Media mogul, author and philanthropist Louis Carr invited guests to the Dusable Museum for an intimate book signing and discussion surrounding his new memoir, Dirty Little Secrets. Hosted by Toi Salter and WVON’s Melody Spann-Cooper, Carr’s talk elucidated key anecdotes that have made him one of the most successful media sales executives in history.
Sprouting from very humble beginnings on Chicago’s West Side, Carr’s mother instilled in him that despite his living circumstances at that time, he was special. Being special came with a price tag, and Carr readily admits that had it been left to his own doing, he might have very well chosen a career at the local post office. To this end, he credits his iconic mentors John H. Johnson (Johnson Publishing Company), Earl Graves Sr. (Black Enterprise), and Bob Johnson (BET) for seeing something in him and pushing to achieve greatness.
Below are seven takeaways from Carr’s Dirty Little Secrets talk.
1. Be On Time: If you arrive on time you’re late. Carr shared a story he learned during his early days of advertising sales working for Johnson Publishing Company’s iconic founder, John H. Johnson. Johnson had a strict adherence to time and would routinely shut the elevators off at 9 a.m. If you hadn’t made it to your desk before 9 a.m., you were not allowed to enter the building.
2. Dress The Part: Long before Carr moonlighted as a fashion blogger, he learned the importance of presenting a professional image. Carr says the younger generation has to learn that there’s a time and place for piercings and casual attire. A corporate environment is not one of those places.
3. Be Comfortable in Uncomfortable Situations: Growth is about pushing yourself past the limits of fear. If you don’t like public speaking for instance, get a coach, practice in the mirror, or rehearse with a friend, but by all means, tackle your fear.
4. Define Your Goal: You must have a clear goal to achieve success. Is your goal to make money or be happy? You may not be able to do both right away, but if an opportunity comes for you to have financial success, and earning money is your goal, take it.
5. Why Not You: If you have an idea, get started on it. Make sure to do your due diligence, but pursue your dreams full force.
6. Be Equally Yoked: Carr has been married to his beautiful wife, Diane Carr, for 30 years and says having a partner that supported and encouraged his dreams has been an essential part of his success, both personally and professionally.
7. Keep God First: Carr credits his faith in God for carrying him through times of uncertainty and opening doors that facilitated his growth. Carr’s faith has also been a major impetus for his philanthropic and mentorship efforts.
To learn more about Louis Carr and purchase his book, Dirty Little Secrets visit: www.louiscarrbook.com.
