Homeless to Hollywood: Lee Daniels' Inspiring Journey! | Top 10 Rules for Success

If you're looking for ways to push yourself more, not take no for an answer, and hook people in, then this video is for you.

This girl that I was dating, the only girl that I've ever dated, gave me $7. So I had $7 and a bus ticket and a dream.

I'm gonna give you something. My mother was like, I don't understand you. Why are you always making these freak show movies? Like, I don't get it. Why can't you make movies like Tyler Perry?

Look, they tell me I can't do anything. Everyone. Everything I've ever done, I've been told by everybody that it should not be done.

Need motivation? Watch a top 10 with Believe Nation. What's up, it's Evan. My one word is believe, and I believe in you. I believe you got something special inside here that I want to see burst out, so let's get your motivation to a 10 and get you believing in you. Grab a snack and chew on today's lessons from a man who went from working as a receptionist in a nursing agency and having his father try to beat the gay out of him to producing Monster's Ball and having his own Hollywood star on the Walk of Fame. He's Lee Daniels, and here's my take on his top 10 rules for success. So up first, rule number 1 is follow your dreams.

In 8th grade, the vice principal told my mother I wasn't going to amount to anything. There's not a school for what it is that I have had, you know. I didn't go to film school. I'm a filmmaker. How'd I get there? When I was When I was a young kid, I didn't know that there was such a thing as a director. Forget about white or black, but that there was such a thing that a director was. My dad was a cop that was killed in the line of duty. My mom was left to raise me and my siblings on her own. I knew that I was drawn to Hollywood. I still didn't really know that I wanted to direct. This girl that I was dating, the only girl that I've ever dated, gave me $7. So I had $7 and a bus ticket and a dream. When I came to Los Angeles, I was actually homeless, and I didn't think much about it. I was okay. I snuck into the back of a church, and I stayed there, and the pastor discovered me and said, "If you want to stay here, you got to clean." I said, "Okay." You know, and I noticed that there was a theater that was there. I knew I could write. I knew I was a storyteller. And I said, "Do you mind if I put on one-acts here?" That's my first time actually directing. And I knew that that was meant for me, that whatever was my destiny was on the stage. That would change my life. I learned from the streets. I've used my life experiences, and everything you see up on that screen is my life. And I'm not afraid to tell you my life. Isn't this what an artist does? It wasn't until I felt comfortable with my sexuality and my color, that my dreams were becoming fulfilled.

I love that message. And how often do you hear about people who came from nothing, had zero resources, $7, homeless, and just drove and got it? And when you embrace who you are, right, your one word, your values, what you stand for, your sexuality, your color, all of that, that's when things start to take off. I love this much. It's a great opening clip. Let's keep it going to rule number 2: push yourself more.

What did you learn that influenced Precious after Shadowboxing?

After Precious, I said, okay, I'm gonna give you something unexpected, which is Paperboy. After Paperboy, I'm gonna give you something— my mother was like, I don't understand you, why are you always making these freak show movies? Like, I don't get it, why can't you make movies like Tyler Perry? Miss Johnson down the church says something was wrong with you. Hence the butler. So I made Ms. Johnson happy and my mother happy. So it was like, okay, so I did that, got that PG shit out the way. And then I wanted to surprise them even more. And I said, okay, let me really fuck them up by going into TV. Prime time, not, you know, like, you know, not with that HBO stuff. That's easy for me to do Lee Daniels. So I really, it's about, what have I learned? I've learned to push myself even further as an artist. And, um, as a filmmaker, um, to train myself to do different things. Because doing Lee Daniels, I can do Lee Daniels until the cows come home. That's just about, you know, uh, tripping people up a little bit.

Another great clip, man. 1 and 2 are solid coming from Lee Daniels. It's another constant theme. You got to push yourself to do more, to go harder, to drive, not just keep in that box that everybody wants to put you in— your family, your friends, your past experience, your clients. Keep driving. I love it. Lee Daniels, hitting it up. Next up, rule number 3: Want it badly enough.

What advice would you have for an up-and-coming screenwriter, director, producer for like younger generations?

Run in the other direction. 'Cause it's a drug. And unless you want to breathe it, live it, get rejected, being told no constantly day in and day out, beat down to the ground, stomped. If you can take that, then go. But I would say run in the opposite direction because you keep your head on.

And by the way, that's the same for every industry. If you are not insanely passionate what you're doing, you're going to get beat down. Run towards the thing that you love, love, love doing. Rule number 4, it's got to be my favorite. You know I'm going to love this even though I haven't seen it yet. Believe.

Success is a combination of determination, confidence, and really a belief in a higher power. I'm sure there are far more talented directors than I. I know there are. It's not just about talent. It's about your drive with that talent. I often get asked, "What does it take? How do I get in?" And I think that the only answer for me is an unwavering belief in myself. I think that's what separated me from the people that I grew up with. You know, to dream is a big thing. I keep dreaming.

