Growing up in the north-west part of Philadelphia, I was encouraged to dream big. Luckily, I was also exposed to many things and participated in many experiences that soon taught me that life is a series of choices. Some work out and many don’t go exactly as planned. I’ve done many things professionally that I am really proud of … becoming one of the youngest Director in the history of NBC … launching a successful PR and events consulting business with only $3,000 of personal savings… and representing the Jordan Brand (Michael Jordan). Truth is, I am most proud of the fact that I have tried everything that I have ever wanted to do career wise. Lucky for me – most things have worked out and even those that did not go as planned – I don’t regret.
Who was the first adult (other than your parents) who encouraged you to believe in yourself and take risks to go after what you want?
My kindergarten teacher Miss Guida always used to use the word potential around me.
“Patrice, you did an excellent job at XYZ, you have so much potential, and I am sure that your next XYZ will be even better.” One day I asked her what the word meant and she said that I had a lot of great abilities and could do almost anything I wanted. I credit my first teachers and my Montessori early childhood education for helping me to be independent and self-confident at such an early age. Early on in your career, did you ever have doubts or consider pursuing another PR niche or field?
I am a problem solver and I like what I do. So, basically, I can work for any business or any Industry. What I like and do best is solving strategic problems and coming up with ways to do something NEW that has been done 101 times before.
Of course, I looked at some of my friends and former colleagues who worked in the music industry and thought that they had the cool jobs. Instead, I took the more corporate (and perhaps in my mind) safer route than many friends who chose to do A&R, marketing and management for major labels and artists. I have a lot of respect for them and everyone who was a Hip Hop pioneer who hustled hard to make sure that Hip Hop what not a temporary genre and will remain forever!
This past Monday, February 20, 2017 the new series The Breaks premiered on VH-1. I loved the movie and am digging the series because it’s basically the soundtrack for a key stage of my life and my career.
I was privileged to know, meet and work with some of the key players who played a pivotal role in how Hip Hop evolved and grew in the 90s. Whether it was going to high school with the founders and senior editors of The Source; going to Central High School party in Philly (where Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince (a.k.a Will Smith ) DJ’d; or going to college in NYC and living in the same dorm as Adam Sandler, I’ve always found myself surrounded with artists and creative types. And, it was nice to live vicariously through other people – it allowed me to meet some of the hottest 90s DJs like (Funkmaster) Flex, Kid Capri, and Frank Ski, not to mention some of the best producers, event planners and celebrity publicists. I had amazing access and experiences. I even learned how to play pool for the first time at a music studio in LA. My teachers were members of a very large entourage of a very well know artist who had a studio session that same day.
I guess at the end of the day I was well suited for the corporate world. But I guess things can and do often come full circle. A decade later I ended up doing sports & entertainment PR.
You had a successful career managing events and PR for mega brands and high net worth individuals like Nike, Jordan Brand (Michael Jordan), AT&T, NBC, Fox and others. How and why did you go into business for yourself? And, do you think anyone can be an entrepreneur or does one need to have the entrepreneurial gene?
Launching a sports and entertainment boutique firm was out of sheer necessity. I was unemployed and needed to pay the bills. I did what I have told thousands of students over the years to never, ever do – start a business without a business plan. I luckily defied the odds. My first client was Fox Entertainment and my second was Nike.
I do think that some people are certainly born with natural abilities as a salesperson or entrepreneur, however, anyone can embrace and cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset. Meaning, don’t sit down waiting for opportunities to come to you – instead stand up and create them.
I actually “pitched” my first potential client, my bus driver, Mr. Robinson when I was 9 years old. The week before a congressman’s kid has sliced open the back of his head on the aluminum siding on the school bus during some rough housing. Since it had happened shortly after pick up from school, Mr. Robinson drove the whole bus full of kids to the ER. And, he had put me “in charge" of the bus while he was gone.
Truth is, I’ve never been the oldest, smartest, most talented, biggest - but at an early age I knew how to motivate people to accomplish an end-goal. So even at nine, I was fully aware that if another accident happened again – Mr. Robinson would be out of a job. A few days later I asked him if I could promise him that I could keep everyone in their seats and that there would be no rough housing - would he pay me?
I still remember the look on his face. He agreed but with one stipulation - that I had to also sweep up the bus on Fridays. I countered by asking for a trip to Dunkin Donuts once a month that would give one donut for everyone.
I made $5 dollars a week. By age 11, I had a “real job” job that paid me by check $120 a month. And, by the time I was 13 years old I ran a very successful babysitting business that earned up to a couple of hundred in a single weekend!
