“DSM expertise (Digital, Social and Mobile), leadership, public speaking, team building and strong communication skills – written and oral are the skill sets that future leaders must possess,” according to Tru Pettigrew. Pettigrew is the founder and president of Tru Access, an organization that bridges the cultural and generational gaps between multicultural millennials and corporate brands and agencies.
Having spent 20 years working in advertising and marketing, and working with household brands like Nike, Hasbro, Sprint and The Home Depot, Pettigrew has keen insight on what it takes to help build a stronger work force and more productive work environments.
Here, he shares how to set goals, his perspective on life-long learning, and three books that shaped his career. –munson steed
What inspires you to show up to work every day?
My faith, my family and the people that count on me for inspiration.
How did you determine your career path?
I started off in advertising and marketing. I am now an inspiration and empowerment speaker. I chose an industry that aligned with my gifts and my passion.
What other industries connect to your career choice?
There are numerous industries that connect to what I do. Entertainment, education, advertising, marketing, PR, sales, digital, social and mobile media. Then there’s journalism, consumer research and public speaking just to name a few.
Describe goal setting methods you use and how o you evaluate you success?
I have an overall goal established for my brand that is in line with my brand Vision and Mission. I set daily goals, write them down and review them each day. I use my brand vision and mission statement as a checks and balances system to ensure my goals are always in line with the overall brand strategy. This helps to ensure focus because it’s easy to get distracted otherwise. Success measures are evaluated based on the specific short and long-term goals that are set. This can range from placing 20 emails to new clients today to securing two new speaking engagements this week. The ultimate success is measured by how many lives we transform through our efforts.
Names three books that changed how you saw life and you recommend to others.
- The Bible – GOD
- How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie
- Attitude Is Everything – Keith Harrell
Describe why lifelong learning is important to you?
Lifelong learning is important because I believe that when we stop learning, we stop growing. When we stop growing we limit our ability to continue to make valuable contributions to our family, our community and the world. We are made up of three parts: mind, body and soul. In order for us to continue to thrive in life, we have to consistently feed all three; mind, body and soul.
