From Power to Prosperity: The Business Wisdom of 50 Cent
Fifty walks through every challenge both personal and business alike. Taking the time to share his insight and perspective while sharing his emotions at the moment and now those of a more reflective nature. He takes the reader on a journey of maturing from a rapper on the streets of Queens NY looking for his big break. To a successful producer of one of the top series Power with multi-year and several million dollars contract.
Get Rich or Die Tryin’: How 50 Cent’s Help Can Level Up Your Professional Game
I have read my fair share of management books. Several of these bring forth new ideas or perspectives on how to handle various challenges or situations. Everything from Goal Setting, Team Building, and Career Advancement. Every now and then some new advice pops in or you might run across something unique but the majority of the time the reading is redundant. Hey… Redundant is not always bad. Reviewing the basics is always helpful and hearing that you are doing it “right”, can be reassuring. But it’s also boring and takes its toll.
I decided to step out of the typical dribble on business management and Fifty did not disappoint for this first venture. He takes the reader backstage in the music industry. Exposing the smoke and mirrors of the marketing for what it truly is. One example he shares with his reader comes from his own lyrics “You can find me in the club, bottle full of bub”. Referencing champagne and nights of extravagant drinking. This was the picture painted of the artist and his lifestyle… You might be surprised to find that Fifty Cent does not drink.
You heard that right! Not a drop of liquor nor does he partake in any organic stimulants. Sober, alert, and extremely tuned into his surroundings is how Fifty spends his time at the club or any event where business is discussed. He invites the reader to try being sober around a group while they drink and celebrate.
“First I’ll pour drinks from a bottle of Champagne for everyone who is in VIP with me. When the bottle is empty, I’ll give it to one of my guys and have him quietly refill it with ginger ale,” he writes.
“For the rest of the night, I’ll have that bottle in my hand. I’ll take swigs every now and then just to keep the vibe right, but I’m not drinking anything but Canada Dry.”
What valuable business insights can a Professional gain from 50 Cent?
What can a Rapper share about business and management? Quite a bit actually. Everything from how points work on an album that is being produced. To finding potential brands for sponsorship and how to court them. Its extremely intriguing for anyone starting out in business and refreshing to hear from someone successful say “I had no idea what I was getting into or doing”. Fifty goes into detail on how he won a sponsorship with Vitamin Water. He actually slipped the product into a commercial with his then biggest sponsor Reebok. Once the Product Owners saw the entertainer was a fan, they reached out and offered him a very lucrative endorsement deal. The story is one of many that showcases the business mindset of the master entertainer.
Fifty gives advice on Conflict Resolution: How to win over Oprah.
Fifty Cent also has had his share of challenges, including a tumultuous relationship with Oprah Winfrey. Initially, the two were at odds, with Fifty Cent criticizing Oprah for not understanding hip hop culture and Oprah expressing frustration with the rapper’s controversial lyrics. Despite these challenges, Fifty Cent eventually won over Oprah and her audience with his charisma and willingness to engage in meaningful discussions about important social issues. In his own words, Fifty Cent has said, “I don’t hate people, I just love some less than others. Haters are my motivators.” This quote reflects his philosophy of using negativity and criticism as fuel to drive his success and overcome any challenges that come his way. This attitude definitely has a place within the corporate world.
From The 48 Laws of Power to The Art of War: 50 is known to keep his nose buried in a book or two
Rest assured Fifty Cent is reading the Top Shelf blog and staying on top of all of the latest tools and skills. Aside from the obvious though, Curtis Jackson is actually a pretty active student of history. He dedicates a few chapters to his pursuits of knowledge and shares his respect for others at the top of their fields in History, Political Studies, and Economics. Beyond writing his book Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter; Fifty has also contributed to other books as well.
His most notable contribution would be the 50 Laws of Power. This was a rewrite on the existing 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. We will definitely be reviewing this book and more at a later date on Top Shelf.
