Pitbull’s self-made success story
How a first-generation Cuban American became Mr. WorldwideIn this episode, Tony talks with Armando Christian Perez, who you most likely know as the musician Pitbull, about his journey to achieving his dreams. For Pitbull, wealth has absolutely nothing to do with money – it has only to do with happiness. Because today, Pitbull is on top of the world. But none of it came easily. Pitbull is truly a self-made success, and he’ll share how he not only got what he wanted, but also found fulfillment and happiness.
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Who is Pitbull?
Pitbull is a world-renowned musician, performer, business entrepreneur, fashion icon and actor whose career sales have exceeded 25 million albums and over 100 million singles worldwide. He’s had #1 hits in more than 18 countries, his videos have over 15 billion views and his social reach matches audiences of some television networks around the world.
Pitbull is also a self-made success story. His childhood was anything but rosy. He grew up around drugs, abuse, crime and alcoholism. His father was mostly absent, and he was kicked out of his house as a teen. As he puts it in the podcast, “I thought my life was normal, but as I grew I looked back and thought, wow, I was going through things I shouldn’t have. But it built character.”
Controlling his own destiny
Pitbull is also a first-generation Cuban American who talks fondly of “the women who built him.” His grandmother was a revolutionary in Cuba. His aunt was a political prisoner. He used to tell himself, “Everything you’re going through is nothing compared to what they went through.” That allowed him to see darker days as opportunities. He learned to control his own destiny.
Pitbull repeats a saying in Spanish that Tony often uses: “Tell me who you hang with and I’ll tell you who you are.” He envisioned the circles that he wanted to be in and surrounded himself with the right people. He also failed – a lot – and he discusses the power of failure and why our biggest setbacks can be our biggest gifts. He says, “Bottom line is, failure has been the mother of success with everything I’m doing.”
