Summary: “So rather than any state of material abundance, Super Rich actually refers to living in a state of consciousness where you’re able to see the miracles of life unfolding in front of you all time.” Super Rich Even if you don’t immediately recognize the name Russell Simmons, don't be surprised if you've crossed paths with some of his success stories. Simon's explains: “I was the guy who helped put hip-hop music on the map by co-founding Def Jam Records and introducing artists like Run DMC, The Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Ludacris, DMX, and Jay-Z to mainstream America. Who found subsequent success through ventures like Def Comedy Jam, Def Poetry Jam, Phat Farm clothing, and Run’s House. Who over time eared the title of ‘the Godfather of Hip-Hop,’ as well as one I’m a little more comfortable with, ‘Uncle Rush.’” The Hip-Hop lifestyle is synonymous with opulence. Cristal champagne, a fleet of Rolls-Royces in the driveway, jewellery by Van Cleef & Arpels, and homes on both coasts. As, "the Godfather of Hip-Hop", Russell Simmons is no exception. So it was with some astonishment as I began reading Simmons’ second book, Super Rich: A Guide to Having it All, that I quickly discovered that Simmons’ idea of “having it all” isn't at all what I thought it would be. Golden Egg Redefine Rich: Need Nothing “When you have a rich spirit, you’re already rich. You won’t need anything else. When you can be happy and comfortable in every position, or situation, that you encounter in life, then all the obstacles that you perceive as standing between you and happiness will gradually disappear. It will become easier to fill your life with friendship, laughter, love, and yes, for those who still desire it, money.” Super Rich “That’s easy for the rich guy to say,” jokes Russell Simmons after explaining his definition of being super rich. Odds are that’s what you thought to yourself, too. But as you read Super Rich, and you learn more about Simmons and the journey that has made him so successful, his definition seems anything but disingenuous. I gave you a brief rundown of Simmons’ impressive CV in his own words in the opening. You may have noticed that for all his incredible achievements, Simmons comes across as fairly modest. You may not have noticed that his description is devoid of superlatives. (Go back and take a look - totally fact based) Instead, his focus is on joy he experienced in the creation process; that’s where the true richness came from. “The happiness I received,” writes Simmons, “and continue to receive, from those records is what makes me rich. Not the money I made from selling them.” When Simmons was pushing the Hip-Hop group, Run DMC in the early 80s, it was not out of a desire for fame and fortune; it was purely to bring his passion for the Hip-Hop genre to as many people as would listen. As I write more and more summaries for Actionable, I’ve noticed a common denominator that runs through each of the books I have read: passion. Whether we're talking about the success of Martha Stewart, or Russell Simmons, passion was key. Without passion, Simmons simply would not have had the desire nor the drive to bring the music he loved - the music that changed his life - to as wide an audience as he did. Sure, fame and fortune, and yes, the material possessions, came along with that success, but those weren’t the driving forces; they were merely the by-products of his passion. GEM # 1 Give It (Until They Can't Live Without It) “If you ain’t giving away your gift, then you ain’t in the game. And if you ain’t in the game, then you’re never going to win.” Super Rich Simmons advocates that if you have a passion for something, and you’re having trouble making money off it, give it away for nothing. Give it away until the public can’t live without it. That’s precisely what he did with Kurtis Blow. In the early 1980s, Hip-Hop wasn’t mainstream, and didn’t dominate the charts like it does now. In fact,
