It’s not hard to admire someone who built themselves from the ground up like Dwayne Johnson, or as his 56 million fans know him, The Rock.
Though he literally wrestled his way from poverty to Hollywood, not many have ascended to fame and fortune as gracefully as Johnson. He revealed his secret in an interview with
Fortune:
“I’ve had such a renegade career that I honestly never had anyone in my life give me advice in [an official] way … It’s what I’ve learned over the years that has pushed me beyond limits.”
Here are 6 of the most important lessons on home-grown, self-made success from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
1. Work like a champion. There’s no avoiding this basic lesson. If you don’t have the drive to be the first man on the ground and the last one to leave at the end of the day, you can never be a leader and you won’t be destined for success.
“It’s fundamentals: show up, outwork everyone, and rely on my own two hands to get the job done.”
2. Never half-ass your work. If it’s worth doing, do it right and see it through every single time. Your work is like your batting average and you never want to give less than 110 percent.
“Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.”
3. Always remember who you are doing it for. Whether it’s clients, customers, the market or fans, remember that their support is the base of your success, past, present and future.
“From wrestling in flea markets (making $40 bucks a match) to used car dealerships to barns, to breaking attendance records in every major dome in the U.S., I learned that the most important relationship I will EVER have in business is the relationship I have with my audience. Pay attention to who you do your business for.”
4. You always have to earn your respect. No matter who or what you are, if you want respect, you have to earn it. And it’s not a one-time gig either — respect must be earned throughout your life.
“My dad [Rocky Johnson] broke color barriers in pro wrestling. The best advice he instilled in me as a kid: ‘Respect is given when it’s earned … so get out there and earn it.’ I still do today.”
5. Be genuine. Success doesn’t come from acting. Fearlessness can’t be faked. Being who you are and knowing yourself is the only way you can get anywhere in reality.
“The single most powerful thing I can be is to be myself.”
6. Always remember these three values. No matter how far you’ve come in life or how much success you’ve reached, you should never forget who you were when you first started out.
“I’m always asked, ‘Whats the secret to success?’ But there are no secrets. Be humble. Be hungry. And always be the hardest worker in the room.”
