Defining Kevin Hart

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Who is Kevin Hart? The answer to that question isn’t straightforward. Kevin Hart is many things: Comedian. Actor. Writer. Author. Producer. Network owner.

Those are just a few titles on his résumé, but his aspirations don’t stop there. By the time he’s 45, Kevin plans to add business mogul to his growing list of accomplishments, joining entertainers like Oprah Winfrey and LeBron James.

Perhaps what sets Kevin apart from other comedians and actors is that he is more than just an entertainer for hire. He’s gone from being a cog in the Hollywood machine to being the machine by strategically building a media empire – inking production deals with major TV networks and film companies.

So what is it that keeps him going? Where does he get his drive from? Why is he so hungry for more, even though he’s already achieved an extraordinary level of success? In this episode of the Tony Robbins Podcast, you’ll get the answers to all of these questions.

Kevin shares his story of how he went from being a shoe salesman in Philadelphia to breaking through the competitive world of show business and becoming one of the highest paid entertainers in the world.

But his story is much more than that.

• It’s about capitalizing on opportunities, and never settling for less.
• It’s about fighting his way to the top, while honoring those that helped him get there and being committed to helping others succeed.
• It’s about making mistakes, and then learning from them.
• It’s about discovering his own human flaws, but leveraging them to become more relatable, which, in a time of disconnect between entertainers and the entertained, business owners and consumers is more important than ever.

Humble beginnings

The answer to the question “Who is Kevin Hart?” resides in his childhood. He grew up in a single-parent household in Philadelphia, and he credits his mother as his biggest influence. She was supportive, yet strict. She demonstrated work ethic with her own actions, going to school and working multiple jobs. She instilled a love of personal growth in Kevin that has stayed with him throughout his life.

At a young age, Kevin also learned that laughter didn’t just feel good – it could be freeing and healing. He strove for that feeling even as a child, becoming the class clown and attempting to make his straightforward, matter-of-fact mother laugh on a daily basis. As with any successful person, humble beginnings didn’t hold him back. They to become better, work harder and achieve more than anyone thought possible.