You know I love that one, guys. Believe, believe, believe nonstop every day. Okay, number 5: Don't take no for an answer.

Never give up on your dream and never ever take no for an answer, as I've never taken no for an answer. A lot of that has to do with me being gay because, you know, I've been— everybody just like— I think when you think of me being— someone had said that I was a force of nature. And how do you get movies made? And how do you just, they're impossibilities. And that was because I was told that I was nothing and that I would be nothing. So I have nothing to lose. You know what I mean? So I think that taking no for an answer is absolutely not acceptable, ever. So I think that that is just, it's something that lives in me.

[Speaker] I love that. And honestly, the more that you surround yourself with people like Lee Daniels, whether it's videos or books or whatever, And they repeat that message, the more it sinks in with you that you will actually stop taking no for an answer. Okay, number 6, just do your work.

You went to 4 broadcast networks with Empire.

Yeah.

2 immediately liked it and said they were very interested in it, and the other 2 didn't, but one of the other 2 was so brutal in their criticism that he said you guys were in the elevator after the pitch and you were practically crying. All of you.

Well, I wasn't.

I'm used to— look, they tell me I can't do anything. Everyone. Everything I've ever done, I've been told by everybody that it should not be done. And starting from Monster's Ball to the— but they laughed me out of Precious. I mean, I'm used to being laughed at.

So does that mean—

I'm used to being mocked. I'm used to being laughed at.

I'm used to being laughed out of offices because that's my career.

Literally not—

and laughed out of offices.

So does that make you much more aggressive and much more—

No. Just more passionate about let's figure out a way to make it happen.

Do you want to prove them wrong?

No, I'm not here to prove anybody wrong. I'm just here to get my work done.

So you're just in your bubble doing your work and the other stuff just is.

Yeah.

So I really like that approach. A lot of time people want to use the negativity and the haters to prove them wrong and like, I'll show you. And he just lets the water go off his back like a duck and moves on and just keeps doing his work. I love it. All right, rule number 7, hook. Hook people in.

I'm struggling to figure out, like, how do I show my audience what I want to say in my scripts? How do I, like, show, like, this is where I want to start?

Where do I overall begin? I begin from a place of, okay, what's going to grab people in their seats? Like, how do you hook them in from the, from the first 5 words? Hook them in. I just keep thinking, hook 'em in, hook 'em in. What? Oh no, hook 'em in. What can you do to hook people? And I think that we're so safe. I think that that's the other thing. We find ourselves so safe with, we're so edited, homogenized Americans, beat down, told no to. So you become afraid of yourself and your thoughts.

Another great point. I think, I think you all have ideas that you know you want to go off and chase that could be amazing, that could hook people in, but you're afraid to do it. You're afraid of rustling the feathers and rocking the boat and being different. So again, watching more of this kind of content, surround yourself with people like Lee Daniels in video form, book form, whatever, will inspire you to let that come out. All right, rule number 8 is live your truth.

How do you deal with pushing the envelope to sensitive subjects in this— particularly in this political climate? You know, your Oscar-worthy friends showing up at, you know, the parties and whatnot and, you know, cornering you in the corner. Lee, why'd you mention this? Or why'd you talk about—

Ugh.

You know, I'm just gonna do me. And I think that we're in some interesting times right now. Not interesting times. Some troubled times. And I think that it's my obligation as an artist I think some of the best literature, some of the best art, some of the best movies will come from— and theater will come from this troubled time that we're in. I think this is the only place to go and express ourselves is through the art. It's hard to live in your truth, you know? I get lots of haters for it. You know, from celebrities even. And, uh, but that— I live in my truth and I will die in my truth.

Yeah, I think doing that takes an insane amount of courage, and most people don't have the courage to be able to do it, and that's why you play small. The people who have the most success are the ones who do the thing that is authentic to them, even if it ruffles feathers, and even if it's not popular, even if it gets them a lot of haters, because that's the only way that you win. Rule number 9: Be on a journey of learning.

I'm learning all along. This is all a new experience for me. I didn't— as I mentioned earlier, Melody— I did not anticipate for this show to be a hit. I didn't. I wanted to, you know, I wanted to say, okay, check, that's off my bucket list. You know, I didn't anticipate it to be a hit at all. I just wanted to step my feet into a world. I wanted to learn as an artist. And so what was your question on it? What was the question? I want to make—

my question was, do you feel a responsibility around these topics?

And then all of a sudden I'm like, you got to have this responsibility.

Responsibility.

You have to have this. I have to feel— and then all of a sudden I'm accountable. I'm accountable for—

Does that feel extra pressure?

Yes.

Or does that—

it does.

It feels extra pressure because I'm just a man. I'm a flawed man. And I'm a flawed man on a journey to learn more. I want to learn how to be a better father. I want to learn how to be a better man.

How are you learning that from your art?

It's therapeutic.

