I struggled to get through Kevin Hart’s book I Can’t Make This Up. But I kept at it. It is the story of Kevin Hart’s life, his struggles, and his rise to comedic and film fame.
Why did I struggle? Because Hart shares a lot of vulgarity. It almost became overwhelming. However, I’m glad I continued to listen.
The wisdom Hart shares throughout is inspiring and useful for anyone, even people who may disagree with him.
I wanted to share 6 of the most potent leadership lessons Hart shared. I think they’ll inspire you, challenge you, and make you a better leader.
Photo by Kevin Snow on Unsplash
6 Leadership Lessons From Kevin Hart
1. Keep showing up:
Hart wasn’t an instant breakout success with comedy. He struggled to be recognized. He would show up to local comedy clubs, underground clubs, and more to get on stage.
Every time he did, he learned something new. He could try new material, interact with a new crowd, and even earn a bit of cheddar.
Hart could have given up at any time. He didn’t. He kept at it until he hit it big.
We hear stories of people giving up just before they would’ve struck gold. It’s true.
When we put in effort, we get closer and closer to our goal. We make headway, but the journey is tough. There’s the sense that we should give up.
Don’t.
Instead, keep showing up. Put in the effort. Put in the practice. Eventually, you will be noticed.
2. Be you:
When Hart started out in comedy, he devised a stage name. He wanted to be funny and make people take notice.
His mentor, Keith Robinson, gave him sage advice. Robinson told Hart to knock that junk off. Go out with his real name. Be him. Stop telling stories he didn’t participate in.
This changed Hart’s comedic journey, though making a name under his given name took a while.
Why is this important to leaders? Because we try to be like the leaders we grew up under. We saw the good, the bad, and the ugly and typically followed their suit. We mimic our mentors.
Yet, we also have to be ourselves. Go, be yourself.
3. Find the right people to surround yourself with:
Hart had a wide range of people with him. There were loudmouths and lazy people. Then there were people like Dave Beck.
Beck became Hart’s agent. He helped him get gigs, checked in on him, and ensured he was okay.
Hart noticed the difference between people like Beck and those who weren’t productive. The more he surrounded himself with the Becks in his life, the better comedian he became.
Who are you surrounding yourself with? Are they pushing you to be better? Or are they dragging you down emotionally, financially, spiritually?
The people you surround yourself with matter.
4. Great leaders slow down:
Hart had the opportunity to present in Canada. Doing a comedy show in Canada was his chance to become an international star. Woot Woot!
While on stage, he went a mile a minute. He wouldn’t slow down. He had to get everything out.
After the show, a friend pulled him aside. He was told to slow down. Let people hear what he’s saying. When they do, they will be entertained.
We can have this problem. Our minds are abuzz with a million different thoughts and ideas. We want to keep going, keep moving forward.
Stop it! as Hart’s friend would say. Slow it down. Reeeaaaaalllllllyyyyyyy sssssssllllllloooooowwwwwww.
When we move at the speed of light but others move at a speed closer to that of a turtle, a lot can be lost. Learn the art of slowing down and communicating clearly.
5. Learn how to spend and save:
Hart was offered an opportunity to have a holding contract with NBC. The contract stated Hart would perform exclusively for NBC, whether or not he recorded a show with them. The contract was for $275,000. That was a lot of money to Hart.
Unfortunately, Hart didn’t know how to save. He went on a spending spree and soon he was broke again.
We can run into money issues when we don’t curtail our spending. We may be paid well, but we don’t have the means to support our lifestyle.
Take a different approach. Instead of trying to impress people with your car, house, and clothes, learn how to budget, save, and grow a nest egg.
There’s freedom that comes from financial independence. You can find it and live a completely different life.
6. Try new things:
Kevin Hart tried a lot of different career paths. Some were humorous, such as his stint at a shoe store. Others have been his bread and butter, the acting and comedy.
Hart wouldn’t have found his sweet spot if he didn’t try different things.
You won’t either.
You won’t know where your skills and talents are best suited unless you try multiple areas of leadership. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. The more you do, the more you try, the more you’ll discover fun, interesting, and lucrative areas to invest yourself in.
