Sing Your Name Out Loud: 15 Rules for Living Your Dream—The Inspiring Story of Jason Derulo

by Jason Derulo

In his page-turning and inspiring first book, legendary songwriter and recording artist Jason Derulo shares his 15 rules for finding success in any pursuit, and invites everyone—especially artists and creators—to start on their path to greatness.

In 2009, an 18-year-old son of Haitian immigrants burst onto Billboard music charts with the instant #1 song, “Whatcha Say,” which sampled a surprising hook and opened with what would prove to be one of the catchiest lines in pop music history – the artist’s own name, sung out loud. Defying every possible odd, Jason Derulo cemented himself again and again, hit after hit, as one of the hardest working singers, dancers, and performers in the world and a risk-taking force of nature.

This is the remarkable story of Derulo's come up, told through the valuable principles that guided and propelled him toward artistic excellence. Waking at 4am to catch buses across Miami so he could attend performing arts schools on scholarship, entering himself into local singing competitions at the mall on the weekends, and penning hundreds of songs before he ever saw the inside of a recording studio, Derulo’s commitment to his dream – and dedication to seeing it come true – is the stuff of legend. But it was during his reinvention in 2020, after becoming one of the most followed creators on TikTok, that he realized his personal rules for self-mastery and success are applicable anywhere, for anyone, under any circumstance. “Now,” he writes, “It’s your turn.”

Like Matthew McConaughey’s Greenlights and Jay Shetty’s Think Like A Monk, Sing Your Name Out 15 Rules for Living Your Dream takes readers into the mind of one of the most consistent, dominating, and versatile artists alive. Derulo reflects, in his own words, on the defining moments of his career thus far, most notably the wins and losses that strengthened his signature style of creative pursuit and offers his fifteen rules for turning goals into reality – where numbers mean everything, obstacles are opportunities, closed doors are meant to be opened, failure is inevitable, and good lighting is non-negotiable.

Some of the rules that Derulo offers in this

TAKE RISKS. Failure Is Good.YOU ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR ROUTINE. Train Repetitively for Your Success.THOSE WHO CAN, DO. Those Who Can’t Become Critics.RESPECT THE HIVE. Your Copilots Are as Important as the Destination.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Audiobook

234 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 27, 2023

Reviews

[audrey118899 · Rating 4 out of 5]

writing an autobiography/memoir about yourself is an innately narcissistic act…but why does this book feel Extra narcissistic.

thoughts:
- no way his first chapter is already a justification for speaking about himself ridiculously highly
- the flex that he never hits snooze on alarms is so funny
- “i couldn’t let myself be distracted by friends….i had to focus on my MUSIC” 🤌🤌
- i’m confused. he says he cares about the numbers but then immediately subsequently says he doesn’t define success with numbers? WHICH IS IT JERULO
- “[in this book] you WILL find inspiration!”
- one of the things he’s most proud of is his tiktok collaborations ???
- wait i kinda love that his advice is not just theoretical. he’s like “yea believe in yourself but also YOU GOTTA BE ON THE APPS. U 🫵 NEED ☝️TO BE MAKING 👏TIKTOKS 👏NOW 👏”
- it’s just so funny that an emotional plot point in this book is this man writing “talk dirty”
- not him growing up on a my big fat greek wedding-esque block
- WAIT JASON DERULO WROTE “REPLAY”??? ICONIC ICONIC ICONIC SONG
- did he just. quote the chainsmokers ?
- is jason derulo….an Influencer? he certainly seems to think he is. honestly kudos to him for not looking down on social media content creators like a lot of traditional “celebrities” do
- “u ever notice how the word ‘critic’ comes from the word ‘criticize’? they’re job is literally to critique!” hAH NO SHIT ??
- o no. is he setting this anecdote up to usurp kid cudi
- no way this man is out here singing “talk dirty (acoustic ver.)” ??
- ok starting to realize a surprisingly large amount of this book is about jason derulos tiktok….
- he just explained the “jumping into pants” tiktok challenge in paragraph form depth….?
- why was i kinda invested in this chapter. i started being like “YEA JASON DERULO!! TAKE DOWN THE MAN!! ~~savageee loveee~~
- “there’s no meal that tastes as good as a six pack feels.” ………………….crazy quote
- yaknow what i also appreciate that he acknowledges that being successful in this industry is not solely based on skill but also image, presentation, reputation, etc.
- also i appreciate how he blatantly states that he likes mainstream things?? like he doesn’t feel the obligation to like niche things in order to be “cool” he’s literally like pop music and superhero movies that’s me baby
- wait why was his basketball analogy about misses kinda good. “people won’t remember all the fails as long as you start winning”
- this is so strange. he claims he’s all about being authentic and not caring what people think. but now he’s admitting he literally chose to be a pop artist because the most people globally listen to pop. but simultaneously i love how he’s openly admitting to specifically catering to the largest amount of people in order to find success ???
- wait….is jason derulo a MASTERMIND….?
- holy shit the bo burnham song is actually accurate ??? this man has MANUFACTURED EVERYTHING
- WHY IS HE DESCRIBING HIS TIKTOKS TO MEEEEEE
- “that week i gained FIVE MILLION followers on tiktok….let that sink in for a moment.” HELLO ????
- “they were normal, down to earth guys….like myself” AHAHHCJDKCK
- i actually just can’t get over how much this man loves tiktok
- “the only competition you should have is YOU.” uhhh jerulo i know for a fact that a future chapter in this book is called “choose your competition.”
- the key to content creation is…video lighting?? i cannot believe there is a section about the importance of good lighting rn
- he claims this is a book about achieving general success, but no. this man is attempting to teach you how to break into the very specific industry of musician/tiktoker

