We were lucky to catch up with David Pailin recently and have shared our conversation below.
David, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?
Legacy is something that stays at the forefront of my mind and at the end of the day it starts and ends with impact. My desire is to leave behind gifts that are both useful and inspiring. That frame of mind focuses the work that I do, the collaborations that I want to be a part of, and the projects that grab my attention. For my friends and family, my hope is that I will be remembered as an encourager and a safe place to share raw emotions and thoughts. For society as a whole, my hope is that I am remembered for my service and creating opportunities for those before and after me to show their best self.
David, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m the son of two entrepreneurs with intimate ties to public service and from day one they’ve exemplified how to be a multifaceted professional. My background in non-profit marketing, advertising, and operations has spanned over 10 years, supporting esteemed organizations such as the National Society of Black Engineers, YMCA, Dallas Independent School District, Morehouse College, and most recently AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Working within these impactful organizations has put me face-to-face with the world’s greatest asset, people, and given me the opportunity time and time again to critically think about solutions that give communities a better life. Whether it was overseeing a Men of Color teaching initiative for Dallas ISD or reviewing copy for individuals living with HIV at AHF, I’ve had the privilege of supporting individuals at the front lines of social change and in return I co-founded TPC, a holistic creative agency that specializes in connections, to equip those same individuals with entrepreneurial aspirations. Since 2013, we’ve been able to spotlight and connect professionals from all over the world, and this past year we launched our Los Angeles service offerings with a three-day experience spanning DTLA, Venice, and Santa Monica rooted in purpose. As a second-year MBA student at UCLA’s Anderson School of Business, I’ve been exposed to even more resources and talented professionals, allowing me to expand on the offerings that I developed as a graduate of Morehouse College. I tell everyone who will listen that my purpose on this Earth is to share and it’s one that I thank God for every day. I cannot wait to be the first person to tell the world about your success story, and each day I learn of a better way to do just that.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Authenticity. People won’t do much or anything with you if they cannot trust you. I’m upfront with who I am, what I believe, and why I do what I do at all times so it qualifies me for what aligns with it and disqualifies me for what doesn’t. It’s simple, but being engaging on social media, Zoom, and in-person can be difficult if you’re a different person on each of those platforms and more so if you don’t deliver on what you’ve said in those environments. If I say I love people, people should be able to feel that love on and off the screen. If I say I’m for entrepreneurs, then I should be supporting them publically and privately; socially and financially. My ability to make sure my words match my actions has allowed my name to be brought up in rooms much higher and powerful than those that I’ve created for myself. You can’t buy credibility you have to earn it.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Never stop learning about them. One thing I always do with the teams I work with and manage is create a personality profile. This allows us to quickly learn some of the nuanced character differences that we all have, but more importantly develop a road map to better communication, especially in difficult times. As a manager, it has to be a top priority to know about those you manage, what’s going on in their life, and where they want to be. I remember managing my operations team back in Dallas ISD and I would buy lunches, little treats, and even embroidered blazers for overdelivering on an important goal. They were all certainly appreciated, but when I went through the personality profile with them it turned out that they valued quality time more than gifts. Sometimes as managers we assume what those we supervise want instead of asking the question, and continuing to ask. If you can determine in your mind that you will be a student of their wants, needs, and behaviors you will find yourself in a place with high trust and morale.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theplutocratsclub.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidpailinjr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidpailinjr/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpailinjr/
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/davidpailinjr