My family and I love shows about entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship. Our favorites are Shark Tank, Blue Collar Millionaires, The Profit, and Billion Dollar Buyer because they highlight the true entrepreneurial spirit of everyday Americans as well as the rewards and challenges that face entrepreneurs daily. What I like most about these shows is that the hosts are self-made entrepreneurs who worked their way up and are now at the top of their fields.
I have highlight three of these entrepreneur hosts, all of whom came from humble beginnings and, through hard work, built themselves as well as their brands and companies to be leaders in their space.
Daymond John, an investor and known as “the people’s Shark” on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” is the founder of international clothing brand FUBU. Daymond came from humble beginnings, having grown up in Hollis, Queens. Daymond has described Hollis as a “lower middle class area of New York City.” Daymond was taught at an early age by his parents that he had to work hard for everything he wanted in life, which has helped him as an entrepreneur. Daymond’s father left the family when he was 10 years old, making him the man of the house and the child of a now single mother.
Daymond started working at 6 years old, doing everything from selling pencils to wiring PX cable in abandoned buildings. Daymond first started in the apparel business when he wanted a tie-top hat but was put off by the price. His mother taught him how to use a sewing machine and he began making his own tie-top hats and sold them on the streets of Queens for less than the competition. Back in 1992, Daymond and his friend sold $800 worth of these hats in a single day and realized the potential of their product. The friends created a distinctive logo and began sewing it on hockey jerseys, sweatshirts and T-shirts. FUBU was born. Daymond, who worked as a waiter at Red Lobster while building the company, and his mother mortgaged their home for $100,000 and used the money as start-up capital. Daymond’s mom decided to move and allowed he and his early partners to use the home as a factory and office space. Daymond then promoted FUBU through the new and growing Hip Hop music scene, having neighborhood friend LL Cool J wear the clothing. Other hip-hop artists who publicly wore FUBU early on include Beyoncé and Will Smith. The recognition helped FUBU grow into a multi-million dollar, international brand and helped make Daymond a leader in branding and apparel.
Marcus Lemonis, star of the the CNBC show “The Profit,” is the chairman and CEO of Camping World and Good Sam Enterprises. Lemonis was born in war-torn Beirut, Lebanon, in 1973 and at 9 months old was adopted by a Lebanese and Greek couple living in Miami, Florida. As a young child, Marcus was exposed to solid business values at his family-owned business. After high school, Marcus moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to attend Marquette University, where he studied political science, criminology and economics. Upon graduation, Marcus returned to Florida and unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives. Though he lost the campaign, Marcus refocused and held several automotive sales and managerial roles. Marcus had a conversation with family friend and then Chrysler CEO, Lee Iacocca, that started him in the camping and RV business. The conversation and decision put Marcus on the path to eventual chairmanship at Camping World and Good Sam. Today, in addition to serving at the company, Marcus uses his expertise and money to help struggling businesses across the country, which is the premise of his CNBC show. One of the tools that Marcus uses to help guide the businesses back to profitability is his famous people-process-product principle, (the 3P’s).
Tilman Fertitta is the founder, chairman of the board, president, and CEO of Houston, Texas-based Landry’s restaurants. Landry’s is a dining, entertainment, gaming and hospitality group that consists of more than 500 properties including the Rainforest Café, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Chart House and McCormick & Schmick’s. Tilman also owns the Golden Nugget Casino Resorts, was a founding partner of the Houston Texans NFL franchise and is a minority owner of the NBA’s Houston Rockets. Tilman was born and raised in Galveston, Texas where his family settled after emigrating to Louisiana from Sicily generations earlier. During his teenage years, Tilman worked in his father’s seafood restaurant where he learned about the inner-workings of the restaurant business. During college, Tilman started his own firm focused on marketing and sales and branched out into development and construction after leaving college. Tilman then built homes and sold Shaklee vitamins before working as a real estate specialist for Landry’s. After a few months, Tilman bought into the restaurant chain and soon after bought out the Landry brothers and the other investors, becoming sole owner. He expanded the one chain into the company that he owns today. Since March 2016, Tilman has been the host of the CNBC show, “The Billion Dollar Buyer,” where during each episode he works with two entrepreneurs to see if they can quickly scale-up their businesses and earn long-term contracts for their products and services.
The three, along with the numerous other entrepreneurs in our great country, are showing that turning a dream into a profitable business is possible in any industry as long as the person has passion, is willing to work hard, and keeps moving forward no matter their life circumstances or obstacles.
Raymond, New Hampshire native and former Manchester resident Brian Chicoine is co-founder of UrbanRebel 1636™, a Rhode Island-based art and design way of life start-up. A 1990 graduate of West High School, Brian attended college in the city before moving to Rhode Island to complete his undergraduate degree. Brian’s original plan was to “learn and leave” but fell in love with both his now wife, Jackie, and the state so decided to stay beyond graduation.
After they were married, Brian and Jackie lived in New Hampshire for about five and a half years, during which time their two boys were born. Brian and Jackie then returned to Rhode Island with their two boys and eventually started UrbanRebel 1636™. Brian and Jackie have recently realigned the company’s strategy and are developing an exciting new product line that will be introduced in time for the 2017 re-launch.
Brian has merged his passion for entrepreneurship and innovation with his love of new and bold ideas to bring the reader a fresh perspective on the people and products helping drive the economy. Brian and Jackie live in Providence with their two boys and their cat.