i’m genuinely so confused. i feel like the longer i was reading the more i was confused and surprised at how blunt he was being?? he actually confronts so many topics about the manufacturing of a persona in the industry unapologetically and talks about so many things i never would have expected. yea, i still think it’s a little self-absorbed but why did i kinda start rooting for him ????

JAsOn dErUUuuULoOoOooO…..

[Iga]

this is the most entertaining self-help book i have ever read

this is also the only self-help book that i have ever read

i don’t think i need to read any more of them though, as this one taught me everything i needed to know.

these are the lessons i learned:

- blending salmon and hot sauce creates a disgusting smoothie (no shit)
- eating 4 bananas a day makes it hard to poop (literally no shit haha)
- if you wear glasses then you just haven’t MANIFESTED good eyesight enough
- friends are overrated. the grind is your friend.
- breaking your neck is amazing
- people didn’t stream Cheyenne enough (GO STREAM CHEYENNE)
- tik tok. that’s it, just tik tok.
- jason derulo was this cringy kid who always sang and had no friends and i would definitely have made fun of him, had i known him as a child
- and jokes on me because now i vibe to his music

[nini · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like 🎶~Jasooon Deruuulo ~🎶 but this didn’t click with me at all. Skimming the last paragraph of each chapter was enough for me to get the gist of what he was selling. The whole time reading this felt like I was being roped into being his next speak it into existence moment. Not bad, just not for me 😬 *2.5 swallas

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ Mostly because it’s Jason Derulo and I’m a self-described Jason DerulHOE. JD is SUCH A VIRGO! I enjoyed learning some of the behind the scenes info about his life, but the rules for success didn’t hit the way I think he intended them to.

[Carmen · Rating 1 out of 5]

He did backflips til exhaustion and broke his neck because he did backflips til exhaustion. Reading this book felt like doing backflips til exhaustion and breaking my neck because I did backflips til exhaustion.

[Janie Hudon · Rating 5 out of 5]

J’ai adorer ce livre
Jason nous raconte son vécu et du fait même nos partage sa vision du succès.
C’est simple rafraîchissant et motivant
Lue en version audio part l’auteur
Un livre que je vais re écouter encore et encore

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book is excellent as a memoir, the self help portion falls flat for me. Jason Derulo has to be one of the most hard working and dedicated people, but it's to an unhealthy degree. His career is interesting, but I'd caution anyone taking this advice.

[Jessica Lussier · Rating 2 out of 5]

look…he’s a great story teller and has some decent advice, but overall it felt very contradicting. i also simply couldn’t get over him literally giggling every 5 seconds…fantastic ending tho

[Tosssster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cokolwiek Jason Derulo dotknie zamienia się w złoto.

