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How Shark Tank’s Daymond John Built Fubu While Working at Red Lobster

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Fortune Editors
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December 27, 2016, 3:41 PM ET

It’s hard to imagine that Daymond John was ever anything but a high-flying entrepreneur and investor. But for four years of his life, he worked full-time at Red Lobster.

It was during that time that the 47-year-old Shark Tank star actually started Fubu, the clothing line that made him a multimillionaire. His schedule was intense: he would wake up at 6 a.m. to make calls and deliveries for Fubu, get to Red Lobster at 10 a.m., work a 12-hour day, and then come home and sew clothing for Fubu until 3 in the morning.

Related: Multitasking Is No Longer Something to Boast About

Of course, he didn’t hit that pace right away — he took baby steps and set goals. “I said to myself, ‘I’m going to put in three hours on this business a week. If I can last, I’m going to put in eight hours a week,’” John recalls.

Check out the video above to learn more about how goal setting helped John build his company and what he looks for in the entrepreneurs on Shark Tank.

 

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