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Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter: Wie du erfolgreich wirst und auch bleibst
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
For the first time, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson opens up about his amazing comeback—from tragic personal loss to thriving businessman and cable’s highest-paid executive—in this unique self-help guide, his first since his blockbuster New York Times bestseller The 50th Law.
In his early twenties Curtis Jackson, known as 50 Cent rose to the heights of fame and power in the cutthroat music business. A decade ago the multi-platinum selling rap artist decided to pivot. His ability to adapt to change was demonstrated when he became the executive producer and star of Power, a high-octane, gripping crime drama centered around a drug kingpin’s family. The series quickly became “appointment” television, leading to Jackson inking a four-year, $150 million contract with the Starz network—the most lucrative deal in premium cable history.
Now, in his most personal book, Jackson shakes up the self-help category with his unique, cutting-edge lessons and hard-earned advice on embracing change. Where The 50th Law tells readers “fear nothing and you shall succeed,” Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter builds on this message, combining it with Jackson’s street smarts and hard-learned corporate savvy to help readers successfully achieve their own comeback—and to learn to flow with the changes that disrupt their own lives.
For the first time, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson opens up about his amazing comeback—from tragic personal loss to thriving businessman and cable’s highest-paid executive—in this unique self-help guide, his first since his blockbuster New York Times bestseller The 50th Law.
In his early twenties Curtis Jackson, known as 50 Cent rose to the heights of fame and power in the cutthroat music business. A decade ago the multi-platinum selling rap artist decided to pivot. His ability to adapt to change was demonstrated when he became the executive producer and star of Power, a high-octane, gripping crime drama centered around a drug kingpin’s family. The series quickly became “appointment” television, leading to Jackson inking a four-year, $150 million contract with the Starz network—the most lucrative deal in premium cable history.
Now, in his most personal book, Jackson shakes up the self-help category with his unique, cutting-edge lessons and hard-earned advice on embracing change. Where The 50th Law tells readers “fear nothing and you shall succeed,” Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter builds on this message, combining it with Jackson’s street smarts and hard-learned corporate savvy to help readers successfully achieve their own comeback—and to learn to flow with the changes that disrupt their own lives.
Hardcover
Published May 18, 2021
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About the author
Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson
21 books662 followersAlso known as Curtis Jackson.
Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), known professionally as "50 Cent," is an American rapper, songwriter, television producer, actor, and entrepreneur. 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 Jackson 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.
With the aid of Eminem and Dr. Dre (who produced his first major-label album Get Rich or Die Tryin'), Jackson became one of the world's best selling rappers and rose to prominence with East Coast hip hop grou
Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), known professionally as "50 Cent," is an American rapper, songwriter, television producer, actor, and entrepreneur. 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 Jackson 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.
With the aid of Eminem and Dr. Dre (who produced his first major-label album Get Rich or Die Tryin'), Jackson became one of the world's best selling rappers and rose to prominence with East Coast hip hop grou
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,061 reviews
April 30, 2020
Simply a phenomenal read. Curtis Jackson, known as 50 Cent, has worked his way up from the streets of Southside Jamaica-Queens, NY. up to boardrooms at Cable Broadcasting networks, and major television networks. He is highly intelligent, and is very good at applying the knowledge that he learns from his experiences. He gives out valuable information pertaining to health and wealth, and even tackles sensitive topics in his personal life. I loved this book from start to finish, and wouldn't be surprised if Robert Greene proofread and gave insights into this book. It is a way more informative and interesting book than 'The 50th Law', because 50 opens up to the reader in a way that we would a personal friend. He doesn't give you the 50 Cent personality. He is more Curtis Jackson, and telling you things that he would tell you when the cameras are off.
July 5, 2020
Wow how 50 Cent surprised me with this book! It's a great book! Lots to learn and admire Curtis for and I have a new found respect for him.
He's giving a lot of life advice - hustle, be fearless, know your true friends, portraying yourself as you don't really want it or need it demeanor actually works with life work romance, learn from your losses, don't be entitled, and read a lot!
It's sad how other people treated him when he became successful, people acting entitled and seeing him for just money instead of a relationship. Especially his own son who he wanted to hep and work with but was too lazy and entitled to do anything. To the people he considered friends that back-stabbed him. To the reuniting of long lost friendships that he was disappointed in because all they wanted was a piece of the pie. It seems like a lonely life being rich and famous but there still are good people at the top.
He's giving a lot of life advice - hustle, be fearless, know your true friends, portraying yourself as you don't really want it or need it demeanor actually works with life work romance, learn from your losses, don't be entitled, and read a lot!
It's sad how other people treated him when he became successful, people acting entitled and seeing him for just money instead of a relationship. Especially his own son who he wanted to hep and work with but was too lazy and entitled to do anything. To the people he considered friends that back-stabbed him. To the reuniting of long lost friendships that he was disappointed in because all they wanted was a piece of the pie. It seems like a lonely life being rich and famous but there still are good people at the top.
April 17, 2023
This book was a big surprise! I did not know much about 50 Cent’s persona apart from his musical career and somewhat aggressive reputation.
Curtis Jackson (he himself accepts that there is a dual personality) talks about different lessons he learned over the years: for example how to surround yourself with positive energy, embrace the uncertainty and face your fears. The most important lesson of all is to not be entitled. You do not own anybody anything, but the opposite is also true.
His bully reputation and cutthroat vibe are in great contrast here. He seems to be a businessman first. You learn a bit more on his competitive side and his insecurities, and he does seems to admit his mistakes and reflect on them. I gained a lot of respect for him.
The Audible narration is by Curtis himself, and is highly enjoyable. Hustle harder Hustle smarter is deeply informative and personal, and gave me a lot of insight on life. I would recommend this book to everyone.
Also the fact that in Goodreads they put the name of the author as Cent, 50 is hilarious to me
Curtis Jackson (he himself accepts that there is a dual personality) talks about different lessons he learned over the years: for example how to surround yourself with positive energy, embrace the uncertainty and face your fears. The most important lesson of all is to not be entitled. You do not own anybody anything, but the opposite is also true.
His bully reputation and cutthroat vibe are in great contrast here. He seems to be a businessman first. You learn a bit more on his competitive side and his insecurities, and he does seems to admit his mistakes and reflect on them. I gained a lot of respect for him.
The Audible narration is by Curtis himself, and is highly enjoyable. Hustle harder Hustle smarter is deeply informative and personal, and gave me a lot of insight on life. I would recommend this book to everyone.
Also the fact that in Goodreads they put the name of the author as Cent, 50 is hilarious to me
May 30, 2023
Power of Perception: The World will see you the way you see you and treat you the way you treat yourself.
* Identify where you've been wrong about a Subject and start to Evolve your Thinking.
* Expand your Mind through your Circle.
* Identify where you've been wrong about a Subject and start to Evolve your Thinking.
* Expand your Mind through your Circle.
July 31, 2020
I love that Fofty narrated this himself! Every little black boy with a Dream NEEDS this book!!!!
March 23, 2022
I couldn't finish this book. I went into it expecting more of a biographical story, but it is a business book with some basic ass advice. What really turned me off was the arrogance and being a fake. No denying that 50 cent has had a LOT of success, but I find his claims of being a top mogul to be laughable. He has filed bankruptcy with tens of millions in debt, he has been in and out of lawsuits with poor business deals, bought a house he couldn't afford, and not to mention all his baby mama drama. He also portrays the drinking, smoking, party lifestyle, but then says that he only pretends to drink and smoke, but in reality he's at the gym each morning and focusing on business. Why even bother pretending dude? Live your truth.
This is just another money grab with a bunch of filler. When he starting extolling the virtues of owning expensive material objects I knew this wasn't the book for me. If he had approached this story from the angle of "hey, here are my mistakes and this is what I learned from them" I would have enjoyed it more. Instead he came in hollering about how he's the brilliant top mogul of the world, and I wanted to pop his inflated head with a pin.
This is just another money grab with a bunch of filler. When he starting extolling the virtues of owning expensive material objects I knew this wasn't the book for me. If he had approached this story from the angle of "hey, here are my mistakes and this is what I learned from them" I would have enjoyed it more. Instead he came in hollering about how he's the brilliant top mogul of the world, and I wanted to pop his inflated head with a pin.
January 19, 2021
one of many, maybe millions, self-help books based on someone famous.
