Realizing He Was the Dummy

No.1 Comedy Icon KEVIN HART reveals how he built a billion-dollar career on $25, slept in a hallway, overcame failure, and turned standup stress into global Hollywood success.

Kevin Hart is a world-renowned comedian, actor, producer, and Founder of Hartbeat, a global, multi-platform entertainment company. He is the author of bestselling books such as, ‘It Will All Work Out: The Freedom of Letting Go’, and features in the upcoming Netflix comedy special, KEVIN HART: ACTING MY AGE. 

He explains:

◼️What 13 years of rejection taught him about leadership and success

◼️How masculinity and discipline helped him overcome stress and self-doubt

◼️Why most people never make it in Hollywood, and how he did

◼️The moment he realized comedy wasn’t a dream, but was a business

◼️How growing up around crime shaped his ambition

(00:00) Intro
(03:01) What Made You Who You Are Today
(03:42) There's No Success Without Failure
(04:18) What Were You Like as a Kid
(06:59) I Didn't Grow Up With My Dad at Home
(10:11) The Biggest Lesson I Learned From My Mother
(15:23) I Thought My Future Was in a Shoe Store
(16:48) The Proposition That Changed My Life
(22:54) 13 Years of Struggle and Failure to Reach the Top
(27:18) How I Got Into Business and Business Development
(29:44) The Importance of Not Quitting
(32:08) Advice to Young People
(38:35) The One Moment I Knew Things Would Change Forever
(40:45) It Took 13 Years to Make It
(45:39) The Deep Expertise That Allows You to Succeed
(47:51) Be Comfortable With Coming Across as Stupid
(53:32) Seeing Behind the Curtains
(59:26) How Much of Business Is About People
(01:02:48) The Importance of Communication in Business
(01:05:04) How Do You Know Who to Trust in Business
(01:10:35) What's the Cost of Success?
(01:18:15) Kevin Hart Show: Acting My Age
(01:19:39) The Men's Crisis
(01:21:05) What Does It Take to Be a Good Man?
(01:26:29) The Adult Advice That Had the Biggest Impact
(01:28:06) One More Thing About What's Happening With Men
(01:30:30) Is There a Cost for Your Family?

Follow Kevin:

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Kevin’s Netflix Comedy Special ‘KEVIN HART: ACTING MY AGE’ releases globally on Monday, November 24, 2025. He reflects on the trials and triumphs of his 40s,

managing family dynamics, and embracing the wisdom of aging.

You can purchase Kevin’s book, ‘It Will All Work Out: The Freedom of Letting Go, here: https://amzn.to/43yDIMy 

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