My Interview With Russell Simmons - Spirituality & Business Success

Most entrepreneurs are able to find information on how to build a business. It's easy to drown in too much information about running a small business. At the same time, many entrepreneurs are not achieving their dreams. It's not for lack of knowledge. It's not for lack of effort, in most cases. What's missing?

Can spirituality make the difference in your business? 

I asked Russell Simmons about his recently announced investment in Celsius®, a negative calorie, fat burning beverage that contains no preservatives or artificial flavors, and is low in sodium. Simmons is a highly successful entrepreneur with brands and properties that span the entertainment industry. He also writes books on wellness and happiness, and owns a yoga studio. It's clear to me that Simmons success in business has come from within. There's a correlation between his spiritual practices and his effectiveness in life and in business. Here's his take on spirituality and business success:

Buy what you believe in.


When spirituality infuses your business decisions, you're led by something beyond numbers. The problem is, the typical business advice encourages you to build a business based on financial reports and analysis.

"Some entrepreneurs build a business on numbers that sing to them. They create businesses that they understand how to make work financially. Sometimes the margins are small and I go into them anyway. Most entrepreneurs don't want to do that. I do things that no one has ever counted on because there are no numbers to justify. I do a lot of that," Simmons explains.

He is a multi-millionaire and has built companies with younger and smarter (according to him) leaders running them.


Let spirituality shape your decisions.

Simmons went on to explain that he didn't buy into Celsius® for all the reasons it sells. "I bought it because green tea, Acai and caffeine - none of those things are harmful versus other energy drinks that have lots of chemicals that are. That's why I use it personally," says Simmons.

Read more about Russell Simmons.