Kevin Hart: They’re Lying To You About How To Become A Millionaire! I Was Doing 28 Sets A Weekend! | The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
In a frank and powerful conversation on Steven Bartlett’s The Diary Of A CEO podcast, comedy icon and entrepreneur Kevin Hart didn’t pull any punches when discussing the reality behind success and wealth. Cutting through the noise of ‘get rich quick’ schemes, Hart delivered a stark message: the secret to becoming a millionaire isn’t a secret at all—it’s an unrelenting, often invisible, grind.
The Myth of Overnight Success Shattered
The episode, titled with the provocative statement, “Kevin Hart: They’re Lying To You About How To Become A Millionaire! I Was Doing 28 Sets A Weekend!”, immediately signals Hart’s focus on demystifying the path to immense wealth. He suggests that the common narrative sold to people—that success is easy, quick, or based on a single moment of brilliance—is a complete fabrication.
For Hart, the truth is rooted in a brutal work ethic that defined his early career. The comedian vividly recalled the almost unbelievable level of commitment required to break into the industry: “I was doing 28 sets a weekend!” This figure is not an exaggeration for effect; it was the raw, high-volume hustle of a young artist determined to perfect his craft and be seen by anyone who mattered.
The 28-Set Weekend: This extreme number underscores his core philosophy: consistency and sheer volume of work will always triumph over fleeting talent or luck. It represents the tireless hours of performing in any venue that would take him, charging as little as $25 a gig, all while sleeping in hallways and chasing a dream that seemed impossibly far away.
Discipline Over Talent: The Hartbeat Blueprint
Hart’s discussion with Bartlett goes beyond comedy, charting his evolution into a global business mogul and the founder of the multi-platform entertainment company, Hartbeat. He attributes his enduring success not to natural talent alone, but to the discipline he cultivated through years of rejection and struggle.
He shared how 13 years of consistent rejection were not setbacks, but lessons in leadership and self-belief. It taught him the value of a ‘Plan A only’ mindset, refusing to create a safety net that could tempt him to quit. The relentless focus and willingness to take accountability became his ultimate advantage.
In the interview, Hart reveals key elements of his self-made success story:
- Consistency is the King: He stressed that hard work and consistency beat talent every single time.
- A Business Mindset: The moment he realized comedy wasn’t just a passion but a business was a pivotal turning point, allowing him to strategically build his global brand.
- Embracing the Cost: Hart spoke candidly about the challenges of his upbringing—including his father’s addiction—and how it shaped his idea of manhood and motivated him. He also discussed the heavy weight of balancing ambition, public mistakes, and the cost of success for his personal life.
The Unfiltered Takeaway
For anyone chasing a monumental goal—whether it’s becoming a millionaire or mastering a craft—Kevin Hart’s interview offers a necessary dose of reality. The journey is not glamorous social media posts; it’s the 28 sets a weekend, the hallway sleep, and the unwavering belief in the long-term payoff of consistent effort.
The key message is clear: Stop looking for the shortcut or the magic formula. The people who tell you it’s easy are lying. The true ‘secret’ to wealth and success is a level of tireless, disciplined, and sometimes gruelling work that most people simply aren’t willing to do.
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