The actual writing and creation?

Because what I do is I— everything you see is what I'm living, you know?

Another super important message, and one that you see amongst high performers constantly driving to learn more, to improve. And what I love about it too is bringing it as a message to other people through the art that you're creating, right? Like, you, you have something that you learn, it's not just for you, but you want other people to digest it too and learn through your experience. I love it. Last rule, number 10: Love music.

Paula Kelly affected me so deeply, and she represented sh—ness and sophistication. It was jaw-dropping. All of the work that I do has been sort of, if you really study the music, even when it's not a musical, music has always been a part of the world that I'm into. So all of the work that I do, it plays a very strong part of the telling of the story. You're drawn and sucked in by music because music, I believe, is a healer. All right, everybody! I know what makes my heart beat fast or gives me goosebumps. For me, it's about making you feel that way, to give you goosebumps, to give you feeling. But one of my favorite numbers ever. Here's the great part about it. Now in Star, They are in the exact same outfits when they can sing that song, "I Can Be." They're in the exact same outfit that Paula Kelly's in, down to the shoe. Artists like she have paved the way for me to be here. So I honor her.

What I love about this is not just loving music, but really honing your craft, right? Like, if he's a director, if he's a producer, he's creating art. To know all the different pieces. He may not be able to make music himself, but he knows what sounds good. He's trying to bring out the best and he's paying tribute to the people who have come before him. And I'm a huge fan of this rule. So thank you guys so much for watching. I hope you enjoyed. I think from these rules, I gotta go with rule number 4, believe, is my favorite. You know I'm always gonna pick believe. I hadn't honestly heard of Lee Daniels before this video. I'm not really into the Hollywood scene, and, uh, he hooked me. That was one of his rules, hook people. I really liked his vibe. I really liked his mindset. I really liked his toughness and attitude and not trying to hurt people but still sticking true to his vision and what he's trying to accomplish. And honestly, after watching this video and making it, I want to learn more about him. I want to, I want to see more of his interviews. I might make some more content around him. So thank you guys for suggesting him and allowing me to be able to make this tribute video for him. If there's somebody who you want me to profile in a future top 10, check out the link in the description. You can go and cast your vote, and we'll see what we can do. I'd also love to know which of the top 10 rules was your personal favorite. What did you learn from Lee that you're going to apply immediately to your life or to your business somehow? Leave in the comments below. I'm really curious to see what you have to say. Thank you again for watching. I believe in you. I hope you continue to believe in yourself and whatever your one word is. Much love. I'll see you soon.

And I remember when I was a kid, uh, when I was a young kid, I stole my mom's car. I was 16 and I stole my mom's Eldorado. And I drove from Philadelphia to Manhattan to see Dreamgirls. And I remember the original production. Huh, and I am telling you, you gonna— And so, and I swear to God, I got tingles down my ass. It was like, it was tingles, tingles, tingles. And I wanted people to feel the same way that I felt when I saw that show. It changed my life. It was the reason why I got into— I'd never seen Black people like in glitter and what the fuck, you know? So for me, I wanted Americans to feel what— how Paris Is Burning influenced me, how Valley of the Dolls influenced me, and how Dreamgirls influenced me. I try to be a good guy. I, you know, I aspire every morning to figure out how to wake up and be a better man so that I don't embarrass myself in front of my kids, or I don't I'll say something that, you know, and then I live in my truth in the moment and try, but I don't. I fall on my ass. I embarrass myself and I pick myself up and I just try to do it again the next day. And I think that my cinema gives life to that gray area that we walk every day. It ain't black, it ain't white, it's fucking gray. It's right in the middle. And I think that we all are, as much as you do, you want to be a good guy, You're not, you know, and that's what makes you human. And I think that that's what I try to tap into. You try to be a good guy, you want to be a good guy, you know you are a good guy, you were born a good guy, but here comes some shit that makes you a bad guy, right? And you know that.

Is this the most challenging thing you've ever done? Yes.

Yeah, hardest thing ever. Only because I'm not the ultimate decision maker. Yeah, if something is on My name's out there. It's my name. And if I'm not the only one making decisions, I have to collaborate. And in the world of film, the director is God. And especially in the world of independent cinema, there is no, the buck stops here. So everything that you see on that screen, I'm responsible for. It doesn't work like that in television. Everybody has a say-so. Yeah. And so you've got to navigate around and sort of, you know, you've got to make— you gotta— I mean, they all want to help. They all want— they all want the best for the show, but, you know, it is what it is. So let me give you the one secret to happiness. One word. This is all you need to be happy. The most important word ever. If you had to think of one word that's most important to you or that sums you up, that would be kind of like a little beacon.

Hey, Believe Nation! If you want to know what the most important one word is for Tony Robbins, Gary Vaynerchuk, Oprah Winfrey, will.i.am, and Howard Schultz, I have a very special secret video for you. Check the description for details.