[Poetic Diva504 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was more of a self improvement books more than a memoir. Just like most books, you can hone in on what’s useful and discard the rest. Although I don’t agree with every piece of advice he gives, this book was well executed and easy to navigate.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Honestly, I didn’t even know who Jason Derulo was when I started reading the book. He doesn’t sing the type of music I listen to. I heard him on a podcast and liked what he had to say, so I bought his book.

The book focuses on the creative arts, being your best, and getting your name out there. How promoting yourself via social media is a necessity. Like, if no one knows what you do, how are you going to succeed? Your completion isn’t the guy next door. The completion is you and the #1 person in the world that does what you do. Always strive to do better than you did yesterday. And strive to be just as good or better than the leader in your field. If LeBron James shoots 3,000 baskets a day, you should shoot 3,001.

Lots of good thoughts and concepts to apply to have success in life. It’s worth the read even if you don’t know Jason Derulo.

[Zuzia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mega podobało mi się to, że Jason bardzo dokładnie opisuje swoje filmiki na tik toku i dzięki temu nie muszę już zakładać tam konta.
Chociaż z drugiej strony chyba jednak powinnam to zrobić, jeśli chcę zostać światowej sławy artystką, bo, jak już teraz wiem, social media są niezbędne do osiągnięcia sukcesu.
Dzięki Jason, że w końcu pomogłeś mi zrozumieć, co tak naprawdę liczy się w sztuce.

[BookwormJordi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ended up reading this in one sitting - I loved learning more about Jason Derulo and his rules for living your dream life. Found it entertaining and easy to digest.

[Mikee Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edit: I listened to this book prior to the sexual harassment allegations.

I’ve been a fan of Jason Derulo’s songs since his first hit, Whatcha Say. So I’ve been looking forward to listening this book for a couple months now.

I want to start this review acknowledging that I wasn’t looking for career or life advice, I was really just excited to learn about his backstory. The advice was just bonus.

This book made me appreciate how singers and artists dedicate their entire lives to their craft. Jason’s work ethic and dedication to music was really admirable and opened my eyes to how important grit is in sustaining a successful career. And not only for music but in any career.

One of the most memorable stories for me was when he injured his neck and was bedridden for months. Because he was literally unable to move, he honed in on his music and came out with a bunch of hits. Life has its twists and turns and you have to learn how to adapt and search for the opportunities in the face of setbacks.

I admire how zoned in Jason was on his unorthodox dreams. I grew up limiting my aspirations to academics. So its super intriguing hearing about other people’s passions about non-traditional fields.

Honestly, the more I read and listen to audiobooks, the more I’m learning about myself. Which I initially believed was selfish but it pushes me outside of my comfort zone and become more empathetic to those with different opinions and experiences.

The advice wasn’t anything new for me or revolutionary. There were also a few pieces of advice that I wasn’t on board with in regards to diet and not listening to professionals which resulted in me ranking this book to 3 stars.

While I don’t agree with every piece of his advice, I do think the overall message of working hard is definitely at the forefront and was my favorite part in learning about Jason’s path of being a successful artist.

[Maddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

"I never know when someone in the audience is going to ask me to take my shirt off. I've got to be prepared at all times." - 🎶Jason Derulo🎶

This is the first time I've walked away from a celebrity book actively disliking the celebrity when I was positive-neutral on them before reading their book. Granted, I was expecting "washed up pop singer pivots to self help books" and got "washed up pop singer (who is also apparently on TikTok) can't close the yearbook on decades old singles or shut up about himself for more than three pages" instead. It's incredibly unfocused and my heart goes out to the ghost writer who had to take Jason Derulo's half-baked stories about his life and bring meaning to them through 2-3 paragraphs at the end of each chapter that somehow connected to a larger scope of meaning within other people's lives to attempt to define this book as "self help"

Some of his insights are endearing in a "awww you're so cute" kind of way, but most had me rolling my eyes or skimming through the personal life stories by the end. It's like he wants to be a LinkedIn Bro, but has no idea how to do it or offers any real meaningful insight to his motivation. He regularly harps on how success is only number driven, but never once ever explains how to actually measure metrics or achieve the aspirational analytics for "success".

My biggest enjoyment came from posting out of context quotes to Instagram where I got quite a lot of laughs and reactions from my friends. That part was quite fun.

