The biggest lesson Rick Ross learned in life
Miami emcee Rick Ross has become somewhat of a mogul in hip-hop and although he may not be the wealthiest artist the genre has produced he knows thing or two about business and over the years has built up an impressive portfolio.
The Maybach Music Group (MMG) founder has been incredibly successful in the world of real estate and, since his breakout in the 2000s, has been involved in a range of business endeavours. However, despite all of his joint ventures, he learned some of his biggest lessons as a child.
While speaking on a panel in 2021 at the Revolt Summit, Ross unveiled that, to this day, the guidance he received as a teenager working odd jobs informs his decisions when working with multi-national companies.
The Carol City native first began making money by washing cars for people in his neighbourhood and, during the summit, reflected on how, even then, he made sure he went the extra mile to make customers happy.
Opening up about his rookie car washing business, Ross explained, “My very first [hustle]… Well, I always go back to the car wash! I was 13. I got $30 a day from 8 in the morning to 8pm. That’s when I just learned to go above and beyond from the big homies that brought their cars in.”
The Port Of Miami creator elaborated on his approach to business as a teenager and reflected on how he washed and detailed people’s cars while they were busy running other errands. Furthermore, he recalled the nickname he earned due to his hard work.
Recounting his business practices, Ross continued, “I’ll wash your car while you went in the flea market. They go by Bally’s, they go by Clarks, whatever it was they were doing. S***, I’ll put gas in your s***, I’ll organize your cassette deck, anything. I got you.” He added, “They used to call me Heavy Silicone.”
Although washing cars for less than $50 may seem trivial, to the MMG leader, it was essential and taught him a lot. During an appearance on The Real, Ross explained what he learned from his business.
Relaying the lesson, he told the hosts, “I found out life is a competitive sport. You gotta find a way to enjoy it, but it is a competitive sport.” He continued to speak about how he pushed to get extra money, stating, “I used to be behind the car wash waiting for the hustlers to pull up with their music turned up loud. I let them know I’ll put gas in your car. I’ll organize your cassette deck, anything you need for that extra five dollars. Rozay wanted that tip.”
He concluded by telling the youngsters that time is of the essence when you’re conducting business, finishing, “You gotta take advantage of your time,” he insisted. “Multiply your output. That’s what being a boss is all about, multiplying your output.”