2025 MHEDA Convention Keynote Speaker shares his top business strategies.
By Nicole Needles
WHAT IF THE secret to success wasn’t talent or luck – but an unstoppable, strategic mindset? Daymond John, the driving force behind FUBU and a powerhouse on “Shark Tank,” has cracked the code, and at this year’s MHEDA Convention, he’s ready to share it with you.
Convention will be all about “Energizing for Tomorrow.” That’s why the MHEDA team has put together a stellar lineup of speakers and workshops that will get you fired up for the rest of the year with new connections and knowledge to take back to your business. As the keynote speaker, John brings a wealth of entrepreneurial wisdom and business acumen to the stage.
His journey from humble beginnings to a global entrepreneur and investor has inspired millions, making him a fitting choice to headline the Convention. Join us as Daymond John shares insights, strategies and stories that are sure to ignite creativity and drive among attendees, setting the stage for a transformative event. John shared the principles that have guided his journey, his “SHARK Points,” and insights into how he achieves his goals – and how you can too.
A Blueprint for Success:
The SHARK Points
John’s “SHARK Points” are more than a catchy acronym; they encapsulate the core lessons he’s learned throughout his career. If you’re looking to level up your business, this keynote session will not only be inspiring, it will be a masterclass in taking control of your future.
“I’m not a business professor or a theorist,” he explains. “I speak from my personal experience as well as from what I’ve witnessed personally, and I like to keep things simple. The SHARK Points are the fundamental business and life lessons I’ve learned throughout the years. I created them so others could learn from my successes and, equally important — if not more, from my many failures.”
These principles act as a guidepost, helping him stay focused on what he wants to achieve next, both in business and life. With the material handling industry being ever-changing, it’s important for professionals in the field to adopt this mindset.
The Power of Mindset
Central to John’s philosophy is the belief in shaping one’s own destiny. This can look like anything – from making a decision to go back for your degree or laying the foundation for your own business. Contrary to what we often think, our tomorrow has not been decided for us.
“The world, our lives, are not predestined. ‘The world is what you make it,’ is my mindset,” John says. “You can take what’s in your control, shape it and create the future you want. Will things always work out the way you think? Of course not. In fact, it usually takes turns you can’t see coming. Still, overall, you’re either a driver or a passenger. You make things happen or you let things happen to you. Adapt the mindset of a driver. Don’t wait for responsibility to be given to you. Take it.”
This proactive approach, John emphasizes, applies to all fields, not just entrepreneurship. You can take the initiative whether you’re a CEO or an intern new to the industry, and you should apply this principle to your life outside of work if you have a goal you’ve been striving for.
Discipline and Small Steps
Discipline, according to John, is non-negotiable for maintaining a forward-moving mindset. Your mind is like a muscle – the more you work it out, the more it will grow stronger. On the contrary, if you neglect and let it sit untouched, you will fall back into old patterns and behaviors. Once you commit to your goal, think and act as though you’ve already accomplished it.
“Discipline is key because, as I said, things will not always go as planned. Sometimes, it’s easy to think you have everything figured out and that you can start leaping in the direction things appear to be going,” he says. “Don’t leap. Don’t plunge into anything if it’s something new. Stay disciplined. Stay focused on taking small, affordable steps and keep learning as you go.”
“Keep Swimming”:
Resilience in Action
One of the most poignant lessons from the SHARK Points is encapsulated in the “K”: Keep Swimming. Most sharks, like great whites and hammerheads, must keep moving forward in order to survive. Without forward motion – or any movement at all, for that matter – they risk suffocation and death. The same can happen to our goals if we sit stagnant for too long.
Imagine pouring your heart into a business, only to run out of money – not once, not twice but three times. Many would quit. But not Daymond John. He refused to let failure define him, proving that resilience isn’t just important – it’s everything.
“What I mean by that is don’t give up when things aren’t going well and, equally important, don’t get too complacent when they are,” John explains. “I stopped here and there but never gave up on it.”
This resilience paid off when FUBU became a global brand. However, the story continues.
“When FUBU became a global brand, I kept looking for new ways to invest in myself, kept trying things – going to film school, writing books, doing TV interviews to give business advice. In fact, if I would have been content with just being an owner of a clothing company, I wouldn’t be on ‘Shark Tank.’”
Aligning Success
With Core Values
For John, true success stems from aligning business ventures with personal values.
“In my experience, it’s not a balancing act. I found success as an entrepreneur when I started working on things I cared about instead of just chasing a dollar,” he says. “If you compromise your values for so-called success, it either won’t work or you’ll still be miserable if it does.”
This authenticity has allowed John to build a career and brand that resonates deeply with audiences.
Overcoming Fear of Failure
Fear of failure is a common hurdle for entrepreneurs, but John advocates for an incremental approach to mitigate risks. While it’s important to take action toward your goals, keeping wisdom at the forefront and taking small steps makes reaching for your goals seem much less risky than going all
in right away.
“If you’re afraid of failing at something, don’t take bold action out the gate,” he advises. “Start with small, affordable steps instead. Make your mistakes while you’re small so you can learn from them and keep going. Don’t go out and open a bakery, for example, before trying to sell some cookies. You don’t have to jump into deep water to learn how to swim. You can find creative and resourceful ways to wade in.”
This measured approach allowed John to weather setbacks with FUBU and ultimately scale the business successfully.
Evolving Mindset and Values
While the fundamentals of his mindset have remained consistent, John notes that his values have evolved over time.
“At one point, I enjoyed having hundreds of people on staff. Nowadays, I want to know everybody that works for me personally; I keep a small staff intentionally,” he shares. “But the SHARK Points are as relevant now as they ever were. With technology and all, the ways to do things change, but the fundamentals of business are still the fundamentals.”
Giving Back Through Influence
Today, John’s passion lies in helping business leaders and entrepreneurs amplify their influence.
“Right now, I’m most passionate about helping business leaders, CEOs and successful entrepreneurs build their influence. When considering how many jobs they create and the number of societal problems they solve, helping them is helping us all,” he says. “I do this in various ways, such as sharing my extensive network with a handful of business leaders and entrepreneurs in a program I have called ‘CEO Access.’ Business leaders and CEOs can be a tremendous force for good, and I’m doing what I can to help them.”
Daymond John’s journey from a young entrepreneur selling hats on the streets of Queens to a global business icon is a testament to the power of perseverance, discipline and alignment with personal values. His SHARK Points serve as a practical framework for anyone striving to overcome obstacles and achieve meaningful success.
As he puts it, “Don’t mistake your plateaus for your mountain top. Keep swimming.”
Are you ready to unlock your SHARK mindset? Don’t miss this chance to learn from one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time. Attend John’s session at the MHEDA Convention and get the tools you need to make waves and walk away with strategies you can immediately implement to transform your business.
Article Takeaways
1. Shape Your Own Destiny. Take control of your future by adopting a proactive mindset and acting as the driver of your life, not the passenger.
2. Start Small and Stay Disciplined. Mitigate risks and overcome the fear of failure by taking small, manageable steps while staying focused and adaptable.
3. Keep Swimming. Resilience is crucial – don’t give up during tough times, and don’t settle when things are good; keep striving for growth and new opportunities.
