A Review of Daymond John’s Rise and Grind
Rise and Grind is the first of Daymond John’s books that I have read, and I was pleasantly impressed.
If you are wondering who Daymond John is, he is the founder and CEO of FUBU, a respected entrepreneur, and one of the stars of the ABC series Shark Tank.
Rise and Grind is a great, gritty and genuine read on how to grind out results. The stories of other entrepreneurs—not only Daymond’s own experience—provide a deeper perspective on the habits needed to win in life.
The stories that stayed with me
Kristina Guerrero
Kristina Guerrero, an ex-military officer, developed a portable meal bar for dogs after struggling to find a convenient way to feed her dog while hiking. She was not initially looking to start a business; she simply wanted to solve a problem she personally understood. Working with her partner, a food scientist, she spent nearly two years refining a recipe her dogs would accept. Her story is a strong example of how a practical need can become a viable idea.
Al and Brittani Baker
Father-and-daughter entrepreneurs Al and Brittani Baker built their work around barbecue and boneless ribs. Al’s journey began informally when an American-football teammate paid for one of his homemade sandwiches. Demand grew among teammates and coaches, turning a simple lunch into an early lesson in serving customers.
After leaving football, Al explored other ventures and learned the less glamorous mechanics of full-time entrepreneurship: payroll, taxes, staffing and operations. He eventually returned to what he loved—cooking—while Brittani contributed to sales and marketing. Their story shows that talent matters, but understanding how a business runs matters too.
Carlos Santana
The section on legendary guitarist Carlos Santana is fundamentally about reinvention. His story highlights the importance of continuing to learn, adapt and accept change in order to stay relevant. It also reinforces a useful balance: practise seriously, then trust the ability you have developed.
Kyle Maynard
Kyle Maynard is an athlete, speaker and author born with congenital amputation. His story demonstrates that difficult circumstances do not have to define the scale of a person’s ambition or contribution.
Success is in the routine
The minute-by-minute account of Daymond John’s daily activities further validates the saying, “success is in the routine.” At the same time, his schedule is not rigid for rigidity’s sake. He adapts his work to the demands of the moment and makes time to be where his audience and market actually are.
The practical lesson is simple: go to where your market lives. Direct contact with customers gives you information that is difficult to gain from a distance.
My key takeaways
- Pursue ambitious ideas even when other people doubt them.
- Put the resources and assets already available to you to productive use.
- Work directly with customers, step beyond familiar routines and observe the market firsthand.
- Consistent effort, applied with passion and precision, compounds into stronger results.
- Opportunity often arrives unexpectedly; persistence keeps you moving and positions you to benefit when the breakthrough comes.
So my people: Rise and Grind, so you can Rise and Shine.
Written by Olumide Holloway (King Olulu)
Rise and Grind
Daymond John with Daniel Paisner
Currency · First published 2018
About Olumide Holloway
Olumide Holloway (King Olulu) is a poetpreneur, storyteller, screenwriter, author and spoken-word poet. He is co-founder and Chief Content Curator of Poetreel and has been closely involved in developing Nigeria’s spoken-word ecosystem through platforms including WORD UP and War of Words.