Jay-Z Quotes for Personal Growth

Posted:  January 8th, 2008 by:  jullien comments:  62

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The Top 10 Jay-Z Quotes of All Time

“…How you get so fly? From not being afraid to fall out the sky…”
—from Beach Chair, Kingdom Come

Insight: The only way to overcome fear is to face it.

“…I’m not a businessman. I’m a business…maaaannn…”
—from Diamonds Are Forever Remix

Insight: Like businesses, individuals need visions, strategies, partnerships, positioning, constant evaluation and accountability, etc.

“…Remind yourself. Nobody built like you, you design yourself…”
—from A Dream, Blueprint 2

Insight: We are fully responsible for our being. We are co-creators (with God) of our lives and can be whoever we choose to be.

“…I’m not afraid of dying. I’m afraid of not trying…”
—from Beach Chair, Kingdom Come

Insight: Failure is underrated. To not try is worse than failing.

“…I’m far from God, but I work god damn hard…”
—from Breath Easy, The Blueprint

Insight: To create like the Creator takes hard work.

“…I spring train in the winter, around early December…”
—from Breath Easy, The Blueprint

Insight: He who practices the most is most prepared to win.

“If I don’t show the world growth, how are we going to grow?
—December 2007 XXL Interview

Insight: Things that stagnate don’t last long.

“I love that because that’s what I’m supposed to be doing – whether it’s accepted b everybody or not. I’m supposed to be pushing that envelope and trying new things. And people are supposed to say, “Hov, you might have went too far”.
—December 2007 XXL Interview

Insight: If people aren’t looking at you funny, then you’re not pushing the envelope.

“I love what I’m doing. I love the artist I’m developing. I love the whole thing about it. Once again, I have to really look at it for the next three years and say, “Am I doing it for the right reasons?” ‘Cause all I want to do is make history at this point. They got to pay me to make history of course. But that’s my goal. I want to sit there with people really into making history. I mean everybody. I don’t mean just artists. The interns -if everybody’s not committed to making history every time I go into a meeting, and if I can’t look into their eyes and I don’t see the fire, then I gotta move on. ‘ Cause, you know, I don’t have time. I don’t have the luxury of time to just blow off three years. I do, but I don’t. But I’m not looking to have a job. That’s not hot!
—December 2007 XXL Interview

Insight: It’s about making history. Music is just to the tool.

“Ain’t nothing wrong with the aim, just gotta change the target.
—from American Dreamin’, American Gangsta

Insight: We are perfect as you are. Sometimes we just need to re-purpose ourselves in another market (i.e increasing the value of “junk” by re-purposing it as “antiques”)

“I’m a person that works off of music. I let the music dictate the direction.”

—HipHopDX Interview

Insight: Let the creative energy guide you. Don’t dictate too much.


1. Download the free Jay-Z & Warren Buffet Career Success Blueprint eBook.


2. If you know of other worthwhile Jay-Z quotes for personal growth, please comment below.

“Treat my first like my last and the last like my first and my thirst is the same as- when I came.”
—from My 1st Song, The Black Album
“I will not lose for even in defeat, there’s a valuable lesson learned so it evens up for me.”
—from Blueprint 2, The Blueprint 2
“what tomorrow has in store we could never be sure so all we can do is pray”
—from Pray, American Gangster
“I can’t base what I’m gon’ be off what everybody isn’t”
—from So Ambitious, Blueprint 3
“If ya’ll can’t already see i aint worried about ya’ll cos i’m already me”
—from Already Home, Blueprint 3
“I’m in the hall already, on the wall already
I’m a work of art, im a Warhol already
On another level, on another plane already
H-O-V i got my own lane already (already)”
—from Already Home, Blueprint 3
“i’m talking about progress i ain’t looking back,
you know i run track, try not to get lapped,
people talking about Hov left em flat,
trying to rewrite history lets talk about that”
—from What We Talkin’ About, Blueprint 3

Find more Jay-Z quotes at:
Jay-Z on Personal Success in Best Life Magazine

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    62 Comments

    Posted By: Anonymous On: January 21, 2008 At: 11:32 pm

    “difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week.” – Diamonds remix

    Posted By: Ananda On: March 02, 2008 At: 7:19 am

    Hey, just wanted to point out a correction ….”how you get so fly? From not being afraid to fall out the sky”…. is from “Beach Chair” not “A Dream”…. and the quote you have up there…. “nobody built like you, you design yourself”… is from “A Dream” on Blueprint 2, not Beach Chair. You need to switch em up.