Typical ghostwriter + some personal stories that fit the "work hard" mantra, and you have your totally average "NYT business bestseller" ready.
At least the author read it for his audiobook version.
Typical ghostwriter + some personal stories that fit the "work hard" mantra, and you have your totally average "NYT business bestseller" ready.
At least the author read it for his audiobook version.
April 29, 2022
Zu Beginn war ich dem Buch gegenüber etwas skeptisch, da ich mit der Hip-Hop Szene an sich nicht wirklich was anfangen kann und mich nie wirklich dafür interessiert oder damit beschäftigt habe (die Banger Songs mal außen vor gelassen). Ich kannte Curtis Jackson eigentlich nur als Rapper 50 Cent und war deswegen umso gespannter, was mich erwarten würde, denn neben der Musik ist er auch erfolgreicher Geschäftsmann.
Das Buch wurde in einem sehr eigenen Stil geschrieben (Curtis Jackson schreibt so wie er spricht, was durch die Übersetzung nicht verloren gegangen ist), wodurch er als Person deutlich authentischer rüberkam und das Buch sehr angenehm zu lesen war.
Auch die Energie, welche in Curtis Jackson steckt, wurde in seiner Schreibweise sehr deutlich und er zeigt auch überraschend offen und ehrlich seine Ängste, Schwächen und Fehler. Am beeindruckendsten finde ich, wie selbstreflektiert er ist. Er zeigt die Menetekel von anderen Leuten auf, die ebenfalls in der Hip-Hop Szene aktiv waren und beschreibt auch was diese aus seiner Sicht falsch gemacht haben bzw. was er im Umgang mit diesen falsch gemacht hat. Auch stellt er dar, warum er manche Entscheidungen so getroffen hat/ treffen musste. Vom Stil her wirkt es deswegen teilweise auch wie ein Journal, in dem er sein Leben reflektiert und kommentiert.
Insgesamt waren seine prägendsten Erlebnisse definitiv der Tod seiner Mutter, das Verhältnis zu seinem ersten Sohn und die Tatsache, dass er bereits neunmal angeschossen wurde, was er bestimmt mindestens 10-mal im Verlauf des Buches erwähnt.
Curtis Jackson weiß durch seine Erfahrung, dass die Straßen und die Geschäftswelt sehr viele Parallelen aufweisen, die man im ersten Augenblick gar nicht so richtig wahrnehmen vermag.
Beide sind vor allem sehr rücksichtslos und wettbewerbsorientiert, doch man kann beide Bereiche unter Berücksichtigung einiger Punkte dominieren:
1. Sei furchtlos
2. Entwickle das Herz eines Hustlers
3. Baue eine starke Crew auf
4. Kenne deinen Wert
5. Entwickle dich weiter oder stirb
6. Gestalte deine Wahrnehmung
7. Habe keine Angst vor dem Wettbewerb
8. Lerne aus deinen Fehlern
9. Vermeide die Anspruchsfalle
Insgesamt ein gutes Buch, welches ich auf jeden Fall empfehlen kann. Es ist ein sehr inspirierendes Buch einer polarisierenden Persönlichkeit, die im großen Ganzen aber doch deutlich ehrlicher und verletzlicher ist, als man erwarten könnte. Auch wenn man vielleicht mit Hip-Hop nicht so viel anfangen kann, ist das Buch trotzdem absolut lesenswert, da man auch mal eine andere Sichtweise auf die Dinge bekommt.
Das Buch wurde in einem sehr eigenen Stil geschrieben (Curtis Jackson schreibt so wie er spricht, was durch die Übersetzung nicht verloren gegangen ist), wodurch er als Person deutlich authentischer rüberkam und das Buch sehr angenehm zu lesen war.
Auch die Energie, welche in Curtis Jackson steckt, wurde in seiner Schreibweise sehr deutlich und er zeigt auch überraschend offen und ehrlich seine Ängste, Schwächen und Fehler. Am beeindruckendsten finde ich, wie selbstreflektiert er ist. Er zeigt die Menetekel von anderen Leuten auf, die ebenfalls in der Hip-Hop Szene aktiv waren und beschreibt auch was diese aus seiner Sicht falsch gemacht haben bzw. was er im Umgang mit diesen falsch gemacht hat. Auch stellt er dar, warum er manche Entscheidungen so getroffen hat/ treffen musste. Vom Stil her wirkt es deswegen teilweise auch wie ein Journal, in dem er sein Leben reflektiert und kommentiert.
Insgesamt waren seine prägendsten Erlebnisse definitiv der Tod seiner Mutter, das Verhältnis zu seinem ersten Sohn und die Tatsache, dass er bereits neunmal angeschossen wurde, was er bestimmt mindestens 10-mal im Verlauf des Buches erwähnt.
„Viele Menschen denken wahrscheinlich, dass ich von Geburt an furchtlos war. Vielleicht verbreite ich eine Energie, die das suggeriert, aber es stimmt nicht. Als Kind hatte ich Angst vor der Dunkelheit. Ich hatte eine Riesenangst davor, auf der Straße getötet zu werden, und ich war wie gelähmt vor Angst, als ich zu Rappen begann, weil ich fürchtete, zu versagen. Ich habe alle Arten von Angst und Furcht durchlebt.“~Curtis Jackson (50 Cent)
Curtis Jackson weiß durch seine Erfahrung, dass die Straßen und die Geschäftswelt sehr viele Parallelen aufweisen, die man im ersten Augenblick gar nicht so richtig wahrnehmen vermag.
Beide sind vor allem sehr rücksichtslos und wettbewerbsorientiert, doch man kann beide Bereiche unter Berücksichtigung einiger Punkte dominieren:
1. Sei furchtlos
2. Entwickle das Herz eines Hustlers
3. Baue eine starke Crew auf
4. Kenne deinen Wert
5. Entwickle dich weiter oder stirb
6. Gestalte deine Wahrnehmung
7. Habe keine Angst vor dem Wettbewerb
8. Lerne aus deinen Fehlern
9. Vermeide die Anspruchsfalle
Insgesamt ein gutes Buch, welches ich auf jeden Fall empfehlen kann. Es ist ein sehr inspirierendes Buch einer polarisierenden Persönlichkeit, die im großen Ganzen aber doch deutlich ehrlicher und verletzlicher ist, als man erwarten könnte. Auch wenn man vielleicht mit Hip-Hop nicht so viel anfangen kann, ist das Buch trotzdem absolut lesenswert, da man auch mal eine andere Sichtweise auf die Dinge bekommt.
„Ich lebe am Abgrund. Ich bin nur frei, weil ich keine Angst habe. Alles, wovor ich Angst hatte, ist mir bereits zugestoßen.“~Curtis Jackson (50 Cent)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2020
I am not a huge 50 fan, by any means. I think he’s problematic but he’s very much a part of the culture. He’s one of the founding fathers of modern-day hip hop and continues to push the envelope as a creator.
This book isn’t what I was expecting. Truthfully, I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. This book is basically a ‘how to.’ 50 explains different lessons he’s learned throughout the years and how he learned them, then gives his advice on how to learn from his mistakes. He’s got good intel and is very suave in his delivery. He’s funny and the stories he tells and the look inside his life he gives you are great.
I didn’t hate this book. I didn’t love it. I think it’s interesting but I don’t think I’ll ever read it again, and I’m definitely glad I don’t own it.
There are definitely some takeaways and some great lessons in here, but nothing I feel like was something I could ONLY learn from 50 himself.
However, the ending was bad. He talked about his work in his pursuit to end world hunger and it felt very ~ cringey ~ He basically said that kids in Africa have it way worse and they still are happy so you, living in America, shouldn’t be upset about your life. And I really just think this idea of competition we’ve created in our culture of trying to see who has it worse is really gross. Your problems aren’t minimized because other people are suffering. That’s not how it works. I was disappointed with the ending for sure.
This book isn’t what I was expecting. Truthfully, I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. This book is basically a ‘how to.’ 50 explains different lessons he’s learned throughout the years and how he learned them, then gives his advice on how to learn from his mistakes. He’s got good intel and is very suave in his delivery. He’s funny and the stories he tells and the look inside his life he gives you are great.
I didn’t hate this book. I didn’t love it. I think it’s interesting but I don’t think I’ll ever read it again, and I’m definitely glad I don’t own it.
There are definitely some takeaways and some great lessons in here, but nothing I feel like was something I could ONLY learn from 50 himself.
