In this video, Evan Carmichael introduces Damon Dash, co‑founder of Roc‑A‑Fella Records, and lets him share his personal "top 10 rules for success." Dash argues that traditional 9‑to‑5 jobs are inferior to hustling for oneself and one’s family, emphasizing that true work feels like a calling rather than a chore. He stresses extreme patience, comparing building an empire to the 2,000‑year construction of the Great Wall, and insists that long‑term vision often requires waiting years for results. Dash advocates putting one’s own money into ventures, working harder than anyone else, and accepting the inevitable pain that comes with independence. He outlines a hierarchy of personal responsibility—children first, then a partner, then oneself—and insists that an artist must secure basic financial stability before pursuing pure artistry. Fairness is a core principle; he rejects quick, unethical gains, warning of karmic repercussions. Drawing from his own experience of self‑reliance since age 14, he highlights the importance of taste, talent, and work ethic, using music and cultural preferences as a barometer of character. Dash values a versatile staff that can operate across pop‑culture‑driven businesses, rejecting any work that doesn’t make history. Ultimately, he frames success as a function of relentless effort, personal motivation, and the willingness to endure struggle, urging viewers to be hunters who earn their own sustenance.
He's been looking after himself since he was 14 years old. He partnered with Jay-Z to create Roc-A-Fella Records and change the hip-hop industry. He's been involved in businesses from clothing to films to cars. He's Damon Dash, and here are his top 10 rules for success.
9-to-5s aren't good because you hustling for a fucking weekend. But when you can do something that's for yourself and your family, it never feels like work. I hustle for my— I hustle for my last name. I don't hustle for my first. I've learned over the years that, you know, with anything you have to be patient. Not 5 years patient or 5, you know, 5 months patient. You know, you could be 10 years patient if you want to. You know, empires aren't built overnight, you know what I mean? Like I always tell everybody, the Great Wall was a 2,000-year-old plan. 2,000, you know how many lifetimes that is of one plan? You know, and getting people to kind of, you know, do the same, have the same exact agenda for lifetimes, for generations. That's crazy. So, you know, you have to be patient when you want to do something significant, no matter what. And a lot of time that means, you know, not reaping the benefits of something immediately, you know, and that's the test. I don't think my approach on business is what the average person would advise. Like most, I hear people say, never put up your own money. And I'm saying, put your own money up, work harder than everyone, be patient, and just know that if you're gonna do something on your own, you're gonna have to feel some pain. You know, you always have to have something that's paying your bills so that whatever you're creating can breathe. So you don't have to rush it. You don't have to make it, push it to make money when it's not ready. You know what I mean? Like you kind of always have to have something solid and then you, that's paying your bills, you know, because even as an artist, to me as a man, you still have the responsibility to take care of your woman, to take care of your children, and to take care of yourself. And, you know, almost in that order, it's like children, your woman, and then yourself, you know what I'm saying? But all of that should be able to be taken care of. That's a real man, you know. And as an artist, you can't say, all right, well, I'm not going to take care of my children or take care of my woman or even take care of myself well to protect my artistry. Then that's not artistry to me, that's just being lazy, you know what I'm saying? I I think as an artist, you have to fight for that artistry. You know what I'm saying? Like, you have to figure out how to pay your bills so that the artistry can breathe. You know what I mean? And also, you know, that's how you feel like a real man. Have you ever watched a James Bond movie where it doesn't look like he's losing at some point and then he wins? Or Batman or Iron Man or any superhero? There has to be some diversity for you to, you know, overcome to win. You know, you can't be a champ unless you are, you know, in a place where you look like you're going to lose and then you win. The pain that's going to come with being independent, you have to embrace it because it's going to happen. And also know that the more successful you get, the more problems you're going to have, the more knots you're going to have to untie. Being a boss does not mean smooth sailing. It means having the ability to care about other people before yourself and to untie problems, untie knots. That's all it is. It's not business if there's not problems. There's nothing good without struggle. It just doesn't happen. In all my experiences, there hasn't been one thing that's been successful So now when there is pain, I embrace it. You know, I've been embracing it. I'm a G about it because I know that must mean that if I'm cool, that, you know, what awaits me is like the darkest before the dawn. I don't want to like sound corny, but that's really what— that's what has to happen. I'm always going to play fair. You know what I mean? Like, I don't believe in doing anything unless it's fair because I believe there's always karmic repercussions from doing things unfair. So what could appear to be a win or something that appears to be a fast you know, fast money, I know in the long run I'm gonna suffer. You know, it's always a test. Anything quick is a test. You know, I can get it quick if I don't have to cheat, but if I gotta cheat to get it fast, I don't want it. My parents haven't bought me clothes since I was about 14. My parents haven't, I haven't had nobody buy me nothing, let's say that. No one's taken care of me since I was 14 years old, and I didn't want nobody taking care of me 'cause they couldn't. What they was trying to buy me, I wasn't trying to wear. Taste, talent, and work ethic. You know what I mean? And all of that, I need all of it. You know, taste, talent, work ethic, you know, perspective. So when I interview, or even when the people I work with find more talent, they have to bring me— I have to get a mixtape from them because I need to know what music they're listening to. Because taste in music tells a lot about a person. It really does. I got to know who their best, their favorite designer is, what's the last book they read, favorite artist. And it's funny because sometimes, you know, you get those, the answers are hilarious, but people be trying. They don't have, you know, but you know, you honestly have to have your, like, I look for all your senses to be activated. You know what I mean? Like, I need you to have good taste in music. I need you to have work ethic. I need you to be a good person. I need you to have good taste in clothes. You know, I need to be— you need to be able to be savvy in more than just one thing. Like, everyone in my staff can do, like, there's not one job that anyone does in my staff. If I make a regular business that doesn't touch pop culture, doesn't make history, then to some people that would be considered going backwards. That's not pressure for me because I could care less what people think, and I don't think there's anything about my career where you would think I did it for someone else. I'm just constantly trying to impress myself. I've accomplished, relatively speaking, a lot of things. And because of that, I've been able to do exactly what inspires me. Everyone has the ability to take care of themselves. You can always be a hunter. You can always eat the food you kill. It's just about how lazy you are. You know what I'm saying? Period. It's all about your effort.
Thank you guys so much for watching. I hope you enjoyed. My question of the day for you is, do you agree with Damon Dash that you need to put up your own money money to be an entrepreneur? Leave a comment below. I'm curious to see what you think. Now, I made this video because Jose Cruz asked me to, so if there's a famous entrepreneur that you want me to profile, leave a comment underneath and I'll see what I can do. If you like this video and you want to see more, don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter and the channel. Have a great day. Continue to believe, and I hope you'll join me again tomorrow at 7:00 AM Eastern for another video to help you start your day on the right foot.
