12 Daymond John Quotes to Help You Achieve Greatness There's much to learn from the entrepreneur, Shark Tank investor, celebrity and author Daymond John.

By Rose Leadem

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Greg Doherty | Getty Images

Being a successful entrepreneur is no walk in the park. It takes dedication, motivation and focus. At least, that's what helped entrepreneur, Shark Tank investor, TV personality and author Daymond John. And today, John uses his own personal entrepreneurial experiences to help others grow and achieve their own.

Related: 50 Inspirational Quotes to Motivate You

John has always been hardworking and motivated to achieve greatness. While developing his menswear line FUBU out of his mother's home in Queens, New York in his 20s, John was also working a full-time job waiting tables at Red Lobster. In fact, even after FUBU began turning profits, John kept working at the restaurant, adding a blanket of financial security if his entrepreneurial endeavor ended up flopping. After much hard work, late nights and some help from his mother, FUBU took off, eventually growing into a $6 billion company.

Related: 11 Inspirational Quotes from Gary Vaynerchuk to Help You Become the Best Version of Yourself

Today, while John is recognized as the brains behind FUBU, he's also one of the star investors in ABC's hit reality series Shark Tank, where he gives his own input, advice and sometimes money towards new entrepreneurs. He's leveraged his entrepreneurial success to help make a name for himself and also, to help others.

To learn more, here are 12 Daymond John Quotes to help you achieve greatness.

On leadership

"Don't focus on you, focus on what you can give others." -- Daymond John

On mindset

"I believe the last thing I read at night will likely manifest when I'm sleeping. You become what you think about the most." -- Daymond John

On time

"The time will never be perfect, you can only make perfect use of your time." -- Daymond John

On success

"Align yourself with the right people, forge the right relationships and you'll set yourself up for the long run." -- Daymond John

Related: 8 Inspirational Quotes From Movie Mogul Steven Spielberg

On getting started

"A savvy entrepreneur will not always look for investment money first." -- Daymond John

On failure

"The only way to make sure a project or endeavor fails is to quit on it." -- Daymond John

On empowerment

"If you don't educate yourself, you'll never get out of the starting block because you'll spend all your money making foolish decisions." -- Daymond John

On motivation

"Be inspired by the success of others but don't be intimidated by it." -- Daymond John

On making mistakes

"Learn as many mistakes and what not to do while your business or product is small. Don't be in such a hurry to grow your brand. Make sure that you and the market can sustain any bumps that may occur down the road." -- Daymond John

Related: 12 Quotes on Failure From Super Successful Leaders Like Barbara Corcoran, Mark Cuban and More

On goals

"Five days a week, I read my goals before I go to sleep and when I wake up. There are 10 goals around health, family and business with expiration dates, and I update them every six months." -- Daymond John

On perseverance

"I've failed way more than I've succeeded." -- Daymond John

On hard work

"My parents always taught me that my day job would never make me rich; it'd be my homework." -- Daymond John

Rose Leadem is a freelance writer for Entrepreneur.com. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

This Couple Started a Side Hustle to Improve a 'Terribly Made' Bathroom Essential. Now the Business Earns More Than $3 Million a Year.

Michael Fine and Lisa Schulner-Fine launched lifestyle brand Quiet Town in 2016 and have been growing it ever since.

Business News

What's Open on Easter Sunday? Costco and Target Will Close, But One Major Retailer Will Be Open. Here's What To Know.

The stock market was closed for Good Friday on April 18. Here's what's closed for Easter Sunday, April 20.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Marketing

The One Mistake Is Putting Your Brand Reputation at Risk — and Most Startups Still Make It

Many businesses pour resources into branding and marketing but overlook PR — yet it's PR that builds the trust, credibility, and reputation that turn attention into lasting revenue in a crowded market.

Social Media

With This LinkedIn Algorithm Change, Your Best Posts Could Reach New Readers for Months

It's one of many new features rolling out on the platform in 2024.

Growing a Business

Founders Are Missing This One Investment — But It Could Be the Most Profitable One You Make

When founders are empowered with support, grounded in their vision and guided along their path, everything flourishes.