However, the ending was bad. He talked about his work in his pursuit to end world hunger and it felt very ~ cringey ~ He basically said that kids in Africa have it way worse and they still are happy so you, living in America, shouldn’t be upset about your life. And I really just think this idea of competition we’ve created in our culture of trying to see who has it worse is really gross. Your problems aren’t minimized because other people are suffering. That’s not how it works. I was disappointed with the ending for sure.
July 2, 2020
I would rarely be interested in a celebrity’s self help genre type book, but we’re talking about 50 here. I bought this knowing it would hold my attention, and hoping to get a few gold nuggets out of it. I got exactly that. Money well spent.
Grab the audiobook version since it’s narrated by the man himself 👌
Grab the audiobook version since it’s narrated by the man himself 👌
June 14, 2020
Overall an amazing and inspiring read. Some parts were certainly rambly and long-winded but in an anecdotal and reflective book such as this, that is only par for the course. Now, if you are willing to look past that and soak up all the valuable experience and advice he has to offer, you certainly won't be disappointed. Binged the whole book on audible in one day. Now that's saying something. Authentic and heartfelt. The cynical ones may say that he's doing it for more money and power and all that nonsense but authenticity is hard to fake and it's all that I felt throughout the course of reading this book.
December 27, 2020
Unreal read, couldn’t put the book down. 50 is a boss
January 19, 2022
Trying to start some beef with Fiddy by giving it 1 star.
March 15, 2023
Had some good points and parts to it, but couldn’t get over the egotistical comments and stories throughout
November 2, 2022
I read this book after having finished the 50th law.
“Hustle harder, hustle smarter” was a bit more personal where 50 Cent mixed anecdotes with lessons from both his life on the streets, a superstar rapper and entrepreneur. Those 3 perspectives give this book a certain edge.
I loved the fact that 50 was a bit vulnerable in this book and explained his insecurities and how he overcame them to for example becoming fearless (he started boxing at age 12 and was training with 16-17 years old teenagers).
Key takeaways: be fearless and run towards it to overcome it, know your value and ALWAYS VALUE INFORMATION OVER A BIG CHECK, don’t take negotiations personally and they always start with a lowball offer, there’s power in perception and maintain a healthy body, ironed clothes and good body language, learn from your L’s and look at them as a lessons (Honda failed twice before creating Honda Cars), watch out for the entitlement trap, evolve or die, reinvention is a must when things are stagnant
I absolutely loved this book and I respect 50 Cent’s hustle even more.
UPDATE (14/3-21):
I listened to the audiobook for the second time. It is still an excellent book with tips on how to hustle and move forward in life.
Down below is all the gems I picked up from each chapter:
Chapter 1: Finding Fearlessness - run towards your fears —> overcoming them will set you free
Chapter 2: Heart Of a Hustler - stay away from intoxicants and drugs —> confidence should come from within not from external parties, negative habits can be broken in 30 days —> give yourself the opportunity to identify with something different, momentum can help carry you to your goal, don’t dwell on a setback and keep the momentum going, “end less tunnel (the challenges will always be there at every new level you reach), trust your instincts (nothing a business professor tells you is better than your own instinct)
Chapter 3: Constructing Your Crew - “The thing worse than death is betrayal” - Malcolm X, don’t confuse loyalty and location (to achieve lasting success you have to strive for balance when building your team) —> if you only surround yourself with people from the past there’s a good chance you’ll get stuck there, you can learn what somebody is made of in 2 minutes on the streets than 20 years in the boardroom, demand discipline (there’s no minor fights when living together), when you make rules that benefit the collective good make sure you enforce them (don’t let a person focused on themselves ruin it for everyone else) —> it will pay off in the long run
Chapter 4: Knowing Your Value - know your value and add tax, the right deal is out there —> wait for it, always see the value of a strong association (Dr Dre and Eminem), be patient and don’t lose hope —> people prey on you (your company) when you’re vulnerable and has lost faith, sell something you can stand behind (Vitamin Water), if you believe in something go for equity (a piece of the company) instead of an upfront payday) —> bet on yourself, successful negotiations are built on give and take —> never get fixated on one number, securing the best long-term potential is always worth making sacrifices for in the moment, just do shit —> don’t wait for permission and just execute, use social media marketing to create incentive to support your brand/movement —> repost customers etc., prove yourself in the marketplace, “just do shit” mentality, money is the goal but often times in order to get it, you have to retrain your brain to value experience —> create your own opportunities (internships, contact the top guys in the industry for tips etc.)
Chapter 5: Evolve or Die - it’s great to respect the past but never to the point that it stops you from moving in to the future or even making the most out of the present —> people who are stuck in the past age prematurely, your time is never waisted when gathering information —> value information over a check
Chapter 6: Power of Perception- control the energy in the room —> easier to set the agenda (subconsciously more agreeable towards you/receptive), when you are around people and everyone is trying to be heard, the secret is to speak as softly as possible (low voice —> transferring of energy), the more quietly you speak, the more intently people will listen, use non verbal cues to your advantage (don’t react with your body language but stay engaged/listening —> high level executives look for non verbal cues —> throw them off guard), act like you don’t need it strategy
Chapter 7: If We Can’t Be Friends - we only bring up things we love or hate —> being neutral garners no attention (turn hate into something positive), move off strategy and calculation , the better your opponent —> the better you become, study your opponents rigorously and write down their strengths and weaknesses
Chapter 8: Learning from Your L’s - approach failure like Honda - as the tool that can help you get it right next time, Honda (perseverance, grit, two factories burned down (kept going), going back to the drawing board after Toyota rejection (relearning his craft and getting better), don’t distance yourself from failure —> embrace it instead, “my biggest thrill is when I plan something and it fails, my mind is then filled with ideas of how I can improve it”, failure is resistance one has to pull through, your L’s is where your greatest instructions will always be found
Chapter 9: The Entitlement Trap: some people are not built to win —> their bad habits will hold them back, never get too close to a drowning person, never feel like the world owes you anything —> it’s all on you, chase the gratification that can only come from making it happen yourself, you can only get true fulfillment and happiness from enjoying achievement you made happen yourself, do people in your life make deposits or withdrawals?
“Hustle harder, hustle smarter” was a bit more personal where 50 Cent mixed anecdotes with lessons from both his life on the streets, a superstar rapper and entrepreneur. Those 3 perspectives give this book a certain edge.
I loved the fact that 50 was a bit vulnerable in this book and explained his insecurities and how he overcame them to for example becoming fearless (he started boxing at age 12 and was training with 16-17 years old teenagers).
Key takeaways: be fearless and run towards it to overcome it, know your value and ALWAYS VALUE INFORMATION OVER A BIG CHECK, don’t take negotiations personally and they always start with a lowball offer, there’s power in perception and maintain a healthy body, ironed clothes and good body language, learn from your L’s and look at them as a lessons (Honda failed twice before creating Honda Cars), watch out for the entitlement trap, evolve or die, reinvention is a must when things are stagnant
I absolutely loved this book and I respect 50 Cent’s hustle even more.
UPDATE (14/3-21):
I listened to the audiobook for the second time. It is still an excellent book with tips on how to hustle and move forward in life.
Down below is all the gems I picked up from each chapter:
Chapter 1: Finding Fearlessness - run towards your fears —> overcoming them will set you free
Chapter 2: Heart Of a Hustler - stay away from intoxicants and drugs —> confidence should come from within not from external parties, negative habits can be broken in 30 days —> give yourself the opportunity to identify with something different, momentum can help carry you to your goal, don’t dwell on a setback and keep the momentum going, “end less tunnel (the challenges will always be there at every new level you reach), trust your instincts (nothing a business professor tells you is better than your own instinct)
Chapter 3: Constructing Your Crew - “The thing worse than death is betrayal” - Malcolm X, don’t confuse loyalty and location (to achieve lasting success you have to strive for balance when building your team) —> if you only surround yourself with people from the past there’s a good chance you’ll get stuck there, you can learn what somebody is made of in 2 minutes on the streets than 20 years in the boardroom, demand discipline (there’s no minor fights when living together), when you make rules that benefit the collective good make sure you enforce them (don’t let a person focused on themselves ruin it for everyone else) —> it will pay off in the long run
Chapter 4: Knowing Your Value - know your value and add tax, the right deal is out there —> wait for it, always see the value of a strong association (Dr Dre and Eminem), be patient and don’t lose hope —> people prey on you (your company) when you’re vulnerable and has lost faith, sell something you can stand behind (Vitamin Water), if you believe in something go for equity (a piece of the company) instead of an upfront payday) —> bet on yourself, successful negotiations are built on give and take —> never get fixated on one number, securing the best long-term potential is always worth making sacrifices for in the moment, just do shit —> don’t wait for permission and just execute, use social media marketing to create incentive to support your brand/movement —> repost customers etc., prove yourself in the marketplace, “just do shit” mentality, money is the goal but often times in order to get it, you have to retrain your brain to value experience —> create your own opportunities (internships, contact the top guys in the industry for tips etc.)
