'm a man who writes poetry. I mean, why not compare yourself to the best? I'm supposed to be here to be second best? You don't make music to be second best.

You make music to be the best.

So whatever you do, whatever you do, I don't have to be music.