    Posted By: hazysin On: March 15, 2008 At: 9:23 am

    I WILL NOT LOSE….to me that is one of Jay-Z most inspirational quotes….it speaks for itself

    Posted By: hazysin On: March 15, 2008 At: 9:27 am

    oh i can’t forget:

    i got demons in my past, so i got daughters on the way and if the prophecy is correct then the child shall had to pay for the sins of the father so i borrowed my tomorrows against my yesterdays

    Posted By: LyricalGuy On: April 29, 2008 At: 6:22 am

    And a drought can define a man when the well drys up you learn the worth of water without work you thirst til you die yep.

    from December 4th “Black Album”

    Posted By: sam On: April 29, 2008 At: 9:26 pm

    “If you can’t respect that your whole perspective is whack, maybe you’ll love me when I fade to black…”

    Posted By: Anonymous On: April 30, 2008 At: 6:11 am

    “I want money like Cosby who wouldn’t”
    from Dead Presidents,

    Posted By: Anonymous On: May 29, 2008 At: 4:50 pm

    … And my mind is moving just like them, the rims that is.
    Moment of Clarity, Black Album

    Posted By: Anonymous On: June 27, 2008 At: 5:04 pm

    “I dont follow any guidelines, cause too many niggas ride mines, so i change styles every two rhymes… Ooooooooo.. thats twenty two too’s for ya’ll motha fuckas know what i mean?”

    Posted By: Anonymous On: July 01, 2008 At: 10:42 am

    I a am far being God, but I work God dam hard

    Posted By: Anonymous On: July 11, 2008 At: 12:38 pm

    “I’d rather die enormous than live dormant…”

    from “Can I Live”, Reasonable Doubt

    Posted By: Anonymous On: August 15, 2008 At: 9:51 am

    gotta tell you niggas what time it is like movado, my motto stack rocks like colorado!

    Posted By: Simόn On: August 19, 2008 At: 1:14 pm

    “Nobody will fall, everyone will be each other’s crutches” –from Feelin’ It, Reasonable Doubt

    Posted By: Ronnie On: October 14, 2008 At: 8:42 am

    I get my “by any means” on whenever there’s a drought. Get your umbrellas out cuz that’s when I brainstorm

    Posted By: Anonymous On: October 14, 2008 At: 8:46 am

    I ain’t talkin to nobody in particular my flow is just vehicular homicide when I’m kickin up dust. Anyone in my path its a car crash waitin to happen, nigga what?

    Posted By: Anonymous On: October 14, 2008 At: 8:50 am

    If ya’ll haven’t heard, I’m Michael, Magic and Bird all rolled in one, cuz none got more flows than Young, plus got more flows to come. And if I’m not better than BIG, I’m the closest one.

    Posted By: Anonymous On: October 23, 2008 At: 7:02 pm

    9 to 5 is how u survive. I aint trying to survive im tryna live it to the limit and love it a lot.

    Posted By: Anonymous On: October 23, 2008 At: 7:03 pm

    “Had to get off the boat so i can walk on water”

    Posted By: Yemu On: November 06, 2008 At: 12:20 pm

    Im not a busines man, am a BUSINESS!, man!, let me handle my business damn….

    Posted By: Shahab On: November 10, 2008 At: 11:24 am

    I Sell, Ice In Winter, Fire In Hell, Im A Hustler Baby, Il Sell Water To A Well

    Posted By: Samisab On: November 12, 2008 At: 3:23 pm

    “what tomorrow has in store we could never be sure so all we can do is pray”
    Pray-Jay-Z

    Posted By: Anonymous On: May 06, 2009 At: 2:04 am

    My moms crying cause her insides are dying
    her son trying her patience, keep her heart racing
    A million beats a minute, I know I push you to your limit
    but it’s this game love, I’m caught up all in it
    They make it so you can’t prevent it, never give it
    you gotta take it, can’t fake it I keep it authentic

    Posted By: samora nkosinkulu On: May 10, 2009 At: 9:22 am

    Do you know why the call the”Projects” the projects?cause it’s project,an expirement and we’re in it only as objects.:do you wanna ride?-Kingdome come