Chapter 5: Evolve or Die - it’s great to respect the past but never to the point that it stops you from moving in to the future or even making the most out of the present —> people who are stuck in the past age prematurely, your time is never waisted when gathering information —> value information over a check
Chapter 6: Power of Perception- control the energy in the room —> easier to set the agenda (subconsciously more agreeable towards you/receptive), when you are around people and everyone is trying to be heard, the secret is to speak as softly as possible (low voice —> transferring of energy), the more quietly you speak, the more intently people will listen, use non verbal cues to your advantage (don’t react with your body language but stay engaged/listening —> high level executives look for non verbal cues —> throw them off guard), act like you don’t need it strategy
Chapter 7: If We Can’t Be Friends - we only bring up things we love or hate —> being neutral garners no attention (turn hate into something positive), move off strategy and calculation , the better your opponent —> the better you become, study your opponents rigorously and write down their strengths and weaknesses
Chapter 8: Learning from Your L’s - approach failure like Honda - as the tool that can help you get it right next time, Honda (perseverance, grit, two factories burned down (kept going), going back to the drawing board after Toyota rejection (relearning his craft and getting better), don’t distance yourself from failure —> embrace it instead, “my biggest thrill is when I plan something and it fails, my mind is then filled with ideas of how I can improve it”, failure is resistance one has to pull through, your L’s is where your greatest instructions will always be found
Chapter 9: The Entitlement Trap: some people are not built to win —> their bad habits will hold them back, never get too close to a drowning person, never feel like the world owes you anything —> it’s all on you, chase the gratification that can only come from making it happen yourself, you can only get true fulfillment and happiness from enjoying achievement you made happen yourself, do people in your life make deposits or withdrawals?
December 30, 2021
Not at all what I was expecting.
I only got to this book because it was a gift. Despite being a huge fan, I wouldn't have read this otherwise because of the usual apprehensions to a biography - narcissism, cringe, preachy. For a good portion, this book too was leading right there. But the way it picked up from there, it was like having a conversation with a close friend. Genuinely loved all the anecdotes, confessions, practical lessons (instead of the generic self-help BS) from his experiences, the toxic relationship he has with his son, rap beefs, and the larger emphasis on hustling, no matter what.
The first half really made me want to put the book down. So glad I didn't. This man faced death when he was shot 9 times and came back from that to become one of the best artists of his generation. So of course, he was going to make an impressive recovery from that first half here.
I only got to this book because it was a gift. Despite being a huge fan, I wouldn't have read this otherwise because of the usual apprehensions to a biography - narcissism, cringe, preachy. For a good portion, this book too was leading right there. But the way it picked up from there, it was like having a conversation with a close friend. Genuinely loved all the anecdotes, confessions, practical lessons (instead of the generic self-help BS) from his experiences, the toxic relationship he has with his son, rap beefs, and the larger emphasis on hustling, no matter what.
The first half really made me want to put the book down. So glad I didn't. This man faced death when he was shot 9 times and came back from that to become one of the best artists of his generation. So of course, he was going to make an impressive recovery from that first half here.
February 12, 2024
Excellent read. You'll mostly see this book under the self-help category but I felt it was more of an autobiography. '50 Cent' Curtis Jackson pens down the fundamental principles- that's the self-help aspect of it, along with his life experiences. And he does so in a very straightforward way. Liked it.
July 10, 2025
Obsessed. Loved getting to know Curtis Jackson ❤️
November 17, 2025
It was a good read. I was expecting a memoir and didn’t realize that it was actually a self-help book on how to adapt to obstacles that may impede your success. That’s what I get for never reading the synopsis, lol.
If you know 50, he’s always going to speak his truth. I was surprised by how vulnerable he was in this one. I enjoyed the personal stories he told about himself and various celebrities. I laughed out loud several times, and I believe I now know how to sell drugs effectively.
The only issue I had was that sometimes he over-explained things. He would drop some knowledge, then tell you a drawn-out story explaining the same thing. Sometimes this approach worked for me, but other times I felt he didn't need to do it.
I read both the physical and the audiobook. I recommend this to anyone who needs a little push in life and anyone who is a fan of 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson).
If you know 50, he’s always going to speak his truth. I was surprised by how vulnerable he was in this one. I enjoyed the personal stories he told about himself and various celebrities. I laughed out loud several times, and I believe I now know how to sell drugs effectively.
The only issue I had was that sometimes he over-explained things. He would drop some knowledge, then tell you a drawn-out story explaining the same thing. Sometimes this approach worked for me, but other times I felt he didn't need to do it.
I read both the physical and the audiobook. I recommend this to anyone who needs a little push in life and anyone who is a fan of 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson).
August 11, 2025
Few good motivational bits but unfortunately the rest of the book was unremarkable and boring at times
May 12, 2022
3,5 Sterne
In "Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter" geht Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent auf die Parallelen des Erfolgs ein, die sich seiner Meinung nach in jeder "Welt" finden. So seien diese sowohl auf der Straße, im Musikgeschäft und in der Geschäftswelt, insbesondere der TV-Produktion, gegeben. Diese Parallelen versucht Jackson in seinem Buch anhand autobiographischer und teilweise schon anekdotischer Ereignisse zu belegen und in 9 Prinzipien zu gießen. Diese sind mit jeweiligem TL;DR: [Ich weiß nicht warum die Namen hinten in den Zusammenfassung teilweise anders lauten]
(1) Sei furchtlos
Die meisten Situationen der modernen Welt lassen sich mit Furchtlosigkeit besser meistern. (Hier insbesondere Straßenanekdoten)
(2) Entwickle das Herz eines Hustlers
Wenn du das Herz eines Hustlers hast, dann sind Rückschläge dir egal. Nur Hustler können letztendlich langfristig Erfolg haben, da Rückschläge statistisch gesehen, einfach sehr wahrscheinlich sind.
(3) Wie man ein gutes Team zusammenstellt
Niemand schafft es alleine. Du musst den Leuten vertrauen können. Wenn du allerdings nur mit alten Freunden zusammenarbeitest, dann stagniert deine Entwicklung und die dessen, woran ihr arbeitet. Man muss also eine gute Balance zwischen Loyalität und Potential finden.
Wenn du Regeln aufstellst, die dem Allgemeinwohl dienen, musst du diese auch rigoros durchsetzen.
Zum guten Führen gehört auch individuelles Motivieren.
"Wenn man einen Haufen Wölfe in seinen Kreis holt, sollte man sich darum kümmern, dass sie gefüttert sind."
(4) Kenne deinen Wert
Man sollte auf langfristige Erträge aus sein. Nimm deswegen nicht die erstbeste Gelegenheit, sondern die beste. Bei Verhandlungen verliert immer der, der etwas Bestimmtes mehr will und weniger flexibel ist. Man sollte in Verhandlungen immer dafür kämpfen sich nicht unter Wert zu verkaufen, aber nicht beleidigt sein, dass man überhaupt kämpfen musste. Man sollte einfach anfangen; sog. "Gatekeeper" (Menschen oder Institutionen, die dich von Ressourcen abhalten, also bspw. früher ein Musikstudio) gibt es immer weniger (Bsp. heute kann man einfach am Computer einen Song aufnehmen und auf YouTube veröffentlichen). Praktika (damit sind auch Dinge gemeint, die eigentlich nicht als Praktikum bezeichnet werden können), wo Erfahrung gesammelt werden kann, sind unbezahlbar.
(5) Entwickle dich weiter oder stirb
Akzeptiere kein Status-Quo. Weder deines noch das deiner Umgebung. Lasse dich auf andere Perspektiven ein; nur so kannst du wachsen.
"Wahnsinn ist immer das Gleiche zu tun aber jedes Mal etwas Anderes zu erwarten."
