Jeezy's Number 1 Rule for Success: Make Others Feel Valued.
Ever since he released his first album back in 2001, Jeezy has been very successful in the music industry. Sure, he’s famous for hits like “Vacation” and “Put On (featuring Kanye West),” but he’s more than just a Grammy-nominated musician. He’s also an entrepreneur and philanthropist, attempting to give back to those who need help, whether it be education, or helping at-risk youth get a head start in life. He’s all about giving worth to people, and it’s a lesson he carries with him daily.
The rapper, born Jay Wayne Jenkins, recently chatted with Dr. Drew Ramsey, MD about all things mental health and the lessons he’s learned throughout his career. His first rule of thumb is rather simple: looking for value in people, whether it be loved ones or those he’s met just one time.
“I came up rough, man,” he says, “and one thing I learned first and foremost is to value people and see value in them. Nobody valued me as a youngster, so I had to really fight my way to get where I’m at. I always learned that if you value people and invest in them, love them unconditionally, you send them back out to the world to be better.”
It’s a deep concept for someone to have picked up and retained from childhood, but Jeezy has a special person to thank for this lesson: his grandmother, who taught him how important it is to see the good in others, despite their shortcomings. In adulthood, the rapper has taken it to the extreme. He always gives back to others, with hopes of being remembered for his kindness over the years.
The Goal is not perfection. The Goal is accomplishment and Growth. #Keepgoing??
A post shared by @ jeezy on Aug 17, 2020 at 10:22am PDT
“When you’re gone and passed, the more people will remember you and be like, ‘Wow, that was a great guy,’” he says. “That’s what I’m living for—to be a great guy in the end, when it’s all said and done. Even with my wrongs, I learned from my mistakes and I stayed solid. I’m still me and my heart is still the same.”
As for how to achieve this feat, Jeezy has some pretty simple advice as his personal mantra. The key, he says, is never be too cocky to question things you don’t necessarily understand, as it is of the utmost importance.
“You can’t be too cool to not ask questions,” he says. “You can’t feel like you’re the smartest person in the room all the time, because there are people who have been through things you haven’t been through.”
But it’s not just in business where having someone to look up to is important, Jeezy notes. He thinks it’s important to put emphasis on finding someone who can teach you the best personal values and morals to move through life with, lessons ranging from basic kindness to how to be anti-racist.
“If you follow somebody who doesn’t have morals and values, you probably won’t have any moral values,” he says. “You got some people who do everything the right way, live stress-free lives, and they’re happy because at the end of the day, it’s all about happiness.” And while Jeezy admits his road to success hasn’t been easy, he does take pride in knowing he persevered and was able to build a great life for himself.
“Just knowing I can get up every morning, look in the mirror, and just know that I was solid, then I’m solid now,” he says affectionately. “Everything I’ve got, I worked for and all the people around me love me dearly… I look forward to life every day. I haven’t even had my best years yet.”
Watch the full conversation here:
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