Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success (Hardcover)

by Russell Simmons (Author), Chris Morrow (Author) "BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR can be nerve-wracking, largely because there's no by-the-book way to do it..." (more)
Key Phrases: spitting truth, spit truth, Phat Farm, New York, Def Jam (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
I consider him one of the great entrepreneurs out there today. Russell knows the market and he sees the future, and that’s the ultimate businessperson. -- DonaldTrump

Russell Simmons, the original and eternal Hip-Hop Mogul, is one of the most innovative and influential figures in modern American business and culture. -- The New York Times

Russell and I both are both from the streets of Queens--different neighborhoods, but a similar struggle. So I have a true appreciation and respect for the commitment he's made to uplifting himself in life. But I have even more respect for the commitment he's made to uplifting other people in the struggle as well. And these Laws are just another demonstration of that commitment. With Russell, it's never just been about stacking paper. He's never been satisfied just making a hot record or a hot jacket, he's always wanted to teach the rest of us how to make something hot too. So that we can enjoy the same kind of longevity he's enjoyed. And more importantly than the records or the clothes, Russell's always reminded us to speak our truth. He's encouraged us to stay on the side of right and share what in our hearts. This book is Russell’s truth and if you listen to what he's saying, you’ll find the inspiration and the knowledge to start the journey you want to take in life too. -- Nas

Simmons is the Godfather. Def Jam was the model that birthed Bad Boy, No Limit, Roc-A-Fella, and all these other labels. And then later, Phat Farm birthed Sean Jean, Rocawear, MarcJacobs, and all these other clothing companies. Russell is the architect of what we do. -- JayZ

‘Not many people can stay cool for twenty years,’ says Morgan Stanley star software analyst, Chuck Phillips. ‘That’s worth a lot.’ -- The Wall Street Journal

Review
Russell Simmons, the original and eternal Hip-Hop Mogul, is one of the most innovative and influential figures in modern American business and culture. (The New York Times)

I consider him one of the great entrepreneurs out there today. Russell knows the market and he sees the future, and that’s the ultimate businessperson. (DonaldTrump)

Simmons is the Godfather. Def Jam was the model that birthed Bad Boy, No Limit, Roc-A-Fella, and all these other labels. And then later, Phat Farm birthed Sean Jean, Rocawear, MarcJacobs, and all these other clothing companies. Russell is the architect of what we do. (JayZ)

‘Not many people can stay cool for twenty years,’ says Morgan Stanley star software analyst, Chuck Phillips. ‘That’s worth a lot.’ (The Wall Street Journal)

Russell and I both are both from the streets of Queens--different neighborhoods, but a similar struggle. So I have a true appreciation and respect for the commitment he's made to uplifting himself in life. But I have even more respect for the commitment he's made to uplifting other people in the struggle as well. And these Laws are just another demonstration of that commitment. With Russell, it's never just been about stacking paper. He's never been satisfied just making a hot record or a hot jacket, he's always wanted to teach the rest of us how to make something hot too. So that we can enjoy the same kind of longevity he's enjoyed. And more importantly than the records or the clothes, Russell's always reminded us to speak our truth. He's encouraged us to stay on the side of right and share what in our hearts. This book is Russell’s truth and if you listen to what he's saying, you’ll find the inspiration and the knowledge to start the journey you want to take in life too. (Nas)

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Gotham (April 24, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592402933
• ISBN-13: 978-1592402939
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #148,344 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the real Secret!, April 25, 2007

By	K. L. Winston Jackson (Shreveport, LA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is by far the most inspirational and motivational self help books I have ever come across. The book The Secret is good but very vague but this book is filled with concrete examples and knowledge that is relevant to today's society. It has definitely motivated me to take action. I have never written a review for a book on Amazon, but after reading this book I couldn't not leave a review giving it 5-stars.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive Read, May 22, 2007

By	Shamontiel L. Vaughn "Web Editor, Author, Rev... (Chicago) - See all my reviews

I've always respected Russell Simmons for not only making a name for himself within the hip hop industry but being such a consistently impressive businessman. I like how he doesn't have to give up his whole personality in order to gain exposure or continue to make significant products within the community, so when I saw this book, I was really hoping it was going to be good. And it was!

Pros: He gave me some very useful insight about things I thought I was clear on but apparently not (ex. the contributions of rappers that I NEVER thought were giving anything back to the community sparked an article idea, his dept and then profit from Def Jam, and his views on Run DMC and "Walk This Way"). I respect him for not dogging out his ex-wife and showing the positive attributes of her, especially since I'm a Baby Phat fanatic. There was a lot of good information on how to start and keep a business with interesting antecdotes in between. Although he talked about religion, he did it in such a conversational way that it didn't seem preachy. I respect how he admitted that sometimes he contradicts his own opinions but is man enough to understand and recognize that while trying to appeal to his "higher" self. Although I currently practice a lot of his business savvy, it's helpful to know that I'm on the right path by looking at someone who is already there. I thought yoga was painful as hell, but it was interesting to read about that, and I'm a proud vegetarian so I grinned from ear to ear when he talked about not eating meat, regardless of him trying not to lecture anybody. I hope the situation with Jinx works out and his health and career work out for the best. I wanted to highlight his example about the man with his foot on the bench and punching away at his two-way. I wish somebody would make that stand out in an article somewhere because too many young professionals do NOT get it. That story is a prime example of how you don't have to be obnoxious in order to get people to understand you're about business, and be respectful to those you want business from.

Cons: Sometimes the contradictions were in the same chapter and I worried that readers who did not agree with him would believe him even less when he'd say things like there's nothing wrong with bling bling but then say spend money smart. Or say listen to Snoop to find out what's happening on the streets, when Snoop's lyrics are about as disrespectful as disrespectful can get. I wish he'd have said someone like Lupe Fiasco, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, or Common.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Laws, Poor Justifications, September 5, 2007

By	Jonathan F. SantosSilva (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I can't argue much with Russell's 12 Laws (if you can even call them Russell's, since he readily admits that most of them originate in the various religious traditions and writings of the world). They are all tight and worth applying in your personal and professional life. What I can argue with are some of the anecdotes that go along with his laws.

For example, when he talks about not allowing money to influence your decisions, he tells the story of how Pepsi pulled out of distributing his drink, DefCon3, because he criticized KFC's treatment of chicken. It is easy for a multimillionaire to turn down more millions, but how can you compare that to some of the difficult decisions that regular people are faced with each day? I bet he wasn't so high and mighty when he was trying to break into the business. He also preaches against eating meat and certain foods and eating more organic products because it is cruel to eat animals (ignoring the fact that human biology is designed for the consumption of vegetables AND meat). Unfortunately, many of his readers are probably young hip-hop kids who can't afford to shop at Whole Foods for the higher priced, healthier foods on his menu.

The other glaring issue is how he continues to give rappers a free pass to put out crappy music that degrades women and Black people as a whole. As one of the first promoters and producers of commercial hip-hop music, Russ is uniquely qualified to support artists while simultaneously challenging them to make more thoughtful and creative music, but he seems to be to afraid to lose his credibility with them. Unfortunately for him, since hip-hop's origins are so rooted in being open and honest in the face of the American power structure, he has already lost credibility with many fans for his failure to keep it real.

Russell's book is good, but it would have been great if he remembered his audience and gave advice that was more applicable to their circumstances.