The Most Powerful Success Philosophy That Will Change Your Life | Donald Glover "Childish Gambino"

You know that like success is something that you define for yourself and it can't really be defined by anybody else for you. I only want to make things that are going to reach as many people as possible. I don't believe in niche. I never want to settle. I never want to be like just happy with where I'm at. I'm just going to prove you wrong. I'd much rather you sit there and be like, "Huh, I was wrong." Anything— anybody who's trying to tell you like you need to gain like monetary value like right now from your art, is somebody who is eating off of you. There's something really nice about having an idea and then running into the room and then recording it. Yeah, I don't want a boss. I don't think we need that. This is about life. I'm trying to be real, because the internet isn't real. I'm definitely not a rapper. I don't want to be a rapper. Rappers can only get this far. I don't want to be the guy on camera being like, "You should be following your dreams," and then people are like, "I have 5 kids." He's an American actor, comedian, and musician.

As a recording artist, he usually performs with the stage name Childish Gambino. He was nominated for 2 Grammy Awards in 2015. He's Donald Glover, and here are his top 10 rules for success.

Define success for yourself early. And it can change, it's okay. But just like, know that like success is something that you define for yourself, and it can't really be defined by anybody else for you because everybody else is kind of full of shit. And you know, you gotta, you really have to believe in yourself. And not in a like believe in yourself way, but like in a like know what you're getting out of it. Like you can't change a lot of things around you. And like a lot of people are gonna tell you a lot of things. You have to have faith in yourself and have like, you know, good friends around you. So I would just say like, you know, be good to yourself. Like, you know, believe in yourself, do what you want, and be like cool be cool with it, be okay with that, like, like yourself. You know, like, you should be— like, nobody should ever, like, you should never put out something and be like, this isn't a good whatever. Like, I think it's whack, like, that Macklemore is like, oh, this album shouldn't have won, like, Kendrick, he should have won. I'm like, that's whack. Like, if you believe in that album, you should be like, I thought my album was better. Because, like, that's the thing, I think my album's, like, the best. I love my album. I think it's dope. Like, if I was a kid, I'd be like, This album's the truth. Like, why not like your own stuff? So yeah, like your stuff. I hate niche. Yeah, I'm so tired of niche. Like, niche is something that like I'm glad to see go away from this past decade. Yeah, like it makes sense, I guess. Like, it makes sense, uh, like after the, after the internet, like that model makes sense for a lot of things, I guess, like making it niche. But like I think we just need to be smarter, like making, making a product for only a select few. You can definitely sustain that product. But I feel like the risk that you take of like maybe it's good for everybody is worth it. Because, you know, I only want to make things that are going to reach as many people as possible. I don't believe in niche. Like, I think that that is a really lame way that, that comes from wanting more money.

Yeah.

You know, like, or just like being able— not even more money, but stable money, because you know you can get— and I'm just like, I'm not interested in making things safe. I just don't want to be okay with where I'm at. Like, I never want to settle. I never want to be like just happy with where I'm at. Like, I always want to be going for better. So like, that's all I'm at. Yeah. Like, I like— I just want to always get better at stuff. You're not against bullying? I'm not. What do you mean? I'm not against, like, bullying because I feel like the world is bullies. Like, there's so many people who are going to tell you that what your idea is stupid or like you don't belong here or you don't deserve certain things. And wouldn't it be a better place if people didn't do that? But you're saying you're not against it because it's unrealistic to be against it? I'm saying like we probably wouldn't have Kanye West, Bill Gates, or anyone. Without someone being like, you're not worth it. Like, we wouldn't have them. And like, we wouldn't have people who were like, no, this is worth it. Because if everybody's ideas was worth it, and if they felt that way, everybody felt like that, we'd just have, it'd be just like nothing. Everything would be the same. You need somebody to keep being like, no, I'm right. You need a Joan of Arc who's like, no, I'm right, I'm right, I'm right, I'm right. Even if it's crazy, even if it's crazy. But like, and then eventually people are like, maybe they're not right. Are you that way? I mean, yeah, I like to believe that. I mean, people tell me that. Because you seem like such a modest guy when you're on the show. I'm a salty dude though.

Are you?

