is the day I might lose.
I wasn’t as successful as I wanted to be,
for a very long time.
But, the older I get, the more I appreciate it.
That process.
Your life is yours to live,
and when you let the voices of others
drown out your inner voice,
when you let ’em start to talkin’,
they start dictatin’ how you move.
– He’s an American singer, songwriter, and actor.
His single, Heart Attack,
was nominated as Best R&B Song, at the 2013 Grammy Awards.
He’s sold over 14 million records, worldwide.
He’s Trey Songz.
And here’s my take on his Top Ten Rules of Success.
Rule number six is my personal favorite,
and I’d love to know which one you guys like the best.
And as always, as you’re watching,
if you hear something that really resonates with you,
please leave it in the comments below.
Put quotes around it,
so other people can be inspired as well.
And when you write it down,
it’s much more likely to stick with you as well.
Enjoy.
(inspirational music)
– Anybody that, you know…
Puts their passion, their devotion, that they’d love,
they time, you know, dedication into…
You know, you gon’ get upset about that, from time to time.
You gon’ get, and not only upset,
you gon’ have every emotion
about what it is that you do, when you really love it.
– [Nessa] Yeah.
– You gon’ cry sometimes, about it.
You gon’ get angry, sometimes.
You gon’ be really happy about it.
But, it’s gon’ be times that you’re very upset,
whether it be, in the way somebody perceives your music,
whether it be your mic gettin’ cut off,
whether it be you playing your music for an executive,
and they sayin’, I don’t think that’s it.
You know what I mean?
It’s so many things, as far as artist concerns.
So, when we speak about workin’ with people,
like what’s left, it’s so much more left,
’cause I’m still findin’ myself.
You know what I mean?
So, as I make music, and continue to make music,
I just want to be true to me, as a person.
You know, the day that I don’t have my game face on,
is the day I might lose.
You know, that’s a part of the focus.
That’s a part of knowin’ what you signed up for.
I know what I want from this,
and I don’t really ask what it takes to get there.
Hard work ain’t never scared me.
I know what it’s felt like, to not be the hottest.
To not be as relevant.
To not have top ten single, after top ten single,
or number one single, after number one single.
So, those moments are fresh in my mind.
And I work hard, to make sure that I stay here.
My personal life actually takes a back seat,
at times, to this.
And I understand, havin’ my family understands that,
and I work hard to get all that it is, that I want.
I always tell people the biggest…
Biggest benefit to my career,
was probably in the beginnin’, the thing I hated the most.
Like, how long it took me.
To get to where I feel was,
where I was gettin’ my just due.
– [DJ Flexx] Yeah.
– You know, my first album came.
Of course, at the crib, it’s goin’ crazy!
Just Got to Make It, Got to Go, and Wonder Woman, everything,
and our nucleus, on the east coast.
But, I wasn’t as successful as I wanted to be,
for a very long time.
But, the older I get, the more I appreciate it.
That process.
That learning curve.
The ability to grow gradually, so…
I ain’t have to learn everything, in front of everybody.
Like, I didn’t get catapulted, immediately, into success.
That gave me appreciation for the journey
to get to success.
It gave me appreciation.
That made me work hard.
Like, that’s why I work as hard as I do now today,
’cause I feel like if Got to Make It
would have went number one, Billboard, chart-topper success,
my first single ever,
I don’t think I had this thing worked together,
just being honest.
I don’t write down goals, and…
Go get ’em.
You know, I know a lot of people do that.
But, I just kind of try to outdo myself, outdo my last,
outdo.
And although this is a competition, in every sport.
And I look at this industry, as a sport,
because it’s numbers, and it’s money,
and it’s achievements, and it’s championships,
and et cetera, et cetera, you know.
I’m only, really, in competition with myself.
You know, although it is a fun competition,
doesn’t go over, and see what your homie’s doin’,
and see, you know what I mean?
For me, it’s all about bettering me,
bettering the music I make, bettering my fan experience,
bettering my business, bettering myself, as a man.
And the truth is, there’s a lot I want to accomplish
in the music industry.
There’s a lot I want to accomplish,
accomplish, as a businessman.
And I haven’t done a lot of those things, yet.
Although, I have done a lot.
I feel like I’m just gettin’ my feet wet,
and the ceiling is very high for me.
Your feelings get hurt in situations,
where people let you down.
– [Nessa] Yeah.
– Or, people, you know, take your name
to do whatever for their success.
What I think, we, as a people,
get too engulfed in this world,
everybody else has to say about it.
Your life is yours to live.
And when you let the voices of others
drown out your inner voice,
when you let ’em start to talkin’,
they start dictatin’ how you move.
You got to stand out.
You got to, you got to be strong within yourself.
I love to do music.
So, I always rap, and I always,
and you know, the funny thing about it,
is when I was rappin’ and singin’, it was like…
Somethin’ out of this world.
What, he’s going to sing, and rap?
But, he’s a R&B singer!
Like, and the beauty I love about music, nowadays,
is that you have artists that, almost, everybody do both.
– [DJ Caesar] Right.
– You know what I mean, so, I think that’s a great part of
the evolution of music, is artists being creative,
and believing in themselves,
no matter what box that people try to put ’em in,
’cause no matter what you tryna do with your life,
other people are going to try to put you in this box.
– [DJ Caesar] Definitely.
