How To Overcome Self Imposed Limitations | Shakira | Top 10 Rules

Any kind of art discipline, I think the possibilities are endless. I think this life is so brief, and we spend it sometimes imposing over ourselves so many limitations. Never underestimate a 5-foot-3 Colombian girl.

Shakira is a firecracker.

Wait!

She's a Colombian singer, songwriter, dancer, and record producer. Her song "Hips Don't Lie" is one of the best-selling singles of the 21st century. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is one of the best-selling Latin artists of all time. She's Shakira, and here's my take on her top 10 rules for success. Rule number 1 is my personal favorite, and I'd love to know which one you guys like the best. Also, guys, as you're watching, if you hear something that really resonates with you, please leave it down in the comments below and put quotes around it so other people can be inspired. Also, when you write it down, it's much more likely to lock in for yourself as well. Enjoy.

You know, I grew up in Colombia. Colombia is a developing country where a lot of people don't have access to the most basic needs and where education is considered a luxury, unfortunately, because we all know that education is a birthright. And I just grew up frustrated seeing seeing how many people weren't able to realize their own dreams, you know. When I was 8 years old, my dad underwent an economic crisis, a financial crisis, you know. He lost his business and we struggled economically for many years. We lost our car, we lost our furniture, and I remember vividly the day I walked in my house and all the furniture was gone because my dad had to pay his debts. And it was quite, well, shocking for me, you know. I was 7, 8 years old. And when I saw this, I was so frustrated and so upset with my parents because I couldn't understand how they did so poorly in business, you know. I'm like, why? Why? You know, I couldn't get it. And my dad and my mom took me to the park where they showed me other kids my age sniffing glue. They were orphans. They had no one to watch after them. And they were barefoot. And they were abandoned to their own luck. And it probably left such an impression in my impressionable mind at that age that I remember that day. And I remember that I made myself a promise. I said to myself, Shakira, you have to succeed. Because you have to ride in a car again one day, you know? You have to get your own car someday. And I wanted to vindicate my parents socially and economically. And I also wanted to someday do something for those kids who I saw that day in the park. So as soon as I had my first big success with Pies Descalzos, which was my third album, I decided to establish my own foundation and do I wanted to do my own contribution to the change, even if it was going to be a small one, but I wanted to be active. And that's how it all started, you know, going through my own financial struggle and the struggle of my family and understanding that the one thing that I never lacked was care, protection, and an education. And that's probably what made me thrive in life. I didn't know exactly how this album was going to turn out. You know, you can never predict those kind of things, and there's nothing scarier than standing in front of a white canvas. You never know if you're going to be able to provide something new to those who expect it. But, you know, in any kind of art discipline, I think the possibilities are endless, and that's something that I always learn the hard way with every album, you know, because I suffer through the process sometimes. I'm like, oh my God, I'm never going to do anything that I want. Like, until boom, it appears magically, you know. Like, I guess if you keep rubbing the lamp, the genius of the lamp has got to show up at some time. This has been my experience throughout the years with every album. I get really, really nervous the first months in the studio, searching, exploring, trying things that sometimes don't work. Until you find the magic, you know, or the magic finds you while you're working.

So when you meet new talent, emerging talent, and you're mentoring them, if— what if you don't have the confidence that they have the level of talent required to achieve greatness? How do you counsel them? What do you say to make them feel confident, to not rob them of that moment? But also steer them in the right direction? I mean, you can't say, you really, you're a zero.

