Gene Simmons On Money & Success

I just got done reading “Sex, Money, Kiss” by Gene Simmons … and I gotta tell you … it’s one of the very best books I’ve ever read.

Definitely one of the top autobiographies, but more importantly, I ran out of highlighter going through this book because it actually gives TONS of good, useful, every day advice to help you be more successful … more wealthy … and have happier relationships.

Who is Gene Simmons?

Gene Simmons co-founded KISS 35 years ago! He’s the dude you always see with his tongue sticking out and eating/shooting blood out his mouth.

If you’re “just a young buck” you probably know him from his latest T.V. show “Gene Simmons: Family Jewels” where it’s a reality show and he and his wife, ex playmate (and super hot) Shannon Tweed raise their two kids. As you might expect: Awesomeness Ensues …

Why Should You Listen To Him?

Well, first of all — he didn’t come from money or success. He was raised by his single mom and came from Israel to America when he was around 9ish (the book isn’t clear) … and worked his way up to incredible success & wealth.

Not to mention, he has reportedly bedded over 2,000 women … which is pretty cool too What’s more: he has been “unmarried” to ex-Playmate Shannon Tweed for over 20 years and raised two kids with her, and they seem to be doing fine … so he might have some good advice for relationships & men to women dynamics as well.

Being raised in a fundamentalist Christian home, I was always told KISS was a satanic band … but … Gene Simmons is just a smart guy, a smarter marketer, and knew what sold in Rock n’ Roll. He helped market his band KISS so well that they broke literally every single record out there that a band can break. Literally, KISS is the most successful band of all time (probably will be that way forever).

Gene didn’t stop with KISS though because his achievements after that are even more impressive. Besides his personal success, he now runs a marketing group to help other businesses market themselves like he has …

Warning: Not For Everyone

If you’re the type of person that can’t stand blunt, straightforward, “to the point” talk … then you’re not going to like Gene Simmons.

He doesn’t apologize for his viewpoints and is always honest. I like it actually, but it may not be everyone’s cup of joe …

Gene On Money

Why is money so important?

“While I’m alive I want to enjoy myself, and the way to enjoy myself is to have a lot of money. Money is the key that unlocks everything: sex, happiness, and taking care of the ones I love.”

What’s your attitude to money like?

“Don’t live the lie. Be Clear, be truthful. Stand there proudly, apologetically, unabashedly, and say, “I love cash. It will get me everything I want in life.”

Understand it and believe it, even though you’ll get furrowed eyebrows and disapproving looks from people who will tell you, “Money isn’t everything.” They are actually incorrrect. It is everything. If your mother is sick and you love her, only cash will buy her medicine. Your child is hungry, you love your child, only cash will buy your child food. Love will unfortunately do very little … “

On living smart …

“Smart financial planning means living below your means … Always live at less than half your means, or even less than half if you can”

Gene on Working

“Your work is your friend. It makes you money.

Your boss is your friend. He might give you more money.

You are your own best friend. If you don’t want to go out there and work for the money, who will?”

On working so hard, always striving for more, etc …

“As for me and my never-ending quest to succeed at more and more endeavors: I do it all for Mom. Yes. Every day I tell her about my new ventures and about the millions of new dollars that keep pouring in. She is proud but usually follows it up with “That’s good, now what are you going to do tomorrow?”

She’s right. She always is. The point is, perhaps money isn’t the most important thing (conceptually) after all. Perhaps it’s this: If you had all the money you could imagine, would you still bother to get up the next morning and go to work? Most people believe it’s about a job. I believe it’s about the love of labor.

I love to work. To do things. All the time.”

Gene On Life

About getting “in the game” Gene reflects on growing up poor in Israel after a civil war and what it taught him …

“If you’re not starving, you’re surviving. You’re successful at being alive. Above and beyond that, it’s up to each person to decide what makes them happy. My contention is that if you’re happy with the bare necessities, the little things, you’re in the game. You will always have another chance to make more money. Remember, this is America. And don’t kid yourself, it is about more money.”

Gene on Women

“a man is called a “catch” because he is trying to run away!”

on marriage …

“Above and beyond love, sex and marriage (not necessarily the same thing, by the way), this is what it really boils down to: Man is interested in ambition, sex, power and money. He’s going to go for it. He has no choice. He can’t decide to “stay at home and take care of the kids.” It’s unacceptable in almost every culture in the world for the man to stay at home and prepare dinner for his hard working wife. He must work. He must succeed. And, if he knows what’s good for him, he must bring home the bacon–to her!! When you really get down to it, things haven’t changed all that much from the caveman days. He goes hunting. Risks his life, kills something and brings it home to her. She dines and then he can have some sex.”

Gene on Family

“What’s happened to the American family is that young people are allowed to make up their own rules while having their parents’ money, food and clothing. Parents, it seems, no longer discipline but negotiate with children? Put me in charge and watch me get the earth in order–fast!!! A big part of love is really strict rules. They make for an orderly house.

The reason the Army says if you don’t follow orders you will be punished is because order and chaos cannot co-exist at the same time. … That’s me. I will sacrifice my life for my kids, but while I’m alive, my rule!”

Final Thoughts …

I recommend Gene Simmons wholeheartedly because you can’t argue with success.

Do you want to be a bigger success?

Then listen to what Gene says:

“It’s fascinating what you can learn if you just keep your eyes and ears open. Originality is highly overrated. I don’t have an original bone in my body. All I do is take stuff that everybody knows and put it together. When a chef says, “This is my original creation,” he’s lying. There’s nothing new under the sun. He has just made up a new combination of ingredients. That’s what I do. The truth is, what often works is simply what works, and whether it’s original or not has very little to do with it. Many original ideas simply aren’t pragmatic. Pragmatic means, “leads to money”. Lest I remind you too often, money is what this book is all about, it’s what I’m all about, that’s what life is all about, and that’s what you should be all about!

You can be original and poor. I’d rather be unoriginal and rich. How about you?”

What Gene is saying, is he finds out what’s working and copies it to get what he wants. In this case money. In your case … you can have everything you ever want in life, if you just learn how to copy the right people.

Gene Simmons is one of those people, and if you want money & success you’d do well to copy him