(6) Die Macht der Außenwahrnehmung
Sei dir deiner Außenwirkung bewusst, denn der erste Eindruck zählt! Achte bspw. auf gute Kleidung. Der Stil ist weniger wichtig als die Tatsache, dass die Leute sehen, dass du dir Mühe gegeben hast. Halte deinen Körper in gesundem Zustand. Wenn du eine Sache wirklich willst, dann tue so als ob du sie überhaupt nicht brauchst. Zeige zwar, dass du sie gerne hättest aber bettele nicht um sie. Du musst eine
(7) Wenn wir schon keine Freunde sind
Am besten ein Freund, doch lieber ein Feind als gar nicht auffallen. Wer auffallen will, sollte polarisieren. Führe Buch über deine Konkurrenz, um Schwächen und Stärken herauszufinden. Es sollte nicht dein Ziel sein Konflikte oder Wettbewerbe zu suchen aber es sollte ebenso kein Problem sein dich auf welche einzulassen, wenn sie kommen.
(8) Lerne aus deinen Fehlern
Man sollte Rückschläge als Ansporn betrachten die Dinge neu anzugehen. (Eigentlich ziemlich ähnlich wie (5)).
(9) Vermeide die Anspruchsfalle
Manche Menschen sind nicht für den Erfolg gemacht. Du kannst sie nicht dazu bringen und solltest Abstand nehmen. Du alleine hast die Verantwortung. Niemand ist dir etwas schuldig. Mit dieser Annahme wirst du nie enttäuscht.
Die meisten Menschen wollen nicht wirklich Freiheit, denn zur Freiheit gehört auch Verantwortung." - Sigmund Freud
Anhand der Zusammenfassungen lässt sich sehen, dass eigentlich ein Großteil der Inhalte keine Neuerfindungen sind und man alles schonmal gehört hat. "Neue Ideen" zu liefern ist allerdings wohl auch wahrscheinlich nicht das Ziel des Buches. Vielmehr soll es wohl die wichtigen Dinge hervorheben und vor allem klarmachen. Jackson fungiert dabei in gewisser Weise wie ein Boxcoach, der natürlich eigentlich hauptsächlich inspiriert, motiviert und diszipliniert, allerdings wenig mehr als "kluge Tipps" und generelle Strategien vorgibt. Genau wie der dazugehörige Profiboxer muss man letztendlich dann noch auf den im Ring anzutreffenden Widerstand selber in kurzer Zeit reagieren und kann nicht bei jeder einzelnen Entscheidung den Coach konsultieren. Folglich sind die Erfahrungen, die Jackson weitergibt, natürlich zwangsläufig geprägt durch seine eigene Erfolgsgeschichte und müssen, da er ja schließlich den Anspruch hat nicht nur Rappern aus Queens zu helfen, zwangsläufig sehr allgemein sein. Deswegen sind die Überschriften auch in manchen Fällen sehr allgemein gefasst und lassen die Inhalte deswegen auch recht weit von dem eigentlichen Thema, das über der jeweiligen Seite postuliert wird, abdriften.
Das Buch baut zwar auf der primären Prämisse, die oben genannten Prinzipien zu vermitteln, geht allerdings mit dieser Designation recht locker um und hat so, wie erwähnt, zuteilen eine starke autobiographische, zuweilen insbesondere akkusatorische und rechtfertigende Färbung. Was ironischerweise wohl nicht unüblich in HipHop-Songs der 2000er ist, zeigt in Buchform einen teilweise unprofessionellen, dadurch aber sehr ehrlichen Blickwinkel Jacksons auf seine erfolgreiche Vergangenheit. So werden zwischen 6ix9ine über Lloyd Banks und andere G-Unit-Mitglieder bis hin zu seinem ersten Sohn, als Negativbeispiele verwendet, um die Fehler, die es zu vermeiden geht, zu porträtieren.
Wenngleich ungefähr nie bescheiden, zeigt sich Jackson doch immer sehr reflektiert und bewertet seine Handlungen unglaublich hart; urteilt letztendlich auch, dass er eben eine miserable Schulbildung genossen hat und eigentlich viele Dinge nicht weiß, deswegen zwangsläufig bei vielen Themen ein Schülermindset entwickeln musste.
Ferner dienen autobiografische Aspekte, wie der Tod seiner Mutter und die oft erwähnte Tatsache neunmal angeschossen worden zu sein, teilweise als eine Art "Gründungsmythos" 50 Cents. Diese könnten allerdings auch den Nutzen haben, die Leserschaft mit ihm zu identifizieren. Erstmal scheint es als wäre das Buch primär eher für Menschen aus ähnlichen Verhältnissen geschrieben und weswegen manche Tipps für Leser, die den Queens und ähnlichen Vierteln fern sind, sicherlich recht radikal vorkommen könnten. Dass man seinen Mitarbeitern so stark vertrauen muss, dass sie auf Geschäftsreisen keine Straftaten begehen oder sich untereinander verprügeln, ist sicherlich eher ein marginales Problem für die Mehrheit der Investmentbänker.
Auch sprachlich zeigt sich ein erwartet lockerer, sehr direkter Stil, wobei das sicherlich nicht an mangelnder literarischer Fähigkeiten seitens Jacksons liegt. Wenn man so interessante Worte wie argos von jemandem lernt, dann kann man sich fast nicht vorstellen, dass die selbe Person einen Song namens In da Club geschrieben hat. Die Sprache hat allerdings wohl gerade auch wegen dieser starken Differenz zwischen der normal verwendeten Alltags- bis Straßensprache und der sehr gezielt gezeigten Fähigkeit gute Gelegenheiten mit interessanten Begriffen auszudrücken zu den Boxcoach-Vibes beigetragen.
Insgesamt hat mir das Buch recht gut gefallen, allerdings war es inhaltstechnisch auch nichts wirklich Neues. Manche Ideen ware wirklich ganz gut aber es gab keine überdurchschnittlichen Erkenntnisse und der autobiographische Teil war mir, obwohl existenzberechtigt und letztendlich auch sinnvoll, da man das Buch schließlich ließt, um die Erfolgsprinzipien 50 Cents zu lernen, etwas zu präsent, was der Informationsdichte zum Nachteil kam.
Deswegen durchschnittliche 3,5 Sterne. I guess it is not your birthday.
In "Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter" geht Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent auf die Parallelen des Erfolgs ein, die sich seiner Meinung nach in jeder "Welt" finden. So seien diese sowohl auf der Straße, im Musikgeschäft und in der Geschäftswelt, insbesondere der TV-Produktion, gegeben. Diese Parallelen versucht Jackson in seinem Buch anhand autobiographischer und teilweise schon anekdotischer Ereignisse zu belegen und in 9 Prinzipien zu gießen. Diese sind mit jeweiligem TL;DR: [Ich weiß nicht warum die Namen hinten in den Zusammenfassung teilweise anders lauten]
(1) Sei furchtlos
Die meisten Situationen der modernen Welt lassen sich mit Furchtlosigkeit besser meistern. (Hier insbesondere Straßenanekdoten)
(2) Entwickle das Herz eines Hustlers
Wenn du das Herz eines Hustlers hast, dann sind Rückschläge dir egal. Nur Hustler können letztendlich langfristig Erfolg haben, da Rückschläge statistisch gesehen, einfach sehr wahrscheinlich sind.
(3) Wie man ein gutes Team zusammenstellt
Niemand schafft es alleine. Du musst den Leuten vertrauen können. Wenn du allerdings nur mit alten Freunden zusammenarbeitest, dann stagniert deine Entwicklung und die dessen, woran ihr arbeitet. Man muss also eine gute Balance zwischen Loyalität und Potential finden.
Wenn du Regeln aufstellst, die dem Allgemeinwohl dienen, musst du diese auch rigoros durchsetzen.
Zum guten Führen gehört auch individuelles Motivieren.
"Wenn man einen Haufen Wölfe in seinen Kreis holt, sollte man sich darum kümmern, dass sie gefüttert sind."
