When Dwayne ‘The Rock‘ Johnson meets with Hollywood directors and producers, he says, “My reputation precedes me.”
He’s not referring to his reputation as a multi-million dollar star. He’s talking, in large part, about the fact that he’s known to actively throw himself into promoting the projects he’s involved with. He markets them relentlessly, getting the word out to his fans in every way he can–and the results of that effort are seen at the box office.
Consistently.
This is also the operative word in his advice on how to be successful.
“I’ve had such a renegade career that I honestly never had anyone in my life give me advice in [an official] way,” he said in an interview. “It’s what I’ve learned over the years that has pushed me beyond limits.”
What has lain beyond those limits is impressive. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson successfully parlayed a career as a WWF wrestler into a career as a mega-star actor in Hollywood–not an easy road by any means.
And who can resist the pure excitement (and often hilarity) of The Rock movies like San Andreas, Baywatch, Rampage, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Central Intelligence, and, of course, approximately 87 The Fast & The Furious movies.
So with over 55 million fans worldwide, to what does The Rock attribute his success?
It isn’t luck, or having the right connections, or even passion.
“Success isn’t always about greatness,” Dwayne Johnson says. “It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success.”
Consistent hard work.
For The Rock, that consistent hard work has often been cultivating his connection with the audience. He is consistently and faithfully in touch with them, actively reaching out and staying connected in a number of ways.
He has 131 million Instagram followers for a reason.
“From wrestling in flea markets (making $40 bucks a match) to used car dealerships to barns, to breaking attendance records in every major dome in the U.S., I learned that the most important relationship I will EVER have in business is the relationship I have with my audience,” says Johnson. “Pay attention to who you do your business for.”
The fact that The Rock puts such energy and attention into his relationship with his audience is part of why he’s such an appealing actor for Hollywood directors and producers to work with. They know that when they hire Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, he comes with a lot of not just star power, but connections–including the most important one, with his audience.
In other words, his consistent hard work to connect with his audience has created a virtuous cycle that has paid him dividends in the end.
Pay attention to who you do your business for consistently, and then watch your business thrive.
Consistently.
Originally published on Inc.
Follow us here and subscribe here for all the latest news on how you can keep Thriving.
Stay up to date or catch-up on all our podcasts with Arianna Huffington here.