No, by talking to them, understanding what their concerns are, what sort of self-image they have, and trying to show them their strengths too. And if they have some kind of weakness, well, trying to not focus on those weaknesses. I think in the entertainment industry, that's what works, you know? You know your strengths, you milk them. You know your weaknesses, you try not to focus on them so much so that the audience doesn't focus on them as much. I'm more worried now about being true to myself and being honest. And, you know, maybe 10 years ago, I would have not done a video like She-Wolf, but Now it's something I feel like doing, you know. So why am I going to deprive myself from or deny myself the possibility of expressing the way I feel? I want to express myself freely. I don't want to be in a golden cage anymore. I don't want to be put behind bars. I think this life is so brief and we spend it sometimes imposing over ourselves so many limitations and obstacles that don't allow us to grow as we would like to, you know. And yes, I feel, you know, very much like a woman. And this time around, I wanted to show my legs. I never showed my legs, you know, for 20 years. And I always did all my performances with long pants. And believe it or not, I never showed my legs. And one day I looked at them and I said, "Hey, they're not bad. They're kind of short, but they take me to places. I think it's now or never." You know? It's about time to really embrace my individuality and my freedom as a woman, as a person. And that's a message that I encourage to other women. And that doesn't mean necessarily letting yourself be objectified, because that means satisfying the desires of other people. You know, I say satisfy your own desires, you know, and live your life to the fullest because it's short. And all these awards after winning so many Grammys and the rest of it, what, what sort of motivates you to create new things, new music? You know, I shouldn't be this motivated, you know, because after so many years I should be a little bit more calm about everything, but I, I love what I do and I'm always putting myself in front of new challenges and And I guess I'm still hungry. How am I going to discover the talents that my son has? And how am I going to encourage him to follow his own dreams? And it's a conundrum, and it's a challenge for every parent out there, I think. But if it weren't because of my mom, I think that I would have never made it. Because she realized that I was talented. But not only that, she supported me. Believed in me and she went ahead and helped me, helped me build my confidence, my own confidence, confidence in myself, which is a vital tool that you need in order to survive any kind of job. Why do you think it all came together for you? Why? Lots of hard work, lots of determination. I consider myself a laborer of what I do, an artisan. And I think I've been building my career putting a brick over a brick under the sun with sweat and hard work. That's the way I've done it. And I haven't given up, not one moment. There must, there must be something very abnormal about this because it's been so many years doing this and I still care so much. And I don't think that's normal, you know. But with every project, I feel that I haven't accomplished anything, that I feel that I'm starting from zero. And I care tremendously in a way that sometimes it surprises me. So you feel like you have to prove yourself over and over again? Yes, I think that I have that I have to embrace new challenges, and, and, and those challenges make me grow, and growing is the only way to go, and the only way I conceive life, you know. So yeah, that's the way I see it. I think that we all come to this world with a star, with a talent, and with a gift, and then later dreams are born. And no one, absolutely no one, has the authority to stop those dreams. You know, when I was 7 years old, I came to Los Angeles for the first time, and I passed by the Walk of Fame with my mother and a friend of hers who's actually here with us today. And I remember that my mom told me, "Shaki, one day you're going to have your name on this place." If someone would have overheard this conversation, they would have thought that my mom was delirious, but she was not, and here we are. So I want to say to all of you to dream as big as you can, because in this country everything is possible.

You sound so passionate about so many diverse pieces of your life that the big question is, how do you juggle all that? Like, how do you make all of that happen and successfully, from your music career to being being a mom to being a life partner to— like, all of that is so hard to juggle. How do you do it? What's the secret behind that?

I don't know how I'm going to keep doing it. That's a good question. Because with a baby, things tend to change a lot. But, you know, I have a great team, people who understand me very well, who understand my cause, my commitments. And who support him and make my life easier. So it is very important to be well surrounded.

You're perfect, Shakira. She is. You're perfect. She is a perfect woman. But we're talking about winning this show right now. Come on.

Don't be mean. Uh-oh.

Damn it. There is nothing worse than being scolded by Shakira when she goes from 0 to 100, you're not gonna get a word in.

I'm speaking from the bottom of my heart as to how things are gonna get on this competition. Sorry.

You never get into an argument with a Latin woman. Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. You don't mess with Shakira. Don't debate with her.

Hold on. Time out. Time out. Time out. It's a complicated decision.

Time out. While she's talking, shut up.

I just want to say something. I want to say something. Guys, you're a completely different animal, you know? I mean, these are— Alpha dogs. Perros alfa. Never underestimate a 5-foot-3 Colombian girl.

Shakira is a firecracker. She's very spicy. You're coming to my team, so let's make this quick.

Not without my permission first.

Here's what I do when Shakira starts getting feisty. I do this.

I, Shakira Mebarak, born in Barranquilla, Colombia.

I promise you, Adam Dolabim from Los Angeles, California. Hey, Adam.

You know he has a tattoo that says, "Wrong coach for you." Damn, the claws are out. It's hard. It's hard to be right all the time. No, no, no. That's not that.

Are you going to take that? Hey, hey, my hips don't lie. Tell him, Shakira. Tell him. Personally, I think it's adorable. I actually love that side of her. It doesn't matter what Shakira says, it's always right. Thank you.

Thank you guys so much for watching. I made this video because Khalid Azam asked me to. So if there's a famous entrepreneur that you want me to profile next, leave it down in the comments below and I'll see what I can do. I'd also love to know what did Shakira say that had the biggest impact on you? What clip was your favorite from these 10? And also, what are you going to immediately take from this video and apply somehow to your life or to your business? Leave it down in in the comments below, and I'm gonna join in the discussion. Finally, I want to give a quick shout out to Dan Purvis. Dan, thank you so much for picking up a copy of my book, Your One Word. It really, really, really, really means a lot to me, and I hope you're enjoying the read. So thank you guys so much 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.

To be able to succeed in America was very important. It represented to me a reaffirmation as an artist. He should keep it, just have notes, you know. Let's try it. Performing on VMAs means freedom, means that you really have your chance to do whatever you want up on stage, and it means being among the most successful artists. It's too long still, just a little bit. If I could just conquer my own insecurities and conquer, uh, other hearts too, it would demonstrate that my music was powerful enough to transcend so many barriers. You do one and you wait. No, no. And then, you know, I'm so excited with what we have now that I would like the VMAs to happen tonight. I would be ready. Oh, I'm falling apart in your hands again. I am the conqueror.