(4) Kenne deinen Wert
Man sollte auf langfristige Erträge aus sein. Nimm deswegen nicht die erstbeste Gelegenheit, sondern die beste. Bei Verhandlungen verliert immer der, der etwas Bestimmtes mehr will und weniger flexibel ist. Man sollte in Verhandlungen immer dafür kämpfen sich nicht unter Wert zu verkaufen, aber nicht beleidigt sein, dass man überhaupt kämpfen musste. Man sollte einfach anfangen; sog. "Gatekeeper" (Menschen oder Institutionen, die dich von Ressourcen abhalten, also bspw. früher ein Musikstudio) gibt es immer weniger (Bsp. heute kann man einfach am Computer einen Song aufnehmen und auf YouTube veröffentlichen). Praktika (damit sind auch Dinge gemeint, die eigentlich nicht als Praktikum bezeichnet werden können), wo Erfahrung gesammelt werden kann, sind unbezahlbar.
(5) Entwickle dich weiter oder stirb
Akzeptiere kein Status-Quo. Weder deines noch das deiner Umgebung. Lasse dich auf andere Perspektiven ein; nur so kannst du wachsen.
"Wahnsinn ist immer das Gleiche zu tun aber jedes Mal etwas Anderes zu erwarten."
(6) Die Macht der Außenwahrnehmung
Sei dir deiner Außenwirkung bewusst, denn der erste Eindruck zählt! Achte bspw. auf gute Kleidung. Der Stil ist weniger wichtig als die Tatsache, dass die Leute sehen, dass du dir Mühe gegeben hast. Halte deinen Körper in gesundem Zustand. Wenn du eine Sache wirklich willst, dann tue so als ob du sie überhaupt nicht brauchst. Zeige zwar, dass du sie gerne hättest aber bettele nicht um sie. Du musst eine
(7) Wenn wir schon keine Freunde sind
Am besten ein Freund, doch lieber ein Feind als gar nicht auffallen. Wer auffallen will, sollte polarisieren. Führe Buch über deine Konkurrenz, um Schwächen und Stärken herauszufinden. Es sollte nicht dein Ziel sein Konflikte oder Wettbewerbe zu suchen aber es sollte ebenso kein Problem sein dich auf welche einzulassen, wenn sie kommen.
(8) Lerne aus deinen Fehlern
Man sollte Rückschläge als Ansporn betrachten die Dinge neu anzugehen. (Eigentlich ziemlich ähnlich wie (5)).
(9) Vermeide die Anspruchsfalle
Manche Menschen sind nicht für den Erfolg gemacht. Du kannst sie nicht dazu bringen und solltest Abstand nehmen. Du alleine hast die Verantwortung. Niemand ist dir etwas schuldig. Mit dieser Annahme wirst du nie enttäuscht.
Die meisten Menschen wollen nicht wirklich Freiheit, denn zur Freiheit gehört auch Verantwortung." - Sigmund Freud
Anhand der Zusammenfassungen lässt sich sehen, dass eigentlich ein Großteil der Inhalte keine Neuerfindungen sind und man alles schonmal gehört hat. "Neue Ideen" zu liefern ist allerdings wohl auch wahrscheinlich nicht das Ziel des Buches. Vielmehr soll es wohl die wichtigen Dinge hervorheben und vor allem klarmachen. Jackson fungiert dabei in gewisser Weise wie ein Boxcoach, der natürlich eigentlich hauptsächlich inspiriert, motiviert und diszipliniert, allerdings wenig mehr als "kluge Tipps" und generelle Strategien vorgibt. Genau wie der dazugehörige Profiboxer muss man letztendlich dann noch auf den im Ring anzutreffenden Widerstand selber in kurzer Zeit reagieren und kann nicht bei jeder einzelnen Entscheidung den Coach konsultieren. Folglich sind die Erfahrungen, die Jackson weitergibt, natürlich zwangsläufig geprägt durch seine eigene Erfolgsgeschichte und müssen, da er ja schließlich den Anspruch hat nicht nur Rappern aus Queens zu helfen, zwangsläufig sehr allgemein sein. Deswegen sind die Überschriften auch in manchen Fällen sehr allgemein gefasst und lassen die Inhalte deswegen auch recht weit von dem eigentlichen Thema, das über der jeweiligen Seite postuliert wird, abdriften.
Das Buch baut zwar auf der primären Prämisse, die oben genannten Prinzipien zu vermitteln, geht allerdings mit dieser Designation recht locker um und hat so, wie erwähnt, zuteilen eine starke autobiographische, zuweilen insbesondere akkusatorische und rechtfertigende Färbung. Was ironischerweise wohl nicht unüblich in HipHop-Songs der 2000er ist, zeigt in Buchform einen teilweise unprofessionellen, dadurch aber sehr ehrlichen Blickwinkel Jacksons auf seine erfolgreiche Vergangenheit. So werden zwischen 6ix9ine über Lloyd Banks und andere G-Unit-Mitglieder bis hin zu seinem ersten Sohn, als Negativbeispiele verwendet, um die Fehler, die es zu vermeiden geht, zu porträtieren.
Wenngleich ungefähr nie bescheiden, zeigt sich Jackson doch immer sehr reflektiert und bewertet seine Handlungen unglaublich hart; urteilt letztendlich auch, dass er eben eine miserable Schulbildung genossen hat und eigentlich viele Dinge nicht weiß, deswegen zwangsläufig bei vielen Themen ein Schülermindset entwickeln musste.
Ferner dienen autobiografische Aspekte, wie der Tod seiner Mutter und die oft erwähnte Tatsache neunmal angeschossen worden zu sein, teilweise als eine Art "Gründungsmythos" 50 Cents. Diese könnten allerdings auch den Nutzen haben, die Leserschaft mit ihm zu identifizieren. Erstmal scheint es als wäre das Buch primär eher für Menschen aus ähnlichen Verhältnissen geschrieben und weswegen manche Tipps für Leser, die den Queens und ähnlichen Vierteln fern sind, sicherlich recht radikal vorkommen könnten. Dass man seinen Mitarbeitern so stark vertrauen muss, dass sie auf Geschäftsreisen keine Straftaten begehen oder sich untereinander verprügeln, ist sicherlich eher ein marginales Problem für die Mehrheit der Investmentbänker.
Auch sprachlich zeigt sich ein erwartet lockerer, sehr direkter Stil, wobei das sicherlich nicht an mangelnder literarischer Fähigkeiten seitens Jacksons liegt. Wenn man so interessante Worte wie argos von jemandem lernt, dann kann man sich fast nicht vorstellen, dass die selbe Person einen Song namens In da Club geschrieben hat. Die Sprache hat allerdings wohl gerade auch wegen dieser starken Differenz zwischen der normal verwendeten Alltags- bis Straßensprache und der sehr gezielt gezeigten Fähigkeit gute Gelegenheiten mit interessanten Begriffen auszudrücken zu den Boxcoach-Vibes beigetragen.
Insgesamt hat mir das Buch recht gut gefallen, allerdings war es inhaltstechnisch auch nichts wirklich Neues. Manche Ideen ware wirklich ganz gut aber es gab keine überdurchschnittlichen Erkenntnisse und der autobiographische Teil war mir, obwohl existenzberechtigt und letztendlich auch sinnvoll, da man das Buch schließlich ließt, um die Erfolgsprinzipien 50 Cents zu lernen, etwas zu präsent, was der Informationsdichte zum Nachteil kam.
Deswegen durchschnittliche 3,5 Sterne. I guess it is not your birthday.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up. The first 3rd of the book starts off a 2 star, becomes close to a 5 star, and ends a 3 star. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Wow what a book
Negatives:
Is a self help book. I hate self help books. Fiddy comes off as pretty arrogant at times with a holier than thou air to it. "If Yayo just listened to me, he'd be succesful like me." Sometimes his examples feel contrived - like he googled examples and fit parts of his life into them.
Positives:
The biggest strength and the reason everyone should read is that Fif takes anecdotes from his life in the hood, dealing, and getting shot and combines/compares them with his successes in music, television, and business. A truely unique perspective with the key take away being that success comes from within, not circumstance. This book is rich with examples in history, business, and his personal life and is (mostly) applied seamlessly to success. It makes the book extremely addicting. Feels Robert Greene-esk which he shouts out in the book.
The second best part of the book is that 50 cents is a highly intelligent individual. You can tell that he got to where he is because he knows how to read individuals, groups, and societal shifts and adapts accordingly. I love that he speaks to the fact that you can never stop growing and changing. He saw that he was going to fall off as a musician, because they all do, and pivoted to other pursuits.
