đ¸ From Hollis Hustler to Shark Tank Boss: What Daymond John Can Teach You About Wealth, Grit & Getting Yours
How Daymond John went from sewing shirts in Queens to building a $6 billion brandâand how you can flip your broke story, too.
𧾠From Queens to the World: The Daymond John Story
Before he was a Shark.
Before the suits, the cameras, the business empires.
Before he was giving multi-million-dollar deals on national TV...
Daymond John was just a broke kid in Hollis, Queens, raised by a single mom, hustling to survive in a neighborhood where struggle was the norm.
Born in 1969, Daymond didnât come from money. His parents divorced when he was 10, and his mom worked multiple jobs just to keep the lights on. Daymond helped out however he could, including working full-time in high school through a unique program that let him alternate between school and work.
That work ethic never left him.
âď¸ The Spark of FUBU
Daymond wasnât a fashion designer. He had no big investors.
But he saw a gap in the market: urban streetwear that spoke to the culture.
With just $40 and a lot of hustle, he began sewing wool hats with his friends and selling them on the streets of Queens. They made $800 in a single day. That was the spark. The brand? FUBUâ"For Us, By Us"âa powerful call to community, self-ownership, and identity.
He and his crew started sewing T-shirts and jerseys, all from his motherâs house. His mom believed in him so much, she mortgaged their house to raise $100,000 to fund his dream.
They turned the house into a production facility.
But there were still obstacles. No marketing budget. No runway. No resources.
đş Guerrilla Marketing Genius
Daymond had to outthink, not outspend.
So he did something brilliant: he convinced LL Cool J, a rising hip-hop star also from Queens, to wear a FUBU hat in a GAP commercial.
Even better? LL dropped the line âfor us, by usâ in the adâon GAPâs dime.
The buzz exploded. FUBU was suddenly everywhere.
đ FUBU Takes Over the Culture
The brand took off in the 90s, becoming synonymous with hip-hop and Black entrepreneurship. FUBU eventually grew to $6 billion in global sales.
Daymond went from broke in Queens to a fashion mogul with deals, real estate, and major clout in the business world.
But even as FUBU's hype cooled in the 2000s, Daymond evolved.
He became a branding expert. A motivational speaker. An investor. And in 2009, he joined ABCâs Shark Tank, where his no-nonsense style and street-smart instincts made him a fan favorite.
From homemade hats to sitting at the top of the business world, Daymond John did it his way.
đź Real Lessons from Daymond John You Can Use to Flip Your Script
Now letâs get into what you can learn and apply from Daymondâs playbookâno matter your background or bank account.
1. Start Where You Areâwith What You Have
Daymond didnât wait for the perfect moment.
He didnât have investors. Or a rich uncle. Or fancy connections.
He started with $40 and an idea.
Action Step: Stop waiting for âsomeday.â What can you launch, flip, sell, or promote today with whatâs in your hands right now?
2. Turn Obstacles Into Strategy
Daymond couldnât afford marketing. So he turned to guerrilla tactics.
That LL Cool J stunt? Legendary.
He turned limitations into innovation.
Action Step: List your top 3 âobstaclesââthen brainstorm how each one can be leveraged to your advantage. Get creative.
3. Work Ethic Will Beat Talent Without It
Daymond worked full-time in high school, hustled nights sewing hats, and flipped shirts from his momâs house.
No shortcut. Just grind.
Action Step: Audit your weekly hours. How much time are you investing in building your future vs. just surviving? Shift your time like your moneyâintentionally.
4. Use the Power of BrandingâEven Before You âMake Itâ
FUBU wasnât just clothes. It was a statement.
It created identity, loyalty, and pride.
Action Step: Whether you're building a business or your brand, ask: What do I stand for? What makes me different? Craft your story with clarity.
5. Bet on YourselfâEven When Itâs Scary
Daymondâs mom mortgaged their house to fund the business.
Thatâs a belief. Thatâs betting on yourself.
Action Step: Whatâs one bold move you can make to invest in your dreamâtime, money, or focus? Make it this week. Even if it scares you.
6. Learn to Sell. Period.
Daymond always says, âIf you canât sell, youâre not in business.â
Doesnât matter what you doâyou need to sell your idea, your product, yourself.
Action Step: Study sales. Read a book. Watch videos. Practice pitching something every dayâeven if itâs just selling an idea to a friend.
7. Understand the Value of Equity
On Shark Tank, Daymond doesnât just throw money at ideas.
He teaches about equity, ownership, and valuation, critical for long-term wealth.
Action Step: Ask yourself: Are you chasing quick cash or building long-term value? Start thinking equity, not just income.
8. Use Your Story, Donât Hide It
Daymond never hid his broke beginnings. He used it to connect, inspire, and lead.
Action Step: Whatâs your âwhyâ? What part of your struggle could inspire othersâand remind you why quitting isnât an option?
9. Stay Humble, Stay Learning
Even with all his success, Daymondâs a student of the game. He reads, learns, and adapts.
Action Step: Block off 15 minutes a day for growthâbooks, podcasts, courses. Wealth begins with wisdom.
10. Play the Long Game
FUBU didnât blow up overnight. It took years of grinding before it scaled.
Daymond never chased quick richesâhe built brick by brick.
Action Step: Set a 5-year wealth goal. Write it down. Then reverse-engineer what needs to happen this year, this month, this week to move closer.
đŻ Final Word: You Donât Need Millions to StartâYou Just Need a Mindset Shift
Daymond John isnât a unicorn.
Heâs proof that the broken cycle can be brokenâwith hustle, smart moves, and a refusal to quit.
You donât need to be on Shark Tank to win.
You just need to think like a Shark:
â
Be resourceful.
â
Move bold.
â
Learn fast.
â
Bet on YOU.
Because being broke isnât your identityâitâs just a chapter.
đ¸ Now flip the page.