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Puff Daddy used to be one of the figures in entertainment that nobody would want their children to look up to. Involved in crime and guns, he was not as much of an inspiration as an example of what not to grow up to be. However, Sean Combs, the man behind Puffy, became that inspiration when he turned his life around and became an esteemed entrepreneur with a string of business interests to his name. He is the archetypal bad boy turned good today, but with one major difference, his entrepreneurial skills all come from the desire to make a better life for his children than he had. As such he is truly an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs who wish to escape a poor childhood.

Humble Beginnings

Sean Combs was born in Harlem on November 4, 1969.  He grew up in the projects and had a lifestyle that could only be described as poor. His father was shot dead when Combs was just 3 years old as a result of his drug gang connections, thus leaving his mother to bring Combs up single-handed. She did the best she could, but Combs was determined not to live in poverty his entire life and set about changing it for the better.

Sean Combs began to show his entrepreneurial skills at Howard University, where he was better known as a party promoter than a student. It was this that led him to the job of intern at Uptown Records. Although he learned the ropes of the music business there, he was fired in 1993 because he made an enemy of the boss. Upon leaving, he created his own record label – Bad Boy Records. Little did he know that it was the moment that would lead to so much more and begin his quest as an entrepreneur. 

The Bad Boy Entrepreneur

Bad Boy Records quickly became one of the hottest labels in rap. He had artists like the Notorious BIG, Faith Evans, 112, and Mase contracted to his label and produced tracks for the likes of TLC, Usher, Boyz II Men, and Aretha Franklin. However, Bad Boy Records did stumble somewhat following the murder of the Notorious BIG and Comb’s own arrest for weapons violations and then later on assault charges. Rather than giving up though, the entrepreneur in Combs came to the surface as he began to put his life back together.

Sean Combs reinvented his image by dropping the moniker of Puffy Daddy in favour of P Diddy. He began to work with other artists like David Bowie and N’Sync in a bid to escape his past, which he did with amazing success. He soon became a force of the entertainment industry and decided to take advantage by establishing a clothing range, Sean John in 1998. It brought him a great deal of success and even the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Menswear Designer of the Year award in 2004.

Sean Comb’s entrepreneurial skills had brought him success in the clothing market and entertainment, but he still was not satisfied. He is now an actor, having starred in Broadway productions, and owns a number of restaurants as well. Combs really is a shrewd businessman and decided to make the most of his success as and when it came. In 2006, he was worth over $346 million and is certainly a prime example for youngsters. He proves that it is possible to make something from nothing by persevering, and it is just as possible to pick yourself up and start again when the need arises. Sean Combs kept going when the odds were stacked against him and he is now a respected entrepreneur. He certainly deserves his success.