Lastly, something that isn't talked about nearly enough, was that he doesn't let fate decide his success. There are several examples about how he made a deal that was garuanteed to be successful and still worked behind the scenes to make sure it actually was; like how right before a liquor brand drop he visited small cities to create customer loyalty. He picked small cities because he knew the large cities like New York wouldn't care about another celebrity in town to promote merch. But in a city like Pittsburgh it would be a huge deal if someone like him came and there would be lines around the block to see him.
Negatives:
Is a self help book. I hate self help books. Fiddy comes off as pretty arrogant at times with a holier than thou air to it. "If Yayo just listened to me, he'd be succesful like me." Sometimes his examples feel contrived - like he googled examples and fit parts of his life into them.
Positives:
The biggest strength and the reason everyone should read is that Fif takes anecdotes from his life in the hood, dealing, and getting shot and combines/compares them with his successes in music, television, and business. A truely unique perspective with the key take away being that success comes from within, not circumstance. This book is rich with examples in history, business, and his personal life and is (mostly) applied seamlessly to success. It makes the book extremely addicting. Feels Robert Greene-esk which he shouts out in the book.
The second best part of the book is that 50 cents is a highly intelligent individual. You can tell that he got to where he is because he knows how to read individuals, groups, and societal shifts and adapts accordingly. I love that he speaks to the fact that you can never stop growing and changing. He saw that he was going to fall off as a musician, because they all do, and pivoted to other pursuits.
Lastly, something that isn't talked about nearly enough, was that he doesn't let fate decide his success. There are several examples about how he made a deal that was garuanteed to be successful and still worked behind the scenes to make sure it actually was; like how right before a liquor brand drop he visited small cities to create customer loyalty. He picked small cities because he knew the large cities like New York wouldn't care about another celebrity in town to promote merch. But in a city like Pittsburgh it would be a huge deal if someone like him came and there would be lines around the block to see him.
June 8, 2020
I learned a lot from this book. Jackson / $0.50 is a successful entrepreneur, rapper and TV production mogul. I am always shocked to see these folks that start off selling drugs and become successful business men and women. I guess from a perspective, drug dealing is a business, one where you need to be shrewd.
The book may come off as a little braggadocios, but the reality is, he has achieved much success and in my opinion can and should talk about it.
I was shocked to read that Jackson does not do drugs and rarely drinks. His persona is so different that the one he portrayed in his book. The one thing I have taken from this book, which echos many other books is don't have a plan B.
This book was a great read. I recommend it regardless of your music or TV genere of choice. He is a successful businessman in his own right. I have followed his musical career and I am a HUGE Power fan. I am anxiously awaiting the spin offs.
The book may come off as a little braggadocios, but the reality is, he has achieved much success and in my opinion can and should talk about it.
I was shocked to read that Jackson does not do drugs and rarely drinks. His persona is so different that the one he portrayed in his book. The one thing I have taken from this book, which echos many other books is don't have a plan B.
This book was a great read. I recommend it regardless of your music or TV genere of choice. He is a successful businessman in his own right. I have followed his musical career and I am a HUGE Power fan. I am anxiously awaiting the spin offs.
March 31, 2023
YouTube picked up on the fact that I was reading this book, so I've been fed a lot of "50 is secretly a complete genius" and to an extent that is true. He's got real advice and seems to follow a very principled existence (based on the book alone). But he's also pretty full of himself and possibly 100% convinced that Power was the greatest thing that ever happened to TV. It's also more than a little silly when he talks up his own Instagram captions and charitable soul.
There's plenty of good stuff too though. Like his take that rap needs to come from the illest, baddest, realest artist on the block, so when he got successful, he also knew he had to get out of the rap game and onto something else.
The one that's probably going to stay with me longest is his attitude towards his detractors: "If you won't be my friend, at least be my enemy. It's the next best thing." This man clearly knows how to hustle.
There's plenty of good stuff too though. Like his take that rap needs to come from the illest, baddest, realest artist on the block, so when he got successful, he also knew he had to get out of the rap game and onto something else.
The one that's probably going to stay with me longest is his attitude towards his detractors: "If you won't be my friend, at least be my enemy. It's the next best thing." This man clearly knows how to hustle.
January 15, 2021
This books was truly phenomenal. Well done Mr Jackson. I knew he was highly intelligent and had amazing experiences and information to pass on to the rest of us in a way that only he can deliver.
I really learned so much from this book. Especially regarding relationships with those around you and having the courage and grit to bet on yourself. The stories he used to color in the information he was sharing were awesome. He of course threw a little shade as expected.
This was not a boring read. I was engaged from the first page to the last. I will listen to this again. I took copious notes. Excellent life and business lessons delivered in this book.
I highly recommend anyone who wants to improve their life in anyway should read this book.
I really learned so much from this book. Especially regarding relationships with those around you and having the courage and grit to bet on yourself. The stories he used to color in the information he was sharing were awesome. He of course threw a little shade as expected.
This was not a boring read. I was engaged from the first page to the last. I will listen to this again. I took copious notes. Excellent life and business lessons delivered in this book.
I highly recommend anyone who wants to improve their life in anyway should read this book.
March 14, 2021
This was a hard one to rate. Was I entertained? Terribly. Was it a good self help book? Hard to say. I felt like he would give conflicting advice from chapter to chapter (ie always be honest and true to who you are vs. don't be afraid to make people think you're something you're not) but it's probably good advice if you want to be a rapper turned tv producer? Highly recommend the audiobook to hear it all from 50 himself.
September 29, 2022
Great insight
This book allowed me to learn about 50 Cent in a different light. I wasn’t learning about the rapper, I was learning about the businessman, the entrepreneur, the poised gentleman and the critical mind thinker. This book is definitely recommended as a self-help book if you need to change some of the ways that you interact with other individuals whether it be professionally, socially, or romantically.
This book allowed me to learn about 50 Cent in a different light. I wasn’t learning about the rapper, I was learning about the businessman, the entrepreneur, the poised gentleman and the critical mind thinker. This book is definitely recommended as a self-help book if you need to change some of the ways that you interact with other individuals whether it be professionally, socially, or romantically.
November 3, 2020
So good!!!! It was memoir/self-help I really enjoyed 50’s narration as well!
December 28, 2020
I liked it when he was calling out his shitty baby mama and shitty kid.
May 15, 2020
If there are still some fears you've barely confronted at all then this book is for you. Grab every single one of the gems in the book that you can 💎.
My 👂 picked up on.... ⬇️
Do you have a sense of duality inside you?
Most people run away from their fears I run towards it
One of the cornerstones of my sustained success is that I don't rush into deals
Even though I've become synonymous with getting paid I never chase money
I evaluate every new venture based on its long-term potential not on what the first check I'm going to get is going to look like
When you get to the top of the game when you have all the money and your perspective shifts and you start to look at what really matters... how you help people
Learn from your Ls
Comfort is a dream killer
Getting shot reawakened that sensation in me
When fear interrupts your routine or makes you rethink it and anyway it's gotten its hooks deep into you and will hold you back forever
Cowards die many times before their deaths the valiant never taste of death but once
There are still some fears I've barely confronted at all
Everywhere I look from the streets to the boardroom I see a lot of entitled people like you
Shape perception:
One of the secrets to getting whatever you want in life is creating perception that you don't need a thing
Don't be afraid to compete
While I always draw from the lessons Ive learned on the streets I'll never be limited by them
The goal is not just to be successful it's about learning how to sustain that success to
In the presence of those executive self-assurance he lost his faith in himself
He was stuck at a level that wasn't equal to his skill
If you're not hustling your absolute hardest you're never going to reach your full potential in life
I prioritize leading a very clean lifestyle
The second I hear those vague asks
Articulate your vision in words
A study by Dominican University found your 42 times more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down
A study in psychological bulletin found that people are 90% more likely to achieve their goals that are challenging and specific
The power of vision boards are real and very accessible
Your mentality on the street has to be I'll get it back on the next one
We're not looking at the other side of the privileged coin
I'm confident if it all goes away im getting my money back and then some
I'm rut through an endless tunnel Idea
I find it liberating that I'll be hustling for the rest of my life
Do you think there's room for growth?
Ask any entrepreneur with the greatest attribute is?