[Brendon Fehre · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's clear Jason Derulo did not write this book - he talked into a machine and someone translated it onto the page. So many times he repeats himself and contradicts himself at the same time. If he wrote the book he would have picked that up. Jodi Lipper should also have picked this up in editing. Because you get so sick of reading the same thing again and again. E.g Does Jason write songs, sing or learn to play basketball for every waking minute? Because nobody can write, sing and learn basketball all at once!

I have to admit I did not know who Jason Derulo was when I picked up this book. Sure I've heard the name (and probably heard his music) I picked up the book because I believed it was 'for artists, content creators, entrepreneurs and dreamers'.

By the time you read the first 10 pages you are thinking this is one of the most narcissistic wankers I never hope to meet. Every page seems to be about him! There are some interesting facts on how he made it, interesting facts on social media, working hard and some great advice - but there is not a unless you like writing music and singing and your name is Jason Derulo.

The so-called 'Rules' are more Jason Derulo's rules for himself. As stated he repeats himself over and over again. Two stars for making a book that took to long to read with all the repeats.

[G D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never would have imagined myself reading a book composed by Jason Derulo?

The content is unique, his bold, abrasive, alpha-like personality is shown in each chapter. There were several traces of bragging and possible self-obsession. Some moments I found myself wondering if he is full of himself sometimes.

Pushing that aside, the rules this book mentions come with great applicable explanations. This is also my first experience reading something deeply about a popular musical artist. So the content was essentially a door to a new world that I never would have come across if it wasn't for this book.

Knowing Jason Derulo is the epitome of true hard work with countless hours. This goes to show even the most ordinary people can achieve things with the time put down.

I relate to some of the lessons in this book so I will use it as a reference as I have an interest in the creative business myself.

[Marie-Ange Janvier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book! I learned so much about Jason Derulo! I was intrigued by his book because many few artists of his stature write books. He’s a pop star alright but has the insane work ethic to match. He is also a fellow Haitian, one of the few artists who is unashamed to claim his roots. I learned how he got to be successful and that he write his own songs. I didn’t know at all that he was a songwriter!! He has many hits, too many to count but he is one of the few artists who have had enough longevity to have hits in 3 consecutive decades. Not bad for an artist who started his career in 2009 and who’s not even 35 yet! I like the advice of his book that transcends music. Great book if you want a peak at what it takes to be at the top of a field.

[Katerina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely not a memoir but a self-help book more likely.
I listened to the audio, narrated by Jason himself and hold my horses, this man works his ass off in so many different fields, no wonder he has been relevant for decades.
We are roughly the same age, therefore i remember him from "Whatcha Say" days and his music has been a staple for many years. I saw him live for the first time this year and my jaw was on the floor. After listening to his book I am no longer surprised.
The book is knitted with interesting stories from his life and background and sprinkled with good advice.
I do not see narcissist or a person who is self-centered. I see a man who works hard and plays hard. Good for him, what a way to go.

[Vinnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Literally read @audreyy118899 ‘s review. I was hoping to hear more about him and being a son of Haitian immigrants but all it was about was how great he is and how he never fails and that we all need to be on TikTok and making more content. I liked his music and was curious about him but honestly, I picked up this book bc my bro and I laughed at the front cover and how happy he is wearing a sweater.

[Julia Connell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun reading this book. My favorite parts were the bits of memoir style content throughout and the insight into the stories behind his most famous songs. Some of the quotes also brought me joy, like “I’m a mainstream daddy.” Love you Jason. That said, the book flowed like stream of consciousness and was a bit confusing to follow at times. There were also a few contradictions.

[Jannae Shepard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written and compelling book, I started and finished in one day! Very interesting to learn about what makes him successful and happy, and to learn that he's human too. I'm glad I randomly decided to base my DND character off him so that I could learn more about this person I normally wouldn't have thought about.

[Conner McNeely · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admire Jasón Derulo and the work he does. While his 15 rules are great, some of the chapters were filled with how to make great TikTok videos. I enjoyed listening to him read his memoir, but a bit more substance would’ve been better. Still recommend!

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun. Judge me - I dare you 😂

[Aussie Leb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't judge a book by its cover! This is super inspiring and a great book overall

[Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

TIL that Jason Derulo is...unhinged. Pretty entertaining in the meantime!

[Thakzhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jason Derulo is truly inspiring. After listening to the audiobook (narrated by him), I respect him so much more.

[Christa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute I guess haha

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 got better as it went on.

[Josh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not that good