William Adams, aka Will.i.am, is an American musician, actor, and innovator who has won numerous awards for his work. He is best known as the frontman of The Black Eyed Peas and has also served as a judge on “The Voice.”

Will.i.am has a huge influence outside of the music industry. He is involved in politics, education, environmental issues, and much more. His award-winning “Yes We Can” inspired a generation to reject the outdated politics of “rich old men” and embrace the newness and change promised by Obama’s campaign.

Will. i.am’s high-end clothing brand EKOCYCLE, in collaboration with Coca-Cola, has elevated recycling into art. His prime-time TV educational specials, “i.am.mars: Reach For The Stars” and “i.am.first: Science is Rock and Roll,” were created to encourage children to pursue careers in math and science.

Will.i.am continues his philanthropy with the i.am Angel Foundation, which offers scholarships to underserved children and the best education opportunities. In 2013, the World Economic Forum named him a Young Global Leader.

Will.i.am is a man who understands the power of contribution. He has taken his art past self-expression and into a positive global impact.

He’s not privileged. His single mother raised him in the Los Angeles slums and encouraged him to pursue his passion.

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Will. i.am’s humble beginnings have left an indelible impression on the world. He is the perfect example of a rags-to-riches success story. Here are some inspirational quotes from Will.i.am to help you write your own entrepreneurial story.

1. “I was raised in a ghetto and on welfare. I’m two minutes away from being homeless .”

What excuses do you give yourself for not being able to succeed?

2. You should never do something because you fear what people will say. You do it for the contrary reasons .”

You should do it for the love of it. Please do it for no other reason.

3. When someone denies who they are, that’s the moment when things spiral downward .”

Do what you were meant to do. To be blunt, anything else is a waste, in some way, of your precious life and abilities.

4. It’s no fun to cook for yourself, even if you’re a great chef. The joy comes from cooking for others.

The greatest happiness and fulfilment come from sharing your talents. It is wasteful to keep your talents hidden and leads only to frustration.

5. “I no longer want to hope.” “I don’t believe we should hope any more.” We’ve hoped long enough. We have to act now. Now, we all have to act.

Are you still wishing and hoping for your dreams, or have you rolled up your sleeves to get to work?

6. There’s no more chivalry. You meet someone polite, and at first, you think, “Wow,“ but then you realize, “Hang on. Isn’t politeness expected of everyone ?‘”?“

In any industry, the fastest way to gain and retain customers is to listen to what they need and treat them with compassion. Your bottom line does not determine the success of any endeavour. It is ultimately determined by the service you provide to others.

7. “I remember telling my mother when I was 11 years old that I would buy her a house one day. She said, “Boy, stop making promises you cannot keep.“ I replied, “No, Ma. It’s not a commitment. I will buy you a home one day .'”

Never let anyone discourage you from your dreams. People are often well-meaning when they give advice, but they really mean “I can’t”. They say “You can’t”, but they really mean “I can’t.“ Let their limitations limit them and inspire them through your accomplishments. They are not inspired and will look down upon you. This does not affect you.

8. “I don’t require anyone to validate my .”

It’s great to be appreciated, validated, respected, and admired. But ultimately, it’s about how you feel on the inside. Do what you enjoy. Do what you love. The right people will appreciate you.

9. You have to dream your way out of the nightmare.“ You must dream your way out from the nightmare .”

A vision is the first step to success in any endeavour. It’s a big dream. You can build momentum by giving your dream emotional power through regular attention and inspired actions. If you really want to change something, then anything is possible.

10. “I am good at thinking out of the box. So much so that you realize it wasn’t a box in the first place .”

All of our limits are self-imposed. These are only constructs in your mind and are, therefore, no more real than what you decide to make them. Instead of thinking, “I don’t think I could “, train yourself to think “Yes, I think I can”. Also, think about what you can do right instead of what could go wrong. Only you can create the box you want. Instead of thinking outside the box, remove the box.

11. “I am passionate about philanthropy, and success allows me to do more .”

You are severely limiting yourself if you define success as the benefits that you will get. You can either improve the lives of a small group of people (you, your family) or thousands or even millions of people. You can make a modest improvement or a major one. If you think about how others will benefit, your success level will increase.

It’s not like you thought there was anything you could learn from Will.i.am… But here it is. Will.i.am has made his mark as a philanthropist, innovator and entrepreneur. You can do it too. Whatever your form of self-expression is, think about how you can reach the most people. Then go for that. Reach. Reach. If you do it for the right reason, only good can come out of your efforts. These reasons I call contribution.

Did you know that Will.i.am is more than just music? Please tell me what you’d like to do to make a difference in your life, be it family, education or the environment.