Let me tell y’all something—this didn’t happen overnight.

You see the suits, the shows, the smiles, the success. But you don’t see the struggle. You don’t see the nights I slept in my car. You don’t see the rejection, the no’s, the times I wanted to quit. But that’s where the foundation of my empire was built—in the trenches, not the spotlight.

So if you’re a young entrepreneur out here trying to build something from the ground up, this blog right here is for you. Because if a country boy from Welch, West Virginia can make it, you can too. But first, let me tell you how I did it—and what you can take from my journey.

1. Start with Your Gift—That’s Your Foundation

I say it all the time: Your gift will make room for you.

When I started, I wasn’t a mogul. I wasn’t on TV. I wasn’t even funny to everybody. But I knew God gave me a gift to make people laugh. That’s it. I leaned into that one gift, and everything else came from that. Hosting gigs, books, radio, clothing lines, even mentoring programs—all of it started from telling jokes.

Lesson: Don’t chase what’s trending. Chase what’s in you. You already got the ingredients. Use ‘em.

2. Faith Over Fear—Every Single Time

I remember the first time I got paid $25 for doing stand-up. That same week, I had to decide whether to stay at a job I hated or chase comedy full-time. I chose the dream—and it landed me in my car.

Yeah, I was homeless. But I wasn’t hopeless. I had faith. I believed there was something bigger waiting on the other side of struggle.

Lesson: Fear kills more dreams than failure ever will. Bet on yourself. God didn’t give you that vision for nothing.

3. Work Like It Depends on You. Pray Like It Depends on God.

Listen—ain’t no shortcut to success. You gotta grind. I was doing 5 shows a night, traveling to gigs for gas money, and still writing new material on napkins. Later on, when I got on TV, I was hosting a radio show in the morning, taping Family Feud in the afternoon, and shooting Miss Universe in the evening.

You want to be a boss? Work like one. Sacrifice like one. Don’t let folks outwork you and then wonder why they win.

Lesson: Hustle, heart, and humility—that’s the holy trinity of getting it done.

4. Diversify and Build Streams, Not Just Dreams

Once I got my foot in the door, I didn’t just stand there. I kicked it wide open.

From stand-up comedy, I expanded into radio. From radio, I went to daytime TV. Then came game shows, books, clothing lines, mentoring programs, and business ventures. Because I knew: one income stream can dry up. But if you build multiple rivers, you’ll never go thirsty.

Lesson: Don’t stop at your first “yes.” Keep growing. Keep learning. Stack your skills—and your income.

5. Serve Others While You Build

An empire with no purpose is just a castle made of sand. It’ll fall.

That’s why I started the Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation. I mentor young men, especially those without fathers, because I was that boy. I know what it’s like to need guidance, to crave direction, to look for a man to say, “You got what it takes.”

Your success should bless somebody else. That’s how you make legacy moves—not just rich moves.

Lesson: Make your dream bigger than your bank account. That’s where true success lives.

6. Stay Real, Stay Ready

You know what people connect with? Realness. Authenticity.

I never tried to be somebody I wasn’t. I talk like I talk. I dress like I dress. I cry on camera if I feel it, and I laugh with my whole chest. And people respect that. Because in a world full of filters and fakery, real will always win.

Lesson: You don’t need to change who you are to fit success. Be you. The right opportunities will find you.

Final Word: You Got Next

Look—I’m not special. I’m not lucky. I’m grateful. And I’m proof that with a little faith, a lot of work, and an unwavering belief in your purpose, you can build a whole empire out of nothing but a dream and a prayer.

So if you’re reading this, don’t give up. Keep grinding. Keep believing. Your time is coming.

And when you get there—reach back. Pull somebody else up. That’s how you really win.

Keep building. Keep believing. And don’t you dare stop.

— Steve Harvey