With countless snapchats, live appearances, video cameos, and song lyrics, DJ Khaled has definitely blessed us with quite a few nuggets of knowledge — or "major keys" as he calls them. Now he's compiled them all into one book, The Keys, for his fans, or Fan Luv as he affectionately calls you. It's a handy guide to hustling in whatever industry you're in. Check out some of the best major keys from DJ Khaled's new book that "they" don't want you to buy.
1. "We" is the key word in DJ Khaled's mantra "We the Best." DJ Khaled is the definition of a team player and says that working as a team is how you'll win, win, win, no matter what. “I didn’t say I’m the best. That’s an important distinction; I said we. That means me, Fan Luv, my team, and everybody who's got love and positive energy.”
2. Put yourself and your well-being before "they." DJ Khaled defines "they" as the enemy — the person that wants to see you fail. “It’s unfortunate, but lately I don’t even waste time thinking about 'they.' That’s not selfish: that’s me taking care of my vibe and making sure I’m positive. This is a lesson that really took me a long time to learn. Prioritizing yourself isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.”
3. Don't be afraid to start from the bottom. “People are impatient sometimes, and they think they’re too good to start at the bottom. That’s playing yourself in a big way. That’s called having a short-term vision, aka the wrong vision. The key is those first opportunities lead to more opportunities.”
4. Don't talk shit; be up-front. DJ Khaled keeps his name out the drama to keep things professional. “Don’t talk about that person behind their back or start beef on social media. It’s not only a waste of time, it’s the first step in how you become a 'they.' Tell them straight up that 'they' are no longer a part of the team and why. Just do it."
5. Let your happiness drive you, not the money. “When I think about my goals for the next year, I don’t rank them in order of what’s going to make me the most money. I think about what’s going to make me happy and what’s going to lead to the next opportunity that will make me happy. Put vision first; that way you’re always excited about the wins and what’s coming next.”
6. You're never too cool to network with people. DJ Khaled is not a big fan of people who burn bridges and close off opportunities. “It’s like they want to act like their bridges have a million-dollar toll because they’d rather seem like they have all the answers and all the resources they need on their own. People need people. Period. Not only that, people need people especially when they’re making big moves.”
7. He agrees with Aretha Franklin when it comes to R-E-S-P-E-C-T. “If you want to be respected, respect has to be earned, and the first step is that you’ve got to respect that person, too. If there’s a phone call you got to make before you make a move, do it. If you’re about to do a deal with someone your friend doesn’t like, let them know. Tell them it’s not personal and all parties will respect you for being upfront.”
8. Be a good person, dammit. DJ Khaled tells readers he puts in a lot of work to make sure the people around him feel comfortable. “People who have love for me need to feel welcomed. It’s hard out there in the world, so when people are near me, I want them to be comfortable .... Good energy attracts good energy, so make sure your vibe is the best.”
9. Do your research about who came before you and don't get cocky. “Knowing the pioneers of the game — whatever your game is — is unbelievably important. You’ve got to know who put in the work ahead of you for you to be able to do what you’re doing now. It’s one of the best ways to be more inspired about what you create.”
10. Stop procrastinating. DJ Khaled warns against overplanning but never making it happen. “If you want anyone to actually be on your team you have to never be scared to show them that you believe in your work. That means you have to do the work. And you have to make sure your work — your movie — is the greatest experience in the world."
11. The more successful you are, the higher your next hurdles will be. “Here’s the other thing about storms: As you get bigger, they get bigger. The tests get harder as you get smarter. This is when the key is to have all the keys — start thinking about how all these keys fit together. Think about patience, think about ‘they,' think about your backup plans, and think about your vision.”
12. Being yourself is your most major key. “This is the hardest part about being yourself; it’s risky. It’s scary to think people might reject you or what you create. There’s nothing to hide behind and there’s no one else to blame. But you have to be fearless.”
For more of DJ Khaled's major keys to success, grab a copy of The Keys, available on Amazon now.
