6 books 'Shark Tank' investor Daymond John thinks everyone should read (2024)

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6 books 'Shark Tank' investor Daymond John thinks everyone should read (1)

Kim Lachance Shandrow,

2015-07-07T15:17:00Z

6 books 'Shark Tank' investor Daymond John thinks everyone should read (2)

When Daymond John was in elementary school in Queens, N.Y., he had to read booksfour times overto retain what they said.

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Now, at 46, he says he still has to reread them several times — often two to three times each — for the information to really sink in.

The sharp-dressed "Shark Tank"star and veteran investor/entrepreneur doesn’t habitually reread books as a result of being too busy or distracted the first go-round.

He chalks it up to being dyslexic, something he only discovered as an adult with the onset of texting and social media.

“Because I’m dyslexic, I’ve had to read books many times,” he says. “That’s why I focus on reading ones that are high-impact and incredibly useful, full of important lessons that I can apply to my life and business.”

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Related:Shark Tank's Daymond John: 3 Ways to Build a Loyal Social Media Following

Despite how challenging reading is for the multi-millionaire celebrity business mentor, he forces himself to do it regularly, soaking up pearls of wisdom from contemporary and past thought leaders and leveraging them to up his game.

We recently caught up with the Infusionsoft and Shopify brand ambassador on the Sony Pictures Culver City, Calif., set of "Shark Tank," where we asked him which books had the greatest impact on his life and career.

Remaining humble, the FUBU co-founder didn’t seize the opportunity to plughis own books, though he easily could have (other Sharks did). He didn’t even mention them. Instead, and without a moment to prepare ahead of time, he quickly rattled off the names and authors of six books that forever changed him and that he thinks all entrepreneurs will benefit from reading, too.

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“They’re smart choices not only for hopefuls, but for seasoned business pros as well,” he says.

They are:

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"Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!" by Robert Kiyosaki

6 books 'Shark Tank' investor Daymond John thinks everyone should read (3)

Amazon

In this step-by-step-style financial literacy classic, multi-millionaire entrepreneur and motivational speaker Robert Kiyosaki shares how he used lessons from two dads — his own fiscally poor father and his best friend’s rich father — to shape his opinions around money and to build his fortune.

Related:The 7 Books Bill Gates Wants You to Read This Summer

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"Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant" by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne

6 books 'Shark Tank' investor Daymond John thinks everyone should read (4)

Harvard Business Review Press

The business theorist authors of this data-rich international bestseller lay out an innovative systematic approach to obliterating your competition without competing with them at all.

Drawing on a decade-long academic study of more than 150 strategic business moves spanning more than 30 industries over 100 years, they detail how to build what they call “blue oceans” — new opportunities in markets that are ripe for disruption.

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"Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill

6 books 'Shark Tank' investor Daymond John thinks everyone should read (5)

Amazon

First appearing in print way back in 1937, Napoleon Hill’s motivating classic is the result of 20 years-worth of research and interviews with more than 40 famous millionaires.

"Think and Grow Rich"is indeed rich with the secrets to success from world renowned historic magnates like Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, Alexander Graham Bell, John D. Rockefeller and Theodore Roosevelt. The exceptional life lessons packed within arestill relevant today.

Related:Shark Tank Star Daymond John Says This Is the Biggest Branding Mistake of All

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"Life Is a Series of Presentations: Eight Ways to Inspire, Inform, and Influence Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime" by Tony Jeary

6 books 'Shark Tank' investor Daymond John thinks everyone should read (6)

Touchstone

Veteran executive coach and presentation strategist Tony Jeary has taught countless executives at big-name global companies how to deliver knockout, persuasive public speeches.

In"Life Is a Series of Presentations,"hereveals his expert strategies in a series of practical, easy-to-digest tips and techniques, including how to boost your confidence and credibility when facing one of life’s most terrifying things for many — a live audience staring back at you, hanging on your every word.

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"Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal With Change in Your Work and in Your Life" by Spencer Johnson

6 books 'Shark Tank' investor Daymond John thinks everyone should read (7)

G.P. Putnam's Sons

Management consultant Spencer Johnson’s 96-page literary attitude adjustment winds readers through a simple yet potent parable that unfolds in a maze. The maze is occupied by four characters — Sniff and Scurry, mice that will stop at nothing to get cheese, and Hem and Haw, mouse-sized humans for whom cheese represents much more than merely sustenance.

The characters learn to adapt to changes in the cheese, a symbol for our jobs, career paths, relationships, etc., and they set out in search of new sources of cheese when their cheese runs out. The key takeaway: Adaptability, perseverance and a positive mental attitude are critical to success in any endeavor, especially in the cutthroat world of business.

