Shark Tank star Daymond John has opened up about his cancer diagnosis and how it has changed and redefined his life. The reality TV star and entrepreneur was diagnosed in 2017 with stage 2 thyroid cancer. Eventually, he overcame that scary battle.
Here is what you need to know about Daymond and his thoughts on his cancer battle.
Daymond John says cancer “redefined” his life
Daymond John talked about his 2017 cancer diagnosis in a recent interview. He said that it really shook up his life, redefining how he looked at himself. According to a People interview with John, he shared that the entire battle showed him what he is not. He said after the battle, he finally recognized that he is not a “superhero” – he is just human.
However, despite overcoming the 2017 diagnosis, he said that one more thing came along to show that he wasn’t superhuman for winning that battle. That was COVID-19, where John said no one in the world is superhuman and anyone could die when something scary like a pandemic or cancer comes along. It showed him what was really important in his life.
John had a young one-year-old daughter when COVID-19 hit, and he realized that he needed to change a lot of things about his life. He said he wasn’t really neglecting these things. However, he “needed to be more aggressive about the personal aspects of my life or as aggressive as I was about business.”
John knows he was lucky to catch his cancer when he did. He said that he had just decided to become more proactive about his health at the age of 48. He had a more extensive physical than most people get and the doctor found a 1-inch nodule on his thyroid and had it biopsied.
“I don’t know if I’d be here or be in the condition I’m at if they didn’t find that six years ago in my body,” John added.
Daymond John has a little different outlook than Kevin O’Leary
With Daymond John realizing that he needed to spend more time with his family and loved ones after this cancer scare, it sends a different message than Kevin O’Leary did a few months back. At that time, O’Leary took to Twitter and said something that rubbed people the wrong way.
He basically Tweeted that a person might lose their wife and dog and their mother may hate them. However, “none of these things matter.” He said that the most important thing was to achieve success and “become free.” O’Leary then added, after that, a person can do anything they like.
You may lose your wife, you may lose your dog, your mother may hate you. None of those things matter. What matters is that you achieve success and become free. Then you can do whatever you like.
— Kevin O’Leary aka Mr. Wonderful (@kevinolearytv) February 11, 2023
When people bashed Kevin O’Leary for what seemed like saying people should neglect loved ones and family to make more money, he defended himself. O’Leary said that no one will be an entrepreneur unless they think like this. It seems that John has already reached his success. Therefore, he is past the level O’Leary mentioned. Yet, he at least knows what is more important in his life right now than money.
What are your thoughts on Daymond John and his revelation on what is important in his life? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.