5 Entrepreneurial Lessons from Jay-Z

August 21st, 2012 - By madamenoire

Source: thegrio.com

From theGrio.com

The New York Times recently published an article about the successful partnership between the Brooklyn Nets and hip-hop mogul Jay-Z. Although he only owns 1/15th of 1 percent of the Nets, Jay-Z has leveraged this small percentage of equity into an opportunity to increase his earnings through the indirect income that the Nets franchise can facilitate. With an entertainment career that has lasted over 16 years, Jay-Z has demonstrated incredible staying power and an intuitive acumen possessed only by the shrewdest of businessmen. Based on the brilliance of his career, here are five things Jay-Z can teach us about entrepreneurship.

Get started with your dreams even if you are the only one who believes in yourself

Jay-Z’s mainstream rap career started in 1996 with Reasonable Doubt, arguably his best album. Interestingly, all of the major record labels refused to give Jay-Z a deal, a decision that most probably regret. Instead of continuing to beg for validation like many other artists, Jay-Z started his own record label with Damon Dash and Kareem Biggs. Roc-A-Fella Records was born. While critically acclaimed, Reasonable Doubt only reached 23rd on the Billboard 200 list — far lower than it probably would have, if he had had a major label behind him. However, this start gave Jay-Z the momentum and ownership over his own brand that he needed to achieve future success.

Read the rest of these tips at theGrio.com.

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  • Mytisque

    That ho*e Kim Kardashian is gonna him and gone before “Bey-Bey” know it.

  • TRUTH IS

    Scheme and scam errbody. Look at what his and Dame’s relationshit is about!!

  • justmyop

    Didn’t he basically undermine everyone he was associated with that’s why he is friends with Gwen because everyone he used to Rock with he stepped on or over!

  • toasty

    JayZ is not as rich as he makes himself out to be nor has he has he ever fully owned or controlled any of the ‘businesses’ he’s been affiliated to, so the only lessons to learn from him are ‘lie to the world and ride other people’s coattails to the best of your ability’ – I bet he’s surprised it worked so well himself!

    • Na Na

      I was noticing that when they talked about his ownership that is has also been a small portion of a company and never the outright owner.

  • A Person

    1)Make violence against humanity(especially black men) seem acceptable by bragging about it

    2) Brag that you have sold tons of illicit drugs in the “hood” to other black people.

    3) Call women (including your wife) every demeaning name ever created.

    4) Boast to the world about your time spent in prison and how that makes you a gangster/man.

    5) Most importantly, continually tell the word that you sleep with numerous females, you wear designer gear, and drive luxury cars.

    **For added bonus, be sure to shun proper grammar and speak as though you’re not enlightened.

    There you have it, folks, Jay-Z’s entrepreneurial guide to wealth and fame.