Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

There are a slew of words to describe Russell Simmons: inspirational, innovative, and entrepreneurial, just to name a few. And though he oozes success out of his pores, his latest book Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success (Gotham) outlines a dozen laws that will help unleash […]

There are a slew of words to describe Russell Simmons: inspirational, innovative, and entrepreneurial, just to name a few. And though he oozes success out of his pores, his latest book Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success (Gotham) outlines a dozen laws that will help unleash the success in your life. Unlike his previous book, Life and Def, an autobiographical tale of Russell’s career in the entertainment industry, Do You is a self-help book, with a mixture of personal experiences, all aimed at helping the reader become the best person he or she can be. The book is stalwart in its simplicity and strong in its inspiration. Each chapter outlines laws that are rooted in one concept: “Never give less than your Best”. Simmons expresses this ideal by not only acknowledging his success, but also making it clear that the business that he is in is not just smoke and mirrors—as some music videos would have you believe. There is actually hard work involved, and it isn’t just about buying diamond chains and expensive cars. Though they are obviously a part of his world, material things are not his life nor are they the standard by which he measures his success.Equally important is how he references his career set-backs. No, everything Russell Simmons touches doesn’t immediately turn to gold. He discusses starting Phat Farm, initially losing millions of dollars. He goes on to state that it was the faith in the idea of “Phat Farm” plus his commitment to working hard at fashion (an industry that he knew nothing about) that made everything eventually fall into place. Do You isn’t preachy, and speaks in a language that is easy to decipher. Sub-chapters titled: “Don’t Be a Sucker MC,” and “Follow Your Dharma” illustrate his ability to reach readers crossing generations and different belief systems. Do You shows us that success is not simply a destination, but a journey. By the end of the book, you will want nothing more than to try your hardest at whatever your passion is. If you’re really feeling inspired, you may even follow Russell’s personal path to inner peace and enroll in a yoga class.