Daymond John: Why Keeping His Day Job at Red Lobster Was Key to Building FUBU

Daymond John, the founder of clothing brand FUBU and a star investor on Shark Tank, credits much of his entrepreneurial success to an unlikely source: his longtime day job as a waiter at Red Lobster.

In a recent LinkedIn post, John reflected on his early years building FUBU—an acronym for “For Us, By Us”—while continuing to work at the restaurant chain. He launched the brand in 1992 with just $40, using income from Red Lobster to cover living expenses and fund early material purchases for his clothing line.

“I worked at Red Lobster for years while building FUBU,” John wrote. “Not because I didn’t believe in my dreams. Because it was smart.” He added that the job taught him practical skills in sales and inventory management and served as a financial runway during FUBU’s uncertain early days.

FUBU grew alongside the 1990s hip-hop scene, with John strategically promoting the brand through music videos and artist endorsements. A 1996 investment from Samsung helped fuel rapid growth, leading to $30 million in sales within three months. To date, FUBU has generated over $6 billion in revenue.

John’s experience underscores a common piece of advice from entrepreneurship experts: don’t rush to quit your day job. Financial planners often recommend securing enough personal and business savings—sometimes a year or more of living expenses—and having a clear business plan before making the leap.

“People don’t realize it, but sometimes the day job is your first investor,” John noted. “Don’t get discouraged if you don’t have the means to quit your job right away. Use it as fuel for your dreams and goals. Build slow if you have to.”

His journey reinforces that steady employment can provide not only essential funding but also valuable skills and stability, allowing founders to develop their ventures without the immediate pressure to generate personal income.