An American businessman, philanthropist, and self-made billionaire, there are many great accolades to be given to John Paul Dejoria. But what sticks to him is the title of survivor.
Born April 13, 1944, in Los Angeles, California, John faced many obstacles. When he was two years old, his parents got divorced, and he lived with his mother. Unable to tend to the basic needs of the children, Dejoria and his siblings were sent to foster homes.
His troubled childhood reflected deeply on his grades as he became a street gang member in high school. After graduating from school, he spent two years in the United States Navy. Even though he wanted to attend college, he didn’t have the means or money to do so. So he resorted to doing several odd jobs to satiate his daily needs.
At one point in his life, he was homeless and had to live out of a car. He was at his absolute low at one point in time, but he still didn’t give up, and that is something we should all learn from Dejoria. There will be times where you will be at your absolute worst and you still have to get up the next morning to do your job.
This is okay, and this is normal. I don’t think we reaffirm ourselves much on that. It’s high time that we should. Because things can take a turn for the better at any time as they did for Dejoria.
In 1980, he took out a loan of $700 and created the John Paul Mitchell Systems with Paul Mitchell, a hairdresser. Today, it sells over 100 products in salons in around 87 countries. The 77-year-old billionaire bounced back from poverty and currently has a net worth of $3.1 billion, according to Forbes.
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So how did DeJoria manage to build an expansive empire from scratch? Business development expert Hirav Shah brings you Dejoria’s 3-rules to success:
Don’t be afraid of rejection
Dejoria had once stated, “You will knock on doors, and many will close on you. There will be people who don’t like your product, your company — or you. ”One of the best attributes Dejoria had in his earlier days was his capability to accept rejection. As a result, he began to expect negative feedback. This helped him grow as a businessman.
Never hesitate to ask for help
Even the mightiest people need help to navigate life. You are just a speck in the spectrum of life. It’s okay if you aren’t able to get through with it without help. You can ask for help.
When Dejoria was homeless and had a tough time taking care of himself and his 2-year-old son, he resorted to asking for help from his mom. At one point, DeJoria’s friend, a motorcyclist, offered him a spare room, where he and his 2-year-old son could stay. This was all the help he needed to sustain his career and manage his household. If DeJoria’s friend hadn’t given him a leg up, perhaps we would not be reading a blog about him.
Do good, be good
If you don’t invest in the goodwill of people, then it’s evident that no one is going to buy your product. Dejoria believes that by helping people, you are inciting loyalty. According to him, “Customers like to be involved with people and businesses that donate their time to help others, save the planet and make a difference.” So, invest in the people, rather than thinking about the profit margin or the charge sheet.
Conclusion
What started at a random street, with Dejoria fighting to find a warm home ended with him providing for thousands of homeless people in need. I call that poetic justice. His story is not only inspiring but gut-wrenching. Imagine being homeless while catering to your infant son; I don’t think life could get any worse than this. But the thing is Dejoria persevered. As a result, he is at the peak of his game. So, hang in there. The morning will come soon- concludes business development strategist Hirav Shah.
Image Credit
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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