Oh yeah, I remember everybody who says stuff. Like, I mean, like, I got beefs with people. Like, I remember stuff. I remember totally. And I'm like, most of the things I do is just like, nah, I'm right. And I believe in myself more than— You're vengeful? Not vengeful, I'm salty. What's the difference? The difference would be like, vengeful is like, I'm gonna come and destroy you, I think. Like, it's like, I'm gonna wait. I'm gonna take— I'm taking your number down, and I'm coming for you. Coming for you. I'm salty, which means— I think salty is a different thing, because I'm like, I'm just gonna prove you wrong. I'd much rather you sit there and be like, huh, I was wrong, because then I think that's growing. Like, there's lots of times where I've done stuff and I'm like, I was wrong about that, and I didn't even know. And then it makes you like look at things differently on experiences in your life. Like, I want to make people think, like, you were wrong. I think, like, you know, anybody who has control over their art should just be doing it. Like, I made a short film, and that was just art. Yeah. I just wanted to make that. Anything— anybody who's trying to tell you, like, you need to gain, like, monetary value, like, right now from your art is somebody who is eating off of you. Like, immediately. Like, that's the truth. There's somebody who's eating off of you. But the thing is, like, you're eating off of you because you— I only see, like, what I want to make. That's all I see. Like, when people ask, like, are you want to do this? Do you want to do that? I'm like, I only see the thing I'm supposed to make. I'm not concerned on whether or not what's it called, or like, is this called painting or music or whatever? I'm just— this is the thing I'm supposed to make. And I go to it. So worrying about monetary value or like, are people gonna pay for this, is only gonna like ruin this. It's only gonna make this less of what I want it to be. And yeah, I mean, that's— I don't know. I don't want to like make albums or like toys or anything. I want to make concepts that people are like, wow, like this really changed, you know. I have dreams where like things are still like upside down when I turn them and I'm still trying to figure out how to do that in real life. Yeah, I just, I don't see the point in like cutting yourself short. And I know like people, it's weird, like, no, I don't think it's weird. I think it's just kind of bullshit, but someone's like, oh, it's pretentious like to not like studios and like get there. I was like, yeah, but I don't know any artist who really likes studios. Like not because like studios are bad places, just like, you know, I feel like I'm wasting money there. Like every time I'm not like doing something, I'm like, like this hour cost blah blah blah. There's something really nice about like having an idea and then running into the room and then recording it, not worrying about, you know, anything other than like you're hanging with your friends. So like we kind of— I just tried to make the vibe like, you know, you're making something with your friends. The more people who enjoy something, the more likely everybody else will. Like, you know, you have like a testing market in your house. And you're hanging out with people who are like-minded. You said you never wanna work for anyone. Yeah, I don't want a boss. I don't think we need that. Like, I don't. I mean, we don't. I mean, we live in a time, we live in a time now where it's like easier now than ever to do anything. Like, I don't understand. Like, people come up to me like, how do I start making a movie? Or how do I? I was just like, you got a phone. Like, film. If I had a phone when I was like 7, I would've made every movie I ever thought. I just would be doing it all the time. There's a lot of like, that's the thing, what we're fighting for, what I'm fighting for right now, and not just— I'm not doing this in music. This is not about rap. I'm an artist. This is about life. I'm trying to be real because the internet isn't real. There's so much shit that happens online and people perceive it and it's packaged as real, but nothing's real anymore. My man, my man. Like, that's the reason, like, people like this, Donald looks awkward, or there's a mistake here. I'm like, yeah. 'Cause it's real. I'm constantly trying to be real. So like, that's the thing is, if I say something— Oh, Donald, look awkward. I got news for you. Guess what? Donald is awkward. That's why I'm here, by the way. But that's the thing. I am though. And that's what makes me me. And you guys deal with it. So it's like, I don't— I'm not— and also it's like, I'm not worried. Like, yeah, like I can figure it out. Like, I'm not a dummy. Like, and I stand up for what I believe in. Like, and hip is not about hip-hop. It's about life. Like, this is real. I represent real. I'm trying to do real stuff. I sort of feel like I've said this before, like, like I listen to Kanye interviews and he's like, I can't go any farther, like, glass ceiling. Like, I used to want to be like, I need to be a rapper. Like, I'm trying to be like a rapper and just do all this stuff. And I was like, oh man. And I realized like, yo, that's my superpower. I'm not a rapper. I'm definitely not a rapper. I don't want to be a rapper. Rappers can only get this far. Like they can only go so far. And I want, Like, this is a gift. Like, I get to make this show. Like, it's something that nobody else gets to make it and make it weird and personal and something that I think no one— they wouldn't let, probably, they wouldn't let Schoolboy Q do it, even though he's probably got crazy dope ideas, you know? But like, I think this is my, like, superpower. I wanna, like, yeah, yeah, like, I wanna do something dope. I guess the worst thing that could happen to me right now would be if I just couldn't make things anymore, like if there wasn't an outlet. And be honest, like, I feel like— I think the one thing I'm thankful for is that, like, I can still, like, change stuff. Like, it's like I can still do things differently. Like, I meant that when I wrote that on the Instagram. I was like, "You can always be better." Like, I seriously meant that. So I guess I'm very thankful that, like, you know, Things aren't always over until they're over. Because no one feels like they're good enough. Yeah. Like, no one does. Like, everybody, we all— I mean, like, how old are you? 28. Yeah, we were all like around that age where it was like, like, jobs weren't there after they came out, and people were just kind of like, oh, that's what I feel like. I'm being lied to because it's just like everybody kind of became a freelance photographer, freelancer. Everybody became a freelance And then you realize like, oh man, no one's really happy. Like, no one really— no one's really happy because we're not attaining those goals that everybody told us. We're supposed to have kids and do like all these things. Yeah. And no one's really happy because like they realize like all those things are kind of not what make you happy. That's what our parents did to like have purpose. They were like, yeah, and now we have all that stuff. And like the thing we're supposed to do is really be helping each other, but we've been brought up in this kind of like Well, I'm supposed to be like the top-ranking manager at this thing by this point. Yeah. And it's not real. It's just not real. It's not necessary. Everybody should be just following their passion because they're gonna be good at that at most. But like people are too worried about, you know, their jobs because people gotta eat. It's sad, but it's just like, it's true. Like people gotta eat and I feel bad. Like I don't want to be the guy on camera being like, you should be following your dreams. And then people like, I have 5 kids. You know, I can't do that. But I think it's true. Like, people are scared and vulnerable because it's dangerous to do that. But I don't think we're going to grow if we don't.

Thank you so much for watching. I made this video because John Huang asked me to. So if there's a famous entrepreneur that you want me to profile next, leave it in the comments below and I'll see what I can do. I'd also love to know which of the top 10 rules hit you the hardest, is going to have the biggest impact. Leave it in the comments and I'll join the discussion. And my personal goal on the channel is to get it to 1 million subscribers, so anything you can think of to do to share the video, spread it, tell friends about it, tweet it, I'd really deeply appreciate it. Thank you guys so much for watching. Continue to believe, and I'll see you soon.