Lately, the Smiths have been more than transparent about their lives to the point that some fans have ranted about knowing too much about their idols, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith. The outlets for sourcing this information include Facebook’s Red Table Talk, where the matriarch of the Smiths discuss intimate details of her family life while set in a therapeutic environment, Will’s Youtube channel, and now Will’s autobiography.
Will’s ascent into the world of literature comes with several valuable life lessons, all while giving insight to his thought process and secrets to his success. With that said, 225 pages in (the slow read is a consequence of my refusal to absorb Will’s book over audio), there’s enough gems to fill a new edition to a Robert Greene or Paulo Coehlo collection.
Here are some lessons from Will Smith’s first autobiography.
Never Put Your Hands On Nobody
Believe it or not, Big Willy used to be quick to knuck when someone bucked and the street habit nearly ended his TV career before it started. After a network executive chewed the thespian out for changing a script for the show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Smith and his business counterpart James Lassiter were ready to take the man down with a snow globe. But, not before Will asked the executive, “What the f–k you wanna do, b—h?” After the confrontation, Will called executive producer of the show, Quincy Jones, fearing that his aggressiveness may have cost him a job. Yet, to Will’s relief, Quincy responded by saying, “People cuss each other out all the time. Just never put your hands on nobody.” It’s easier to recover from some words than it is from a fist. So, remember that the next time it’s about to go down.
Naivety Is Bliss
So many times people fall into the temptation of relying on others’ blueprints on how to accomplish something only to soon discover that those very same blueprints are marginalizing growth and exploration. Doing everything by the book is not always the most effective route, especially if there are a bunch of rules that limit creativity. Mr. Smith was the type to believe that other people’s rules didn’t apply to him. Will reiterates this in his book, “When you are unaware that you shouldn’t be able to do something, then you just do it.”
Impermanence Is Inevitable, Darling
Will made an important observation about life that may be one of his keys to success. He wrote, “Change can be scary, but it’s utterly unavoidable. In fact, impermanence is the only thing you can truly rely on. If you are unwilling or unable to pivot and adapt to the incessant, fluctuating tides of life, you will not enjoy being here. Sometimes, people try to play the cards that they wish they had, instead of playing the hand they’ve been dealt. The capacity to adjust and improvise is arguably the single most critical human ability.”
Surround Yourself With Winners, Homie
Be careful of the company you keep. They can literally be the reason why you succeed or fail. Imagine a circle of friends and family that just want to smoke one all day and gossip about people who already “made it,” before it’s even realized time has passed and “middle-agedom” is right around the corner. Will was a millionaire by the time he turned 20. It’s probably because he caught this lesson early and applied his newfound knowledge to his daily functions. He writes, “Deep down inside, I knew that my dreams would be made or broken by the people I chose to surround myself with. Confucius had it right: It’s nearly impossible for the quality of your life to be higher than the quality of your friends.”
Make sure the people around you actually believe in you and are equipped to take life’s journey with you.
You Can’t Take Everybody With You
One of the growing pains of elevating in life is that some people must be left behind. It’s not always bad. Sometimes, people are simply comfortable with the status quo. However, for those who have been dreaming of and working toward a forever goal but suddenly are shook when the opportunity presents itself, it’s a sad day for dreamers.
Will writes, “…When the necessity to level up presents itself, some people rise to the occasion and others fold. Whether they don’t see the grander vision, or can’t take the heat of the fresh challenge, or they’re trapped by some hidden, self-defeating narratives, over and over I have suffered the pain of waving from the bow of the new ship as they’re left behind, standing on the shore.”
Know Your Math
It as simple as this… Imagination plus work ethic can lead to multiple revenue streams. It’s what got Will to the top at a time when people thought he was a one trick pony.
The Hate Is So Real
Smith knows all too well what it feels like to be rooted for and then booed off stage. When he was experiencing one of the worst times of his life — the IRS was after him, his girl cheated on him, and his rap career was winding down — he discovered a universal truth about human behavior.
“There’s a strange thing that happens when someone falls: Your demise somehow proves to everyone you’ve ever disagreed with that they were right, and you were wrong. They develop a smugness and seem to get a brutal enjoyment out of the fact that God is finally punishing you. People tend to have a schizophrenic relationship with winners — if you’re down too long, you become an underdog and they feel impelled to root for you. But if you’re ever unfortunate enough to be up too long, you better get a helmet.”