What are three professional strengths that have helped you and can help others succeed?
First, I am a professional problem solver. It’s the one thing I’ve done well in every single job I have ever had. I learned that helping people understand, address, and eliminate their problems is not something that everyone can do.
Second, I am extremely persistent and am not easily intimidated by difficult people or situations – in fact, I often see them as a challenge. For example, as a child I would help my mother when she had a yard sale. One sale, when I was 7 years old, a man tried to cheat me out of money by making it seem that I had counted wrong. I didn’t back down and proceeded to add everything up by hand on a paper bag AND even got a calculator to double check my math. I have no idea why a grown man would try to cheat a child out of $3.75. But I am glad it happened because it gave me the confidence to call people out on things and stand up for myself.
Lastly, I think extremely well on my feet and am a highly creative person who always has AN idea and can quickly come up with a possible solution to ANY problem, situation or need.
What is something that someone told you NOT to do that you actually ended up doing and served you well?
Growing up, people have often told me that I talk too much. I still talk a lot and don’t think it’s a coincidence that I have made a great living in communications.
Throughout my life, many people have also told me that I watch too much TV. I have always loved television, the shows, the scripts, the commercials, the whole nine yards. I literally grew up watching Sesame Street and have been watching TV ever since.
It’s funny but perhaps one of the most redeeming qualities of “reality” TV is that people can learn “how to” do almost anything by watching others. I am a visual and kinetic learner and therefore I learn by seeing and doing. Watching tons of TV has helped me immensely in my career in doing things like writing ads, especially commercials, creating PR campaigns, better understanding Pop culture and much more.
What do you accredit your professional success to?
I always have an idea and a plan (even if it’s mental). I try to make sure that plan is at least two steps ahead of where I am trying to go. That way I’m poised to pounce on an opportunity as soon as it presents itself. As I say to my students, in marketing (and in life) you don’t always have to be best, sometimes it’s merely about who is first. First to see the need, first to focus on an untapped target audience or first to come to market.
Everyone needs a plan to make their dreams come true – it’s called marketing. However, there are many people who, if they won a thousand dollars for life would not know what to do with the money. I don’t have that problem (laughter).
Although I am the type of person to do first and then tell others after I’ve done it, I have several plans that I could easily put into action at any moment. In addition to always creating and tweaking my plan, I talk, think and work very fast. That plus my strong organizational and time management skills often allow me execute the same project/job faster, better and more creatively than someone else.
What is one piece of unconventional wisdom that you learned from someone else?
In my first job out of college, I was charged with scheduling a Wall Street Journal interview with a senior level IBM client. I made a huge mistake and gave the reporter the wrong location (in the pre-cell phone world). As we sat there waiting for the reporter who never showed, my supervisor stayed cool under pressure and gracefully handled the situation and the very frustrated client. Thinking quickly on my feet, I ran back to the office and was able to save the media opportunity (and possibly my job) by rescheduling a phone interview for first thing the next day.
My supervisor never yelled or chewed me out for the mistake because it was “spilt milk” and I had found a way to clean it up. She knew I learned my lesson and would never make the same mistake. That day she taught me that if you are the person “in charge” always remain professional and cool, calm and collected. And, to never forget the devil is in the details!
About Patrice Anderson: Patrice Anderson is passionate about helping people discover and do what they love. A professor, PR and marketing consultant, and career transition expert, Anderson has spent the past 20 years helping individuals, as well as some of the country’s largest organizations including Fox Entertainment, Nike/The Jordan Brand, AT&T, NBC, Alcatel-Lucent, The United States Marine Corps and Burger King, create their vision, shape their brand, and execute their goals.
In 2015, Anderson founded The Living on Purpose Project ® blog and online community to help people navigate career choices and changes in order to live with more passion and purpose. She oversees a wide range of initiatives that provide practical career, employment and business advice, as well as courses and resources to help others achieve personal, professional and organizational goals.
Anderson serves as a motivational speaker and lecturer at New York University, Hunter College, and professional organizations, as well as a broadcast media consultant. She is a graduate of New York University’s Stern School of Business and holds degrees from NYU in marketing and liberal arts. Currently, Anderson is working on her first book, The Living on Purpose Project ®.
Follow Patrice and the Living on Purpose Project on Twitter @pathtopurpose; on Instagram at #pathtopurpose; on Facebook at Living on Purpose Project; and on the web at .