Related:10 Quotes From Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran and the Rest of the Shark Tank Investors

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"The One Minute Manager" by Kenneth H. Blanchard and Spencer Johnson

6 books 'Shark Tank' investor Daymond John thinks everyone should read (8)

William Morrow

In this allegory-filled oldie but goodie, widely revered management experts Kenneth H. Blanchard and Spencer Johnson share how to manage others in ways that can increase their confidence, pride and productivity.

The book maps out three powerful one-minute management “secrets” — employee goal-setting, employee praisings and and employee reprimands. For a freshly updated version of this executive staple, check out "The New One Minute Manager"(William Morrow, 2015).

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Read the original article on Entrepreneur. Copyright 2015. Follow Entrepreneur on Twitter.

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6 books 'Shark Tank' investor Daymond John thinks everyone should read (2024)

FAQs

Does Daymond John still own Bombas? ›

Daymond John's Current Net Worth

Much of this can be attributed to FUBU, which is still a privately held company. Meanwhile, he has a 17.5 percent stake in Bombas Socks, which could be worth as much as $17.5 million given the company's current $100 million valuation.

Is Daymond John a billionaire? ›

Is Daymond from Shark Tank a billionaire? With a net worth of $350 million, John hasn't reached billionaire status. But that doesn't mean he won't in the future.

What is Damon's net worth on Shark Tank? ›

Daymond John has an estimated net worth of $350 million — but that's not what earned him a place on the GOBankingRates 100 Most Influential Money Experts list. A self-made man, John turned a $40 budget into FUBU, a fashion juggernaut worth $6 billion.

How much is FUBU worth today? ›

A self-made man, John turned a $40 budget into FUBU, a fashion juggernaut worth $6 billion.

What is the most successful product on Shark Tank Bombas? ›

Bomba Socks, my partners that I met on Shark Tank, are the most successful product ever invested in. Shark Tank history. And here's the best thing about David Randy. They had absolutely no knowledge about manufacturing, about fashion, and definitely about socks.

What happened to Bombas Shark Tank? ›

In the end, Mark Cuban decided to invest $200,000 for a 20% stake in the company. Since then, Bombas has seen tremendous growth and success. It is now a multimillion-dollar business with its products sold in major retailers like Nordstrom and Bed Bath & Beyond.

Who did Lori Greiner marry? ›

She is married to Dan Greiner.

How did Lori Greiner get rich? ›

In the mid-1990s, she invented a plastic earring organizer, patented it and launched her first company. The earring organizer was an immediate hit at JCPenney, which allowed Greiner to expand her business into other product categories, such as travel, electronics and household items.

How much did Daymond make on Bombas? ›

Bombas (US$225 million) – Daymond John

The brand donates one pair for every pair sold, and the business model interested Fubu fashion brand founder Daymond John. John offered US$200,000 for a 17 per cent stake in Bombas – since then the company has earned US$225million in lifetime sales after selling 42 million items.

What is Robert Herjavec's net worth? ›

Robert Herjavec is a Canadian businessman with an estimated net worth of $300 million. Herjavec was born in Yugoslavia and raised in a life of poverty. When he was eight, his family moved to Canada.

Did Daymond John go to college? ›

But for John, college wasn't a part of the equation. “I didn't have enough money to go to college, so I had to get a job as a waiter,” he tells CNN of his days working at Red Lobster. What he did have was grit and determination. For John, those traits have proved vastly more lucrative than a traditional education.

Why did FUBU go out of business? ›

According to Complex, FUBU's decline occurred due to its over saturating the market, as John has publicly stated, "The biggest mistake we made with the brand was buying more inventory than we needed.

Which Shark has made the most money? ›

While all the Sharks have their own successful pursuits, Mark Cuban is by far the richest Shark, with a net worth of $6.2 billion under his belt as of 2023.

How many children does Daymond John have? ›

The Shark Tank star is the father of three daughters. He welcomed his youngest, Minka Jagger, with his wife Heather Taras. John is also a dad to two other daughters, Yasmeen and Destiny, from a previous relationship. Although the youngest, Minka, lives a more public life in comparison to her half-siblings.

Who is the owner of Bombas? ›

David Heath is the CEO of cult-favorite sock and apparel brand Bombas, which he cofounded with Randy Goldberg, the company's chief branding officer, in 2013.

What brand does Daymond John own? ›

Hip-hop fashion designer Daymond John, founder and CEO of clothing label FUBU, was born in Brooklyn, New York, of Caribbean parents.

Who are the investors in Bombas? ›

Global Tech Ventures, G Squared, Medici Capital Partners, Patricof Company, and Third Point Ventures are 5 of 9 investors who have invested in Bombas.

Is Bombas making money? ›

Congratulations to Randy and David from Bombas! These guys have brought in $1 billion in lifetime revenue AND have donated 100 million in apparel items. These guys have put in the work and there is nobody more deserving.

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