When most people think of great entrepreneurs, names of CEO’s, inventors, and even sales gurus typically come to mind. But, one of the greatest things about being an entrepreneur is that literally anyone can do it. You don’t have to fit into some box, have a certain college degree, or even wear the right shirt. You simply have to be able to rock the shit out of what you have to work with. The other great thing about entrepreneurs? The sky is the limit on what, how, and when you can be successful.

Case in point… Jay-Z… or Jiggaman… or Shawn Carter… or whatever he is going by these days… the man is an entrepreneurial legend. Not only has he managed to be one of the most successful solo recording artists that Billboard has ever seen, but he also moonlights as a record label owner, major clothing line name, author, and now…wait for it… sports agent? Damn right.

So how, exactly, does a high school drop out and small time drug dealer end up being a prominent figure in the business world and amass an estimated worth of $450 million in just a few decades? He diversified and did what he wanted to do, plain and simple.

Small Beginnings
Born in 1969, Shawn Carter was raised in project housing on the wrong side of Brooklyn and considered his hobby of free-style rapping much more important than finishing high school. Like many of the other kids he grew up with, Shawn was exposed to his fair share of drugs, violence, and street life. This exposure, along with a passion for music, propelled Carter into the infamous rap world, where he failed miserably at getting himself signed by any major record labels. So, what does a twenty-something, been rejected by everybody famous, freestyle rapper do? He and a few likeminded friends decide to form their own record label, which they named Roc-A-Fella.

Things “Blow up”
Fast forward less than five years later. That same struggling kid, who decided not to let rejection slow him down at all, now has sold 50% of his record label for 1.5 million, has released four albums, and is becoming a major player in the music industry. He also has decided to diversify his brand by co-creating a clothing and accessory brand, Rocawear.

Changing It Up Again
In 2004, at the grand old age of 35, Jay-Z announced to the world that he would be retiring from his solo recording artist career. But playing golf and taking life slow was not on the agenda…in fact, in the same year that he announced his retirement, he was also named President and CEO of Def Jam Records. He would also continue to work closely with the product marketing and development of Rocawear.

Back To Basics
While many people would have been completely satisfied to spend their lives as CEO of a major record label, trying to spend all their money, Jay-Z had higher ambitions still. He wanted to create a label that would give new artists, on a variety of fronts, a chance at success. A label that would be “outside the box” of tradition and that would reflect the culture of hip-hop and music as he saw it. So, in 2008, Jay-Z makes yet another bold move, and leaves his position as CEO of Def Jam to launch Roc Nation.

If it Works…Expand!
While music has obviously been a large part of the man that is Jay-Z, he also seems to have a genuine passion for locating, developing, and representing new talent. While he has certainly done this by signing breakthrough artists like Shakira and Rihanna at Roc Nation, his latest venture looks like he will be putting these skills to good use in the sports arena as well. Roc Nation Sports, Jay-Z’s latest undertaking, announced recently that they will be the sports agency representing Robinson Cano, second baseman for the NY Yankees.

So the next time you are tempted to put yourself, or another entrepreneur, into a box or professional category, just remember these lyrics from Jay-Z’s “You Don’t Know”,

“That’s another difference that’s between me and them
Heh, I smarten up, open the market up
One million, two million, three million, four
In eighteen months, eighty million more”

Be you… do what you want… diversify… and fucking rock it all the way to the bank.