I’m a huge fan of rap. From the days of Sugar Hill Gang to Whoodin to Slick Rik, Kirtis Blow, ll, Run, Marshall Mathers, Dr. Dre, Snoop, Nwa, Luke Skywalker…..you get the picture. I love the rhythm and rawness that comes along with a good ‘Lil Wayne song or a Pitbull club mix.  Simply put, I’m all in!

What I’m most intrigued by though are the stories of many rappers who grew up with absolutely nothing in neighborhoods that would make most of us break into a million pieces. Drugs, gangs, poverty….not the typical success creation environment one would think.

So what’s the lesson here? Why is someone who grows up in a condition most would find unbearable, able to become so successful?

The answer: PAIN

In most of these scenarios, life was a complete bitch. Fear. Violence. Abuse. All situations that create immense plain in human beings. Therein lies the secret: pain creates greatness. And it is with this pain that most of these artists found their proverbial “way out”. They channeled their pain into a motivation most of us will never know. You don’t just wake up and become Snoop Dog.

• You dream.
• You practice.
• You sacrifice.
• You network.
• You talk to yourself.
• You find yourself.
• You take incredible risks.
• You burn the boats.
• You don’t turn back.
• You work your ass off.
• You ask for big money.
• You deliver.
• You study your craft.
• You produce…….then you sell 20,000,000 albums. FO shizzle.

So how can you use this?

Most of you reading this are not in pain. Far from it. You’re likely middle class, making above average money and already have your college degree. You must, therefore, make your own pain. You have to find your own painful motivation if you want to truly transform your results. This is one of the hardest things to do. But it’s certainly worth a conscious effort.

Here’s to hurting.