Success Isn’t about Money or Belongings: Interview with New York Times Bestselling Author Rebecca Morris
Several years ago, I interviewed New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Morris in an interview originally published in Thrive Global. Here is an excerpt from our conversation:
Adam: What is something about you that would surprise people?
Rebecca: Although I write books about true crimes and people who do terrible things to each other, I am not paranoid about crime and don’t live in fear of being a victim. I like to laugh and am an optimistic person.
Adam: What are your hobbies and how have they shaped you?
Rebecca: Most of my hobbies – reading, 1930s and 1940s radio programs, film noir, live theater, and film – are related to my fascination with storytelling. I love exploring all the ways to tell a story and all these genres have influenced me.
Adam: How did you get here? What failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?
Rebecca: When I was young (29 years old) I learned my husband was going to die. After he did, I knew life was not going to be what I had assumed it would be. So I moved east, went to graduate school, and went after a different kind of career than I probably would have had. I was more ambitious and decided to see how far in journalism I could go.
I had more than my share of failures because my interests took me in a number of directions. I worked hard. Sometimes I was successful and sometimes I wasn’t. But that was okay because I have always thought that success isn’t about money or belongings. I think it is about doing the work you like.
Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?
Rebecca: There’s a theory among some leaders (meaning bosses I have worked for) that a good manager is a tough manager, one who uses fear. It doesn’t bring out the best in employees. I don’t think you can’t go wrong by being kind. Not everyone should be a leader at work or aspire to be one. I think the important thing is for us to find what we are best at and happiest at and strive for that.
Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?
Rebecca: Be kind, don’t be threatened by the success or talent of others, and create an environment creative people can thrive in.
Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?
Rebecca: Don’t burn any bridges if a job doesn’t work out and you are asked to leave. It’s a small world and you’ll probably meet those people again. You’ll be glad you hung on to your dignity and treated others well.
Adam: What can anyone do to pay it forward?
Rebecca: Mentor women and people of color who have traditionally been shut out of certain careers, and may still be shut out. In my case, I’ve tried to help other women and young people who will work hard and accept that you never stop paying your dues.
Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Rebecca: I think it is incredibly important that creative people find a way to make a living doing what they love. It takes patience and perseverance. As Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird) said, “Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”
Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one-on-one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.
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