    Posted By: samorankosinkulu On: May 10, 2009 At: 9:26 am

    in my former business,motherfuckers would spray ya… and in the music business mutherfuckes just say stuff

    Posted By: samora nkosinkulu On: May 10, 2009 At: 9:28 am

    they used say rappin’ at 38 was ill,
    last year alone I grossed 38 mil

    Posted By: samora nkosinkulu On: May 10, 2009 At: 9:31 am

    police in the background
    screamin’ put that thing down
    that was how hard I was tryin’ to my thing down

    Posted By: Anonymous On: June 09, 2009 At: 7:58 am

    Hustle cane , hustle clothes, or hustle music, but hustle hard in any hustle that you pick. – no hook , american gangster

    Posted By: Anonymous On: June 09, 2009 At: 8:32 pm

    half a mill for bail cuz i'm African… All becuz dis fool was harassin em.. tryna play the boy like he Saccaharin!!

    Posted By: Sangoulé On: June 10, 2009 At: 5:59 am

    "on the rise to the top many drop, don't forget it in order to survive got to learn to live with regrets " regrets – reasonable doubt

    Posted By: Anonymous On: June 23, 2009 At: 10:14 pm

    Magazine says I'm shallow I'll never learn to swim. Still they puttin me on there cover cuz I earn for them. Soon as I sell too much watch em turn on him. . . Life and times of Sean Carter.

    Posted By: Sangoulé On: June 25, 2009 At: 8:12 am

    "somebody's pulling me close to the ground !! i ain't panicked , i was there before " intro – in my lifetime vol 1

    Posted By: Hawi On: July 23, 2009 At: 7:39 am

    “Far from a harvard student, just had the balls to do it.”

    Posted By: Lil Wayne Quotes for Personal Growth | Jullien Gordon // Purpose Finder On: August 02, 2009 At: 5:16 pm

    [...] Posts: * Jay-Z Quotes for Personal Growth [...]

    Posted By: rashid jabar On: October 13, 2009 At: 4:34 am

    “hey look i heard alot of people say im the luckiest man
    on planet,i like to think i stay ready.i wiseman once said
    “lucky isnt some mystical energy that dances around the world
    bestowing peole with satisfaction and joy,you create your own luck”
    fade to black

    Posted By: Anonymous On: October 25, 2009 At: 10:49 pm

    …May the best of your todays, be the worst of your tomarrows…

    Posted By: Linday Bullock On: November 03, 2009 At: 12:23 pm

    You can’t change a players game in the 9th ending.
    Reasonable Doubt.Jay-Z

    Posted By: Rafael De La Ghetto On: November 07, 2009 At: 10:24 am

    “I was born to get cake, move on and switch states/ Cop the coupe with the roof gone and switch plates/ Was born to dictate never follow orders dickface get ya shit straight fucka this is Big Jay”

    from U Dont Know – Blueprint

    Posted By: PCrudup On: November 20, 2009 At: 2:52 am

    I put my feet in the footprints left to me
    Without saying a word
    The ghetto’s got a mental telepathy

    “Allure” on The Black Album

    Posted By: Edgar On: November 27, 2009 At: 1:06 pm

    9 to 5 is how you survive but I aint tryna survive, I’m trying live it to the limit and love it alive. . .

    Posted By: Nyce 1 On: December 05, 2009 At: 11:03 pm

    “I track money, my worst color is light green…my favorite hue is Jay-Z Blue”- Dope Boys Go Crazy (remix)

    Posted By: Nyce 1 On: December 05, 2009 At: 11:09 pm

    We used to fight for building blocks
    Now we fight for blocks with buildings that make a killing
    The closest of friends when we first started
    But grew apart as the money grew, and soon grew black-hearted
    Thinking back when we first learned to use rubbers
    He never learned so in turn I’m kidnapping his baby’s mother
    My hand around her collar, feeding her cheese
    She said the taste of dollars was shitty so I fed her fifties – D’Evils

    Posted By: Nyce 1 On: December 05, 2009 At: 11:15 pm

    …a lot of speculation
    on the monies I’ve made, honeys I’ve slayed
    How is he for real? Is that nigga really paid?
    Hustlers I’ve met or, dealt with direct
    Is it true he slay the beef and slept with a tech?
    What’s the position you hold? Can you really match
    a triple platinum artist buck by buck by only a single goin gold?
    Roc-A-Fella ship fold, and you’re left out in the cold
    Is it back to charging motherfuckers 11 for an O
    For the millionth time askin me
    Questions like Wendy Williams, harrassin me
    then get upset when I catch feelings- A Million and 1 Questions

    Posted By: KK On: December 16, 2009 At: 6:52 pm

    I move onward, the only direction.
    Can’t be scared to fail, in the search of perfection.

