I'm Daymond John from 'Shark Tank.' Here's a day in my life as I biohack for longevity, fast intermittently, and squeeze in any nap I can get.
· Business Insider
The Shark Group
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This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Daymond John, the 57-year-old CEO of FUBU based in Miami. It's been edited for length and clarity.
I started my entrepreneurial journey handing out flyers in my neighborhood of Hollis, Queens, for $2 an hour.
In grade school, I scraped the paint off pencils and customized them with the customer's name for a fee. I waited tables at Red Lobster in the early 1990s, around the time I told my mother I wanted to start an apparel company for young men, so she taught me to sew wool caps.
John in New York.The Shark Group
I bought cheap fabric, sewed 80 of them, and sold them for $10 a pop, which earned me $800.
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After seeing how much I thrived at it, my mom mortgaged her home to raise $100,000 to fund my business, which officially launched in 1992. I set up in her house, splitting my time between FUBU (For Us, By Us) and Red Lobster.
When I had enough money to quit, I decided to give the business my full attention — I quit Red Lobster around 1995 and went completely full-time with FUBU.
I turned a small operation based out of my mom's home into a booming business, generating $350 million in revenue within six years.
Today, I run three businesses: FUBU, a brand management agency called The Shark Group, and a coworking space, Blueprint + co.
Over the past 14 seasons of Shark Tank, I've also invested in over 30 brands across various industries as a Shark. I'm a father of three, with one still at home, and I travel 250 days a year.
Here's what a typical day looks like.
I wake up around 6:15 a.m.
When I wake up, I don't rush to grab my phone, but I do glance at it to make sure there are no emergencies.
I fast, drink water and coffee, and don't eat breakfast; I only eat between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Once a week, I fast for 24 to 36 hours.
If it's a weekday, I take my 9-year-old daughter to school, and then I walk for about an hour to my office in Miami.
John in Miami.The Shark Group
I'm big into fitness and longevity, but I don't have a personal trainer. I do explosive exercises whenever I can, once a day for 15 to 20 minutes — anything from squats to box jumps to push-ups.
I like to be in the office between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.
I travel 250 days a year, so my morning routine is not every day. When I'm not traveling, I prefer to go to my office.
I often have to rush right into meetings when I start working, since I'm on the road so often.
My morning is stacked with faculty meetings. I'll work until my eating window, starting at 2 p.m.
I don't take a formal lunch
When I do eat at 2 p.m., I have something brought into my office while I'm working.
I tend to eat some form of protein, whether it's fish or beef, and fresh produce, while avoiding processed foods and alcohol.
I'm a coffee drinker, and I'll have three cold-brew coffees throughout the day. I also drink plenty of water, unsweetened iced tea, and an all-natural energy drink.
I have a great routine, but my day can be derailed
The meetings I have throughout the day are for my companies, the companies I've invested in, and everything in between. Derailing can occur if a meeting is poorly structured or runs longer than expected.
Twice a month, for about six hours, I meet the founders of companies I've invested in. My afternoon is like the morning — full of meetings.
I try to get home every day by 7:30 p.m. to put my daughter to bed
John.The Shark Group
After I get my daughter down for the night, my wife and I catch up.
For dinner, a chef comes by and delivers food to our home once or twice a week. The meal is similar to lunch with a focus on protein and fresh produce.
I then go into some longevity routines, as I'm passionate about them. I have a house full of biohacking machines, so I'll lie in a red bed or an electric mat. I regularly do cold punges and take my workouts seriously.
I don't watch TV unless it's financial news running in the background. I listen to podcasts and read motivational or longevity- and biohacking-related books, such as Gary Brecka, Joe Rogan, and Dave Asprey.
I get to bed around 10:30 p.m.
Biohacking, longevity, and trying to be healthier and live longer are a focus in my life at 57 years old because I want to reduce potential cancers, infections, and inflammation.
I faced cancer in 2017, but after I beat it, I still didn't make the necessary changes to my lifestyle. It wasn't until around 2022 that I started changing.
I started taking it seriously because I have a significant other who's always making sure she takes care of her health, fitness, and diet. I stopped drinking alcohol.
I would love to get 6.5 hours of sleep, but I generally don't, so I take a lot of naps throughout the day, sometimes in the office, and I nap on planes.
I probably don't fall asleep until 11:30 p.m.
I have a few other passions
I'm an avid fisherman and unwind by spending time with family.
I like to give artists access to my public stage so they can create more art. I also like live selling, whether it's vending machines (I've just launched some) or selling on platforms like TikTok.
Investments dovetail into every part of my career, including investments in AI companies such as Lotus AI. And then, of course, Shark Tank and all my investments there.
I still film on Shark Tank, shooting two pods a year, each about two weeks. I'm not shooting every one of those 14 days, but they are on hold.
I think people would be surprised by how very busy my schedule is and how little time there is to breathe, which is a problem. I'm always trying to figure things out; it's just nonstop.
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