Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, television producer, and businessman. Known for his impact in the hip hop industry, he has been described as a “master of the nuanced art of lyrical brevity”.
Born in the South Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, Jackson began selling drugs at age 12 during the 1980s crack epidemic. He later began pursuing a musical career and in 2000 he produced Power of the Dollar for Columbia Records, but days before the planned release he was shot and the album was never released. In 2002, after 50 Cent released the compilation album Guess Who’s Back?, he was discovered by Eminem and signed to Shady Records, under the aegis of Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records.
50 Cent has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and won several awards, including a Grammy Award, thirteen Billboard Music Awards, six World Music Awards, three American Music Awards and four BET Awards.
Here are some of 50 Cent’s success lessons:
1. Don’t Compromise Your Character
In a world where everyone is different, so many opinions and lifestyle choices can be pushed upon you by others you know. Don’t let this happen; be yourself, you are this way for a reason. This statement also goes for your goals as well.
Don’t let your family and friends try and tell you that your goals are unrealistic and that you’ll never reach your dreams. Your character is very important and is who you are. It makes you unique to the world.
2. There are no guarantees in life
This is part one of a universal lesson which we all learn at one point in our early lives, but always seem to forget. Nothing is guaranteed — not even if you’re a multimillionaire, and have your face plastered all over movie posters, magazine covers, or best-sellers lists. 50 Cent was, for a brief time, among the most well-known rappers and entertainers on the planet. He had platinum albums, movies, and video games — and it all wasn’t enough to keep him from filing for bankruptcy.
That’s the important thing to remember here: no matter how much you have, material wealth is just material wealth. And money and possessions can be lost or taken from you with much more ease than it can be gained.
3. Reinvent Yourself
When you get started operating in the business world, most things you will be doing be be exactly the same as other businesses are.
But things never stay the same, and you must be willing to adapt to new conditions in order to keep up with the world moving as fast as it is.
A notorious example of this is the introduction of social media websites, which although have existed for over a decade, the marketing side of things didn’t quite come in until several years ago.
Before social media, most people would market their websites using methods like directories, article marketing and so on. Although these are still used as traffic methods, nothing can beat social media right now.
4. Focus on your strengths
Jackson decided that in addition to being a rapper, his forte, he also needed to be an actor, and an entrepreneur. While we won’t pass judgment on his acting skills, it speaks volumes that it’s somewhat difficult to name a single film he’s appeared in. He’s had some success on the entrepreneurial side of the coin in the G-Unit clothing line and a few other ventures, but he’ll always be known for his main talent: rapping.
5. The Only Voice that Matters is Yours
Other people will always be trying to force their opinions on you when you’re trying to something that might not be considered as normal.
They don’t quite have the same vision you have, and maybe they’re telling you not to go through with it or to re-focus your energy elsewhere.
Don’t doubt your voice and your opinion. You become what you believe and what you constantly tell yourself. If you have doubts in what you’re saying, then how can you expect everyone else to believe in you?
6. Nothing lasts forever
To follow up with part two of that universal lesson: nothing is set in stone. 50 Cent had good reason to think that his talents would continue to support him for years to come. And for the most part he’s been right. He’s still a multi-talented entertainer and businessman, and nobody can take that from him. But it’s his decision-making and poor behavioral choices that have led him to this point. As noted on the previous page, you can have all the material wealth in the world, but you won’t ever be able to keep it. Eventually, you lose it, give it up, or die.
That’s a lesson that we are all keenly aware of, but often forget. As the Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus once said, “Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” What does that mean for you? Don’t take anything for granted. Not a rap career, or a huge investment in Vitamin Water.
7. Devote Your Life to Your Dream
Every dream can come true, you just need to devote your life to it.
Work towards your dreams and even if you haven’t quite reached them yet, just be happy that you’re working towards them and making improvements in your daily life. As 50 Cent states, “Get rich or die trying”.
8. Push Past the Boredom
When you’re trying so hard to be good at the thing you love, it can be slightly boring at first when you’re repetitively doing things to improve your skills. You need to be willing to push past this point.
Practice makes perfect, and once you’ve moved past the boredom stages of struggling, you’ll be a lot happier and start having a lot more fun with it.
