Superstar actor, comedian and entrepreneur Kevin Hart is building an empire that will outlive his fame. Through his multi-platform media company and many brand endeavors, Hart’s entrepreneurial mindset keeps him empowered to break barriers in the business world. Hart joined Adweek’s Jason Lynch during Brandweek to share the secrets to his success and why he embraces the mindset of ‘more is more.’
‘Doors are made to be opened’
From comedy specials, movies, TV shows, his own multi-platform media company, Hartbeat, deals with Netflix, Chase, Sam’s Club, Fabletics and about a dozen more, Kevin Hart is the definition of a multi-hyphenate star.
“I love it when people ask me, ‘why so many?’ Well, why not? Why wouldn’t I try to do as much as I can? Doors are made to be opened,” he said. “Where I come from, you don’t have a lot of doors that are presented to you. So, when those doors do present themselves, you find that there are more doors after. I like the idea and fulfillment of constantly progressing and expanding. In the world of business, there is no sky unless you want there to be.”
Hartbeat is a merger of two of Hart’s production companies, HartBeat Productions and Laugh Out Loud Studios. One of Hartbeat’s latest ventures is PULSE, a branded content and entertainment studio, where Hart takes a page out of his own playbook for successful brand deals.
“I’m an actor that has relationships with Netflix, Universal, Warner Brothers, Sony, Fox, Searchlight, Discovery, BET; you name it, I’ve done it,” Hart said. “And I’ve managed to maintain strong relationships across the board. There’s an assumption that if you’re with one, you can’t be with the others. But, there’s a tact where great communication and dialogue allow you to have separate relationships that make you valuable in different ways. If you understand the brand you’re with, you best serve their needs with the idea of constantly engaging and molding and shaping things together.”
The power of embracing the new
Just like Hart, Hartbeat PULSE is always reaching for more and looking for ways to break new ground, an ethos Hart encourages all brands to embrace.
“It’s not the model of old anymore. Businesses and brands need to understand that,” he said. “It’s time to let go of your traditional ways and the traditional box and get outside the lines.”
Hart illustrates his eagerness to embrace the new in his new Peacock talk show, Hart to Heart, where he invites A-listers to sit back, have a glass of wine and engage in unfiltered conversation, no pre-planned dialogue or cue cards required.
“What’s the benefit of that? You get to see people being real,” he explained. “How do I know that’s going to work? Because it hasn’t been done, and I’m putting it on my back. I broke new ground by not being afraid of putting my own ass on the line and, if it’s bad, then I’m the one who has to deal with that burden. I wasn’t afraid to take risk and try something new. Embrace this new generation and the world of culture and how they move. If you do not, you will get left behind.”
