Customer Reviews

Display of Power: How FUBU Changed a World of Fashion, Branding and Lifestyle

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't agree with another reviewer that the book was ghetto. It was a good illustration of what many black males feel like they have to resort to to make a dollar. I am proud of the fact that his company starting from making hats to a multimillion dollar company. I even have a FUBU jacket which I bought because I was proud of the name of the company, "For Us, By Us." (and it's very fashionable). However, I got six or so chapters in and, even though he was getting his business off the ground, he still had that hustle mentality where he was engaged activities that still had traces of being barely legal or outright illegal. I kept waiting for the moment where once his company finally got off the ground, and he could finally be above board, but I haven't seen it yet and I suppose I have to give the book some time. I read books about entrepreneurs, especially black entrepreneurs regularly. I do seem to find a pattern that, when a sista starts a business, usually it follows the story of her learning on the fly with each mistake and each expansion- but not necessarily doing illegal things. In this book, because of the way he was raised by his mother, he was raised to know better than to engage in some of the activities he did to make money in his teens and young adulthood. I also disliked that he would make assertions like after the makers of Cristal disassociated themselves with black consumers, that there was this mass boycott of it in the black community. That's fine to say if it's backed up with facts or articles attesting to that. It was written conversationally, so I figure that the co-author took a bunch of interviews and fashioned them into a book. What I will say that stuck with me positively was his statement by his mother saying, "It's takes just as much energy to not do anything as it does to try to do something." Basically saying it takes as much effort to be poor as it does to strive to be rich.

I read this book in two sittings, which in it's self should say, this is a good book. I also read the first ladies' "Mr. Stereotype" review and I had to retort.

This book to me seems to me like an account in Mr. John's life up to a couple years ago. He did not come across and a street thug but more as a struggling black man working on making it in America (he worked at Red Lobster) . I think young lady missed the point, and in turn a lot the knowledge that was passed along in the book like about taking chances, running with new ideas and believing in yourself. The story that was told in this book needs to be heard. There are not to many positive words of encouragement addressed to the hip hop nation, and this is one of them. Young enterpuernuers across the world should tip their hat to this gentleman and persons like the young lady whom wrote the first review, should read the book again.

It is said that all markets are niches. Daymond John found a niche and has been able to really make it pay off. His niche is identified by the name of the company - FUBU - For Us By Us. Mr. John has been able to find a position in the high powered, fast moving world of the fashion industry.

As a young black man in Queens, you would have thought that his chances of spending a life in prison were higher than runing a fashion empire - and they probably were. But through an understanding of power and the appearance of power he was able to move out of Queens, a long ways out.

Two points about the book stand out to me. First was the number of ventures that he worked in while trying to find what fit. An MBA student studies case histories of businesses to (hopefully) help the student learn from others. Mr. day lived them instead. Some were marginally successful, some were less so. But from each he learned, and learned better than the MBA student could possibly learn.

Second Mr. Day seemed to have from the beginning an innate understanding that displaying power, the appearance of power is what makes it work in his space. I was reminded of Arthur Miller 1949 play 'Death of a Salesman,' where the guy is out there 'riding a smile and a shoeshine.' Mr. Day's world is different, but perhaps in detail only.

In life the amazing stories are always the people who had an idea first and worked to make their immediate vision come true.

They aren't sure about all it takes to make that vision come to life, but they work at something every day, blind to any obstacles.

Years later they look back and truly can't believe how they got from where they started, to where the vision isn't just a reality, it's beyond anything they would have imagined.

Daymond John's story is not only authentic, it has a ton of insight into brand building that you would read in any "Brand Think" book on the shelves.

The fact that it comes from someone running a multimillion dollar/international company makes it a lot more real than Joe Marketing Specialist.

Not to tear them down, because those writers do have their place.

I've read the autobiographies of the Haggen Daz founders, Rose and Reuben Mattus; Howard Shultz's Starbucks adventures; Ray Croc grinding it out at McDonalds; just to name a few, and Daymond John's FUBU story is as impressive as their stories.

I have more respect for him now than I did before opening the book.

I really enjoyed reading about Daymond's journey from selling his clothing on the streets of NYC and hustling (and putting in the hard work) to make his clothing line a success. Daymond has a very conversational writing style and I found this to be very easy to read. Buy this book, you won't be disappointed.

When I started this book, it was not what I expected. I give Daymond John my enthusiastic support for taking the lesser travelled road and having excellent vision to the possibilities when many around him were taking an easier way or blaming others for lack of opportunities. He shows the openess to learn from anybody who is willing to teach him, and in turn is willing to take risks on many who have the drive but maybe not the education. There is a lot of good business school knowledge here, which must have come from coworkers or the school of hard knocks. This book would be great for any marketing student to get a real understanding about what branding is really about. It defines it so much better than the stuffy books I had to read in school.

Great book! Daymond opens up and shares powerful insights into the kind of desire you have to have to find a way to succeed in life. Thanks for the transparency Daymond. J

Seek and ye shall find, ask and it will be answered, and this is it!

Love the book. Purchase was great and fast. I appreciate it. Again, love the book.

This book was brought to my attention via Shark Tank and Mr. Daymond John's appearance on the show. I really cant believe it took me two years to purchase this book!

Beside being a Shark Player on the hit tv show Mr. Daymond John is busy running his empire but he takes the time to talk to people via Twitter and it like having a personal mentor.

I think this book is a must have and it is not going to tell you how to duplicate his success but it will tell you how he went about it and what you should do and shouldn't do.

The core of this book is how the Fubu's empire came about from birth to infancy and to being a global fashion player today.

It is a very unique book worth adding to your collection if you are serious about becoming a 1099 filer as opposed to a W2.

The book opens your eyes to opportunities in the business world and he strongly encourage you to pursue your passion.