Self-Made Billionaire: Lessons from Kylie Jenner

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Kylie Jenner Broke the Internet This Week

Kylie Jenner had Twitter in their feelings this week. Twitter literally had a meltdown earlier this week when Forbes revealed that Kylie Jenner made the magazine’s 60 Richest Self-made Women Billionaires’ List. Yes, you read that correctly! Kylie Jenner was named one of the magazine’s “Self-made Billionaires”. Not only did she make the list, but she also scored the coveted Forbes magazine cover. People took issue with the fact that they referred to her as being "self-made". Self-made means "having become successful or rich by one's own efforts". If that is the case, no one is self-made. Not even Oprah. We have all been helped in some way or fashion to get to where we are. The word in and of itself is a bit of a misnomer. So, self-made may not be the right word choice in this situation. I just think the word sends the wrong message. Also if her last name wasn't Jenner people wouldn't care so much. 

Kudos to Kylie Jenner

She is the youngest, billionaire in both the male and female categories. As a 20-year-old mom of one she’s made a fortune with her Kylie Cosmetics Empire. While most find it hard to believe, Kylie Jenner’s net worth is conservatively pegged at 900 million. Compared to the other members of the Kardashian-Jenner clan Kylie is bank rolling. Basically, she is the richest member of her family hands down. But that didn’t stop the hate.

Kylie Jenner Sparks a Firestorm of Shade

The Twitter-verse went in on Kylie Jenner. The hate and the negativity on social media was real! But, I’m not here for that. Love them or hate them. Say what you want about the Kardashian-Jenners, but you can’t deny what they’ve managed to do in the last decade. People fail to realize that the Kar-Jenners have not always been “rich”. They too at some point “started from the bottom and now they here.” I had to throw that Drake reference in the mix (I just couldn't resist). No one ever talks about Kris Jenner’s come up from young stay-at-home mom to mega-millionaire momager. We all start somewhere. The bottom line the Kar-Jens can’t be underestimated. People will always hate on them and drag them.

The Barrage of Offensive Comments Keep Coming

People were straight up mad, offended and down right disgusted. They were calling BS, condemning her and calling her irrelevant. There were those that went as far as to look for anything to discredit her and what she’s accomplished with her company. Many didn’t consider her worthy of the title and felt her success was not commendable. She was called, “crass, vapid, talentless, pathetic.” Ouch!

Some called her a cop out. Others said that she was already on 3rd base and her family helped her. People were quick to say that she came from money and was born rich and famous. The backlash was fierce and swift. Then there were those who accused her of cultural appropriation and making profit off other cultures. I didn’t know you needed to get special clearance for that. If that is the case everyone is guilty of cultural appropriation in some form or the other. There is enough hate in the world. People need to chill on the hate. It’s so unnecessary. At the end of the day Kylie Jenner is making bank.

Amidst the Shade Kylie Launches New Collection

The craziest thing about all of this is while people were all in their feelings over Kylie Jenner's Forbes coup, the make up mogul was launching her Summer 18 Collection. And it was no coincidence that the launch of her latest collection synced up with her debut on Forbes cover. If that isn't clever marketing I don't know what is. Wait for it. Don't be surprised when Kylie drops the "Self-Made Collection" or the Billionaire Boss Collection with colors like, bank rolling, mogul, in your feelings, throwing shade. You may not like the Kar-Jens, but you got to respect their hustle.

For all intents and purposes

People will see, hear and say what they want when it comes to Kylie Jenner. They will focus on what they want. But, to be clear, I’m not here to debate class, gender or race privilege, invisible advantages, cultural appropriation and wealth inequality. I am strictly about what we can learn from Kylie Jenner's come up and apply to our own situations. I believe that there is a lesson in everything. That said.

What we Can Learn from Kylie Jenner

If we take a step back and stop the “hate-slinging” (yes this is a word!) And if we go beyond the semantics and the debate of whether Kylie Jenner is self-made or not, there are some lessons we can learn from her. Pay attention and take notes!

Kylie Jenner and her family have managed to flip their pain into profit. Meaning they’ve taken negative situations and flipped them into positives. First there was Kim’s infamous sex tape that started it all making her one of the biggest reality stars in the world; Khloe came out swinging with her book, "Strong Looks Better Naked" and  Revenge Body after the cheating scandal involving her now ex-husband Lamar Odom; Kylie created a billion-dollar cosmetic empire because of deep insecurities about the size of her lips. Which was something that she was teased and bullied about growing up. So we can say, it was the insecurities about her lips that inspired her mega successful Kylie Lip Kits. I think you get where I am going with this. There is profit in pain. If nothing else Kylie Jenner and her family are great examples of this, though the majority of people would disagree. 

Second, she has leveraged social media to the tune of 100s of millions of loyal followers. She has created a built-in, internet-driven customer base for her cosmetic's line. One word – Genius! Suffice it to say, we can argue about whether she is self made or not till the cows come home. But, Kylie Jenner is a financial force that can't be ignored. She's a major power player and influencer. She clearly knows a thing or two for a young 20-something. Hats off to Kylie Jenner!

What We Can Takeaway from This

Bottom line you are responsible for your life, your goals and your dreams. It's easy to call out Kylie Jenner and make excuses and take issue with her success. When we get caught up with mainstream media we get distracted from our own dreams and we lose focus on our goals. At the end of the day, Kylie Jenner is living her best life and cashing those checks. We all have the ability to do great things and create our life our way. It's not where you start but where you end up that counts. The key is to start. 

Success leaves clues. It's up to you to take the clues and use them to your advantage. The choice is yours.  You choose what you make of yourself and your life. You decide what you do or don't do.  So, go after what you want and make it happen! Here are a couple of questions to get you started. How can you spin your breakup into bank deposits? What opportunities do you see around you that you could leverage? What problem can you help someone else solve? Feel free to sound off in the comments.

Upcoming Book Coming Soon!

I will be publishing my first book later on this year. I used to worry about what people would think, but now I believe that someone out there needs my book and is waiting for my book. If my book helps one person then I have succeeded and this journey will have been so worth it. My book will go into more detail about finding your power and purpose through your pain. I am writing this book because my story matters and words change lives. STAY TUNED!