Most answer they are an astute judge of character
You possess a strong character
the ability to recognize character or the lack thereof is just as critical on a corporate level as a street-level
I'd rather be robbed at gunpoint then betrayed
They've all been critical on keeping my brand expanding and moving in the right direction
I don't care where he goes I'm trying to do business with him I'll never delete his number from my phone
When someone puts a number in your head every time you move off that number it feels like a loss
You can't get tricked into thinking that way
The cash is in real estate
Buck
Couldn't stand it that somebody as successful and beloved as me
Didn't want somebody as unsuccessful and untrustworthy as buck around
On the streets there's just isn't enough space for success and suckers quicker you understand that quicker you get the most success out of your journey
Not trying to police them I'm just trying to help them win
He Started drinking your own juice before you prove anything
Whenever you find success in life there will be people who believe some of it belongs to them
Handle internal problems first
No matter how high you build your empire, you'll never be able to maintain it if your house isn't in order
if the blocks on the bottom aren't solid it's just a matter of time before everything comes crashing down
If you bring a bunch of wolves into your circle you better be dammed sure to feed them otherwise it won't be long before the pack turns on you
Buck I was savvy enough to move on
My voice took on a menacing quality
There's a deep intelligence in his eyes
The right deal is out there, wait for it
IfJust one person is interested that means your idea has value
It's the wrong way to assess the deal
Focus on the potential not the payday
Never get fixated on a number
Our relationship will remain on strong terms
You negotiated yourself into nickels and dimes do to ego insecurity and possibly a lack of faith that's not hustling stronger that's hustling weaker
I'm betting on myself again
Just do shit
The internet is making The gatekeepers much less relevant
I don't want you to be short-sighted on this
Is it cool to come by the office one day and just be a fly on the wall?
I'm willing to do whatever it takes to work with you
Never let your value rest on someone's word
when the money starts coming in the knifes start coming out
Promises aren't worth s*** you have to get papered up we need to get the expectations on paper before we sink to much time or equity into it
Protect yourself, put it on paper
Evolve or die
Transition into other pursuits
How are you going to become the real life Star that you are in your head?
Age isn't about what year you were born it's about it's about how you approach the year you're in right now
Running into as much action as I can
Keep the wine flowing and the party going
When people say money hasn't changed them it just means they haven't made enough of it yet
He can speak with real knowledge
You must find people who are going to inject new energy into your life
You're seeing the issue in black and white he helped me see it in Technicolor
Grab every single one of those gems that you can
The power of perception
The world will see you the way you see you and treat you the way you treat yourself
Curtis is a shore thing most people are going to always stick with a shore thing
Doing very well in the hood but no one's taking me serious as an agent yet
Unattainability is the ultimate aphrodisiac
All these zeroes make me an instant VIP
Trying to soak up a little bit of your energy
We only bring up things we love or we hate
I don't celebrate conflict what if someone says they have a problem with me I respond no problem
It's a calculated exercise
There is Joy in work there is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something
Pitti apparently makes for foolish allowances
You can never feel satisfied if you're not applying yourself to something you feel passionate about
Your entire mindset is alien to me
She's trying to keep you a girl a little bit longer
He's in the mouth of a lion and didn't even realize the fangs hovering over his neck
When did I become responsible for your whole entire life?
Is he or She making a deposit that's one question you need to ask about every person in your life
Getting rid of all the people who only make withdrawals
Helpful diplomacy punctuality & creativity
I don't feel the need to help this guy because his spirit is already broken
My 👂 picked up on.... ⬇️
Do you have a sense of duality inside you?
Most people run away from their fears I run towards it
One of the cornerstones of my sustained success is that I don't rush into deals
Even though I've become synonymous with getting paid I never chase money
I evaluate every new venture based on its long-term potential not on what the first check I'm going to get is going to look like
When you get to the top of the game when you have all the money and your perspective shifts and you start to look at what really matters... how you help people
Learn from your Ls
Comfort is a dream killer
Getting shot reawakened that sensation in me
When fear interrupts your routine or makes you rethink it and anyway it's gotten its hooks deep into you and will hold you back forever
Cowards die many times before their deaths the valiant never taste of death but once
There are still some fears I've barely confronted at all
Everywhere I look from the streets to the boardroom I see a lot of entitled people like you
Shape perception:
One of the secrets to getting whatever you want in life is creating perception that you don't need a thing
Don't be afraid to compete
While I always draw from the lessons Ive learned on the streets I'll never be limited by them
The goal is not just to be successful it's about learning how to sustain that success to
In the presence of those executive self-assurance he lost his faith in himself
He was stuck at a level that wasn't equal to his skill
If you're not hustling your absolute hardest you're never going to reach your full potential in life
I prioritize leading a very clean lifestyle
The second I hear those vague asks
Articulate your vision in words
A study by Dominican University found your 42 times more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down
A study in psychological bulletin found that people are 90% more likely to achieve their goals that are challenging and specific
The power of vision boards are real and very accessible
Your mentality on the street has to be I'll get it back on the next one
We're not looking at the other side of the privileged coin
I'm confident if it all goes away im getting my money back and then some
I'm rut through an endless tunnel Idea
I find it liberating that I'll be hustling for the rest of my life
Do you think there's room for growth?
Ask any entrepreneur with the greatest attribute is?
Most answer they are an astute judge of character
You possess a strong character
the ability to recognize character or the lack thereof is just as critical on a corporate level as a street-level
I'd rather be robbed at gunpoint then betrayed
They've all been critical on keeping my brand expanding and moving in the right direction
I don't care where he goes I'm trying to do business with him I'll never delete his number from my phone
When someone puts a number in your head every time you move off that number it feels like a loss
You can't get tricked into thinking that way
The cash is in real estate
Buck
Couldn't stand it that somebody as successful and beloved as me
Didn't want somebody as unsuccessful and untrustworthy as buck around
On the streets there's just isn't enough space for success and suckers quicker you understand that quicker you get the most success out of your journey
Not trying to police them I'm just trying to help them win
He Started drinking your own juice before you prove anything
Whenever you find success in life there will be people who believe some of it belongs to them
Handle internal problems first
No matter how high you build your empire, you'll never be able to maintain it if your house isn't in order
if the blocks on the bottom aren't solid it's just a matter of time before everything comes crashing down
If you bring a bunch of wolves into your circle you better be dammed sure to feed them otherwise it won't be long before the pack turns on you
Buck I was savvy enough to move on
My voice took on a menacing quality
There's a deep intelligence in his eyes
The right deal is out there, wait for it
IfJust one person is interested that means your idea has value
It's the wrong way to assess the deal
Focus on the potential not the payday
Never get fixated on a number
Our relationship will remain on strong terms
You negotiated yourself into nickels and dimes do to ego insecurity and possibly a lack of faith that's not hustling stronger that's hustling weaker
I'm betting on myself again
Just do shit
The internet is making The gatekeepers much less relevant
I don't want you to be short-sighted on this
Is it cool to come by the office one day and just be a fly on the wall?
I'm willing to do whatever it takes to work with you
Never let your value rest on someone's word
when the money starts coming in the knifes start coming out
Promises aren't worth s*** you have to get papered up we need to get the expectations on paper before we sink to much time or equity into it
Protect yourself, put it on paper
Evolve or die
Transition into other pursuits
How are you going to become the real life Star that you are in your head?
Age isn't about what year you were born it's about it's about how you approach the year you're in right now
Running into as much action as I can
Keep the wine flowing and the party going
When people say money hasn't changed them it just means they haven't made enough of it yet
He can speak with real knowledge
You must find people who are going to inject new energy into your life
You're seeing the issue in black and white he helped me see it in Technicolor
Grab every single one of those gems that you can
The power of perception
The world will see you the way you see you and treat you the way you treat yourself
Curtis is a shore thing most people are going to always stick with a shore thing
Doing very well in the hood but no one's taking me serious as an agent yet
Unattainability is the ultimate aphrodisiac
All these zeroes make me an instant VIP
Trying to soak up a little bit of your energy
We only bring up things we love or we hate
I don't celebrate conflict what if someone says they have a problem with me I respond no problem
It's a calculated exercise
There is Joy in work there is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something
Pitti apparently makes for foolish allowances
You can never feel satisfied if you're not applying yourself to something you feel passionate about
Your entire mindset is alien to me
She's trying to keep you a girl a little bit longer
He's in the mouth of a lion and didn't even realize the fangs hovering over his neck
When did I become responsible for your whole entire life?
Is he or She making a deposit that's one question you need to ask about every person in your life
Getting rid of all the people who only make withdrawals
Helpful diplomacy punctuality & creativity
I don't feel the need to help this guy because his spirit is already broken
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