5 Business Lessons from Jay Z's Black Album

One of my favorite albums by one of my favorite artists is Jay Z's Black Album. It is one of those albums that gets me pumped up; either at the gym or starting my work day. There are a ton of great gems hidden inside this album that helped me throughout my business career, so I thought it would be fun to share those

Even if you are not a fan of hip hop, I am sure you you can respect some of the lines he throws out there. There is a reason he is not only one of the greatest rappers alive, but a successful businessman as well. I take that back, he's "not a businessman, he's a business, man"

Here are 5 lines from his Black Album:

"Its nobody's fault. I made the decisions I made. This is the life I chose rather than the life that chose me." (December 4th)

Just taking personal responsibility and owning your current situation. Once I realized that MY decisions led me to where I was, it was empowering and very difficult to blame others or external factors

"Whenever there's a drought , get your umbrellas out, because that's when I brainstorm" (Public Service Announcement)

This speaks to resilience. It's not always rainbows and butterflies. It's how you react when things are at a low point. In light of Covid, I think a lot of people are faced with a "drought". It will be the ones that go on the offensive right now that will make it out the other side in a better space

"Far from a Harvard Student, just had the balls to do it" (What more can I say)

I realized I have to take some risks in my career. Take that job outside of my comfort zone, pack up and move, do the things that others won't do. I figure this was the way I had to compete since I didn't have those three letters after my name (MBA)

"Treat my first like my last and my last like my first and my thirst is the same as when I came" (My 1st Song)

Stay humble and never grow complacent. I noticed right when I start to get a little comfortable that is when I start slipping. I stop growing and my colleagues around me start passing me by. Treating every day like its your first day on the job. Bring that energy everyday.

"No Matter where you go, you are what you are player, and you can try to change but that's just the top layer. Man, you was who you was before you got here" (Public Service Announcement)

I remember early in my career, I forced my self to change my personality because I thought I had to do this to be "professional". What I found was my relationships struggled and my business struggled. I went back to just being me. My personality. Who I was inside. After that I vowed to always be myself. From that, I have stronger relationships and more people like doing business with someone who is true to themselves. Not fake

No go dust your shoulders off