    On To The Next One, Blueprint 3

    Posted By: King Shearin On: December 29, 2009 At: 6:13 pm

    my pops knew exactly wat he did when he made me, tryn get a nut and he got a nut and what..

    Posted By: King Shearin On: December 29, 2009 At: 6:16 pm

    i was conceiceved by gloria carter and anagnus reeves, who made love under a sycamore tree.. which makes me a more sicka mc my momma would claim at ten pounds when i was born i didnt give her no pain..

    -dec. 4

    Posted By: King Shearin On: December 29, 2009 At: 6:18 pm

    our father i brooklyn dodge of them, i jack, i rob, i sin.. aww man im jackie robinson except when i run base i dodge the pin..

    - we go hard

    Posted By: King Shearin On: December 29, 2009 At: 6:20 pm

    hov is back, life story told thru rap, niggas acting like i sold u crack.. like i told u to sell drugs, nah hov did that so hopefully u wont have to go thru that..

    Posted By: Liz On: January 06, 2010 At: 1:17 pm

    My Hustle is so Russel

    Posted By: Big Tree On: February 07, 2010 At: 12:46 pm

    Man my brother hustled so, naturally
    Up next is me, but what perplexes me
    Shit I know how this movie ends, still I play
    The starrin role in “Hovito’s Way”
    Allure

    Posted By: Tripp On: February 09, 2010 At: 9:01 pm

    Can I Live???

    Posted By: Work and Play « We Grow Dough. On: February 22, 2010 At: 2:42 pm

    [...] “PurposeFinder” Gordon – read his blog featuring Jay-Z Quotes for Personal Growth Kevin “Katalyst” Carroll – learn more about The Red Rubber Ball Sallome [...]

    Posted By: stephanie On: March 09, 2010 At: 3:25 pm

    mama forgive me/ i should be thinking bout harvard/ but thats too far away /and niggas is starvin/ nothin wrong with the aim/ but we gotta change the target…im just american dreamin

    Posted By: Terra Noreiga On: March 09, 2010 At: 10:39 pm

    Nice Website. You should think more about RSS Feeds as a traffic source. They bring me a nice bit of traffic.

    Posted By: Online Shopping On: March 21, 2010 At: 8:12 pm

    Great articles & Nice a site….

    Posted By: Beeach chair On: May 14, 2010 At: 8:57 am

    no compuss comes with this life just eyes so to map it out you must look inside sure books can guide you but your heart defines you ……

    Posted By: anamaria On: June 19, 2010 At: 3:07 am

    I am glad this website exists. I am doing a commencement speech today and I wanted to provide my students with a relevant quote from someone impactful in their lives. Glad you’ve done this work to have these quotes here because I couldn’t find them anywhere else.

    Posted By: H8TERADE On: July 14, 2010 At: 11:37 pm

    YO YALL BE TRIPPIN TRYNA INFER WAT HOV SAID. ONLY HE NO DAT. NAM SAYIN??

    Posted By: Leanne On: July 30, 2010 At: 5:27 pm

    “Impossible is nothing to me. Difficult takes a day and impossible takes a week.” ~Jay-Z

    Posted By: HOVA BABY!!! On: August 27, 2010 At: 4:14 pm

    “LIFE IS FOR LIVING NOT LIVING UPTIGHT” Blueprint 3 Young Forever

    Posted By: Marcelle Hillsman On: September 01, 2010 At: 8:31 pm

    I had to read your post three times to get the full impact of it. I enjoy reading what you have to say. It’s too bad that more people do not comprehend the benefits of coaching. Keep up the good work.

    Posted By: Robert Newman On: October 03, 2010 At: 3:01 pm

    “Only GOD can judge me………Love me or leave me alone……”

    Posted By: Sky Mendes On: October 09, 2010 At: 5:02 am

    ” I heard mothafuckers saying they made Hov. Made Hove say ‘Okay, so make another Hov.’”
    Lost Ones, Kingdom Come.

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