Success isn’t something that happens overnight: it’s a process. You have to nurture it along with continuous care, and the best way to do this is to have the right people working with you - not for you, but with you. I can dream alone and strive alone, but true success always requires the help and support of others.

It is not possible to erase racism just because African-Americans have reached a level of financial success and crossover appeal.

The more we give, the more we receive. It's important to give back, because the seeds you plant today, you will harvest tomorrow.

I'm a strong supporter of comfort breeds complacency. Growing up poor I wasn't comfortable, my mom had to work so hard and I woke up one day and decided I was not going to come home until I could help her pay the bills.

Money doesn't change who you are; it magnifies who you really are.

My grandma used to make syrup for us because we couldn't afford it and I just played around with her recipe. I made strawberry syrup and that didn't really work out but I made strawberry-vanilla and that sold. Then I just went out and took marketing classes, went to seminars, learned about marketing a product and striking deals. It ended up taking orders of $1.5 million.

Money has not changed me. When I look at money, each dollar represents an option of something I could not do yesterday.