Kanye West is easily one of the most misjudged icons of our generation. It's a shame that he is most widely known for his jaw-dropping interruption of Taylor Swift at the 2009 VMA's; which in turn, granted him the title of most hated man. But, do people actually hate Kanye? Or do they hate the idea of everything he stands for? I think people "hate" Kanye West because he's everything they wish they were. His painful honesty forces people to accept a truth that they were otherwise trying to hide from themselves. They hate that he's the first one to say what everyone else is thinking. His undeterred determination makes him a threat to anyone attempting to compete with him. He is feared for his confidence and the risks he takes daily.
He had the ambition to follow his wildest dreams (and to become successful in those endeavors) while there are people who sit in office cubicles working mundane jobs everyday wishing for something more. They simply hate him because they envy him. Kanye West receives endless amounts of unnecessary criticism for possessing qualities that have made him one of the most successful innovators of the 21st century. I think we can all learn something from a producer-turned-rapper-turned-fashion-designer-turned-ultimate-success-story who has managed to be the most talked about phenomenon since 2002.
1. Talent Isn't Born, It's Made
"There's nothing I really wanted to do in life that I wasn't able to get good at. That's my skill. I'm not really specifically talented at anything except for the ability to learn. That's what I do. That's what I'm here for."
Practice makes perfect.
2. Your Style Is Everything
"I believe that bad taste is vulgar. It's like cursing. I think the world can be saved through design, because what is the most distasteful thing someone can do? Kill someone. So, good taste is the opposite of that."
Your style is your brand and your brand is who you are. Fashion is evolving, and you need to keep up. What's worse than an outdated brand?
3. Confidence Is Key
"I'm going down as a legend, whether you like me or not."
How do you expect anyone to believe in you if you don't believe in you? Nobody loves Kanye like Kanye, right?
4. Everybody's a Critic
"I'm a designer. A musician. A manager. The media try to dehumanise people who believe in themselves."
People fear anyone who chases success. It means you're doing something right.
5. Traditional Approaches To Education Are Not The Only Ways To Learn
"Sometimes people write novels and they just be so wordy and so self-absorbed. I am not a fan of books. I would never want a book's autograph. I am a proud non-reader of books."
Book smart is not the only smart.
