We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Pat Nixon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Pat below.
Pat, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?
I wish I could say it was “an” idea but the truth is, I had a bunch of ideas floating in my brain with one main goal… to make something work. Almost every plan I made played out another way. I thrived because I welcomed that fluidity into my success plan. I was a registered nurse with two options. I could complete the Nurse Practitioner Program and continue in corporate or I could find a way to overcome my intimidation of numbers, complete my business plan and learn how to invest in real estate. Needless to say, I changed my graduate major to Business Administration which forced me to take accounting. This simple move gave me the confidence to listen and speak in a room of predominantly white male investors about money. In these rooms I found my worth, I learned that the money was the easy part, I had something that others entering the assisted living world did not have, I was a NURSE! I learned to leverage my credentials and lean into topics that intimidated me. I learned to invest in my growth and education and find people who did what I didn’t know how to do. Most importantly, when my first property opportunity fell into my lap, I didn’t think about “if I could make it work”. I took it and I ran, figuring out the details along the way. My mindset was that failure was not an option unless I quit trying. Ultimately, I found a way to use my degree in nursing to back my desire of investing in real estate through a residential care home.
Pat, 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 am the visionary and founder of We Are One Heart Foundation, Inc, a nonprofit serving disadvantaged elderly of Denton, TX and surrounding counties. We provide low cost living options, resource referrals, and social activities to our senior citizens to decrease social isolation & depression. We have several programs including our Senior Care Home located in Denton, Windsor House; our Compassionate Companionship program that allows us to provide volunteers to our seniors; and our oldest program, Gifts for Seniors. I’m especially proud of Gifts for Seniors. I actually started this program with teary eyes fighting depression after losing my father. On Christmas Day, I was searching for a way to feel better so I rushed into Walmart and purchased all the Russell Stover chocolate boxes and delivered them to hospice patients on Christmas morning. 4 years later, this program still runs strong but has grown tremendously. Last year, in 2021, through donations and volunteers, we were able to deliver over 1000 gifts to seniors in long term care communities!! My heart smiles and I know my Daddy is tickled PINK!
I also provide training and support to caregivers through iNurse Delegate which is a nurse consulting firm I founded in 2019. Myself and my team of clinical professionals offer creative solutions for complex care in long-term care environments through consulting, training, and nurse delegation. Since 2019, we have grown from 16 to over a 100 residents receiving professional and compassionate care under our guidance!
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
I had to dig deep… I mean REALLY DEEP to pull together the capital to start Windsor House. Not only was it a real estate transaction but there were renovations, supplies, staff, etc that had to be paid for. I’d spent years gaining relationships that I seriously thought would lead to investment partners. I learned that you have to take a risk on yourself before anyone else will take a risk on you. I dug deep into my pockets and risked alot. I did have family members and friends that stepped up to support me through investing. Most of them backed out but 2 of them supported me. In hindsight, I was not taking no… I extended some deadlines, made some calls and through the sweet recipe of faith, hard work, and perseverance, I was able to break ground in October of 2020 in the height of COVID 19.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to unlearn the scarcity mentality. Throughout life, I’d been taught to keep my ideas to myself. People would either think I was a pipe dreamer or they would bite my style…. LIES!! The best thing I ever did was switch to an abundance mentality and talk about what I was doing (or trying to do) every chance I got. Not only was I spreading knowledge, I opened myself up to learn and be connected. I cannot tell you how many times a stranger connected me to someone in their network that specialized in exactly what I needed at that very moment. Even now, when I run into old acquaintances and tell them what I do, they respond, “You said you were going to do it.” It’s a reassuring reminder to me that I am doing exactly what I said I would do…. LET’S DO MORE!!!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wa1h.org www.inursedelegate.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weareoneheartfoundation/
- Facebook: WA1HSeniorLiving
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-nixon-rn-bsn-mba-cdp-23a8b153
- Twitter: @WeAreOneHeartF1