– So, you got to push through.
No matter how great I am, how many records I sell,
no matter how many hits I have, I’m only a man.
I’m not better than the next man.
And, now, it’s at a elevated level,
where I’m more in demand, and, you know,
less of my time is my own.
When I work hard, where I work very hard.
But, I could work harder.
It’s the way I look at it.
And I’m doin’ very good.
But, I could do better.
I’m very successful.
But, I won’t live in that moment.
There was a point,
where I was puttin’ out a new song every week.
You know, it was…
Trey Songz Music Monday.
I put a new song every Monday,
for like, two and a half months, before my mixtape came out,
which was Anticipation,
which got 50,000 downloads the first night.
Ready came out.
Ready’s had six, or seven, singles, I think,
that has a lot to do with going on tour with Jay-Z,
who is an international superstar.
That definitely brings a lot of attention to my name.
I performed with Stevie Wonder, on the BET Honors.
You know, I kissed Toni Braxton, on stage.
(laughs) You know, so, it was a lot of steps
towards where I am now.
And I think that it’s just beginning, even still.
That’s why I’m, this run is so jam-packed, my schedule.
That’s why I’m in a different country every day,
’cause I need to make my presence felt.
And even when I come back, next time, I’ll work even harder,
to make my presence felt.
Because, I still, I’m workin’ here, this time,
like I’m a new writer.
My manager told me, we’re gon’ come out here,
and we’re going to act like it’s 2005.
And what that means, is act like I Just Got to Make It.
So, I don’t feel as though I’m a superstar here, yet.
I’m workin’ my way there.
Though I’m not in it, just for the money.
You know, the cars, cars, clothes, hoes, I suppose.
And that’s the tricky thing about that song,
is that when I say, I suppose,
it’s kind of like thinkin’, in hindsight,
is that really what success is?
No, it’s not.
That’s what success is perceived to be,
and we’re taught that it is, through TV, through movies,
through videos, et cetera.
But, success is really what makes you happy, in your heart.
Makin’ music makes me happy.
Hey, can I get the ladies to make some noise?
(women cheering)
Can you all hear it?
One, two, three, four, go.
♫ I know you got all dressed up for the club ♫
– Louder, come on!
♫ Waiting on me to come pick you up
♫ Baby ooh ♫
(women laughing) – I got you, I got you!
♫ I just knew ya needed something more
♫ Now whip it straight back to the crib
♫ Aye
♫ I finna give ya somethin’ that you won’t forget ♫
– Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!
♫ I just want to get you out the club ♫
– Very loud!
♫ I just want to see you dance in slow motion ♫
– That’s that part
right there, boy! (Big Boy exclaiming)
And we can what?
♫ We can take, we can take, we can take our time baby
♫ In slow motion
♫ And we can take, we can take
♫ We can take our time, stay here
♫ In slow motion ♫
– Thank you guys, so much, for watching!
I made this video, because Ruby Watson asked me to.
Also, if you want to nominate someone
for the next Top Ten video,
please check the description for a link to a video,
where you can vote for people,
and put in your suggestions as well.
I’d love to know what did you take from this video?
What was the most important lesson, that you learned,
that blew your mind, that you’re going to, immediately,
apply to your life, or your business, somehow.
Please leave it down in the comments below.
I’m super curious to find out.
I also want to give a quick shout out to John Jenkins!
John, thank you so much for picking up a copy of my book,
Your One Word, and postin’ it on Twitter.
I really appreciate the support, man,
and I’m glad you enjoyed the read.
So, thank you guys, again, for watching!
I believe in you.
I hope you continue to believe in yourself,
and whatever your one word is.
Much love.
I’ll see ya soon.
– In life, in general, you got to believe in you.
You got to believe in you,
and there’s going to be critics, as you mentioned earlier.
Critics don’t determine you.
You live your life, for you.
You do what you do, for you.
Because the moment you start to live your life for others,
you’ll lose yourself within that.
Focus on what it is that you want to have.
Go get it.
– [Jenny] I read that you said something
about you been getting a lot of scripts,
but you been putting your acting career on hold,
to get this album finished, and out.
– [Trey] This album, and my musical career altogether.
I want to make sure that it’s at a certain level,
where as though, when I take acting seriously,
and I want to step into that arena,
I can play ball with the best of ’em.
I don’t want to try to juggle too many things at one time.
Because when I’m focused on my music, I give it my all.
And if actin’ is somethin’ I want to take seriously,
I want to be able to do the same with that.
You know, with every album, I’ve gotten better,
as far as sales are concerned, as far as chart placement.
I feel, as far as artistry,
as far as artist development, and growth.
So, that’s just part of the evolution
that I feel is the natural progression of my story.
♫ Wished we never did it
♫ And I wished we never loved it
♫ And I wish I never fell so deep in love with you
♫ And now it ain’t no ♫
Well, you know, I was on tour with Jay, earlier this year.
And the opportunity came about.
It was a initial conversation, turnin’ into a meetin’,
turnin’ into some paperwork.
And you know, the thing I love most about it,
is how honest it is.
And I think that’s what people love
about the actual campaign, and the photographs,
and the way that it’s bein’ delivered.
Rocawear’s brand is changing, and growing.
And I’m doing the same, as an artist.
So, I think the partnership works well, for the both of us.
”
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