good afternoon my name is Terence Patterson and before I start it it
Patterson and before I start it it
Patterson and before I start it it dawned on me that it it’s quite ironic
dawned on me that it it’s quite ironic
dawned on me that it it’s quite ironic that I’m talking about my story but I
that I’m talking about my story but I
that I’m talking about my story but I have it written down and I’ll super key
have it written down and I’ll super key
have it written down and I’ll super key off of notes but I want to make sure I
off of notes but I want to make sure I
off of notes but I want to make sure I don’t forget anything but my story
don’t forget anything but my story
don’t forget anything but my story starts in Memphis and just like many of
starts in Memphis and just like many of
starts in Memphis and just like many of you I came from a humble modest
you I came from a humble modest
you I came from a humble modest beginning didn’t start poor but I
beginning didn’t start poor but I
beginning didn’t start poor but I certainly wasn’t rich by any means but
certainly wasn’t rich by any means but
certainly wasn’t rich by any means but the common thread in my story is a blend
the common thread in my story is a blend
the common thread in my story is a blend of acquired talent and hard work I love
of acquired talent and hard work I love
of acquired talent and hard work I love the zoo always had a smile I never
the zoo always had a smile I never
the zoo always had a smile I never turned down an opportunity to do fun
turned down an opportunity to do fun
turned down an opportunity to do fun stuff in fact I was always incredibly
stuff in fact I was always incredibly
stuff in fact I was always incredibly organized and I am to this day I can
organized and I am to this day I can
organized and I am to this day I can remember always making my bed as a
remember always making my bed as a
remember always making my bed as a toddler and organizing my blocks before
toddler and organizing my blocks before
toddler and organizing my blocks before going to bed my parents instilled
going to bed my parents instilled
going to bed my parents instilled Southern values they made sure that I
Southern values they made sure that I
Southern values they made sure that I was always in environments that were
was always in environments that were
was always in environments that were conducive to success but as I grew from
conducive to success but as I grew from
conducive to success but as I grew from childhood to adolescence to even the
childhood to adolescence to even the
childhood to adolescence to even the ultimate independence of adulthood there
ultimate independence of adulthood there
ultimate independence of adulthood there were three themes that emerged to define
were three themes that emerged to define
were three themes that emerged to define my story following to lead continuous
my story following to lead continuous
my story following to lead continuous mapping and taking well thought taking
mapping and taking well thought taking
mapping and taking well thought taking well thought risks so first this notion
well thought risks so first this notion
well thought risks so first this notion of following to lead I’m the oldest of
of following to lead I’m the oldest of
of following to lead I’m the oldest of three boys and we’re all four years
three boys and we’re all four years
three boys and we’re all four years apart and so there were inherent
apart and so there were inherent
apart and so there were inherent opportunities for leadership along the
opportunities for leadership along the
opportunities for leadership along the way eating my kid brother’s leftovers
way eating my kid brother’s leftovers
way eating my kid brother’s leftovers taking their toys or even letting them
taking their toys or even letting them
taking their toys or even letting them think they were playing Nintendo when
think they were playing Nintendo when
think they were playing Nintendo when the controllers were really unplugged
the controllers were really unplugged
the controllers were really unplugged but the true learnings that I had
but the true learnings that I had
but the true learnings that I had really when I was in the eighth grade
really when I was in the eighth grade
really when I was in the eighth grade and I had the opportunity to be named to
and I had the opportunity to be named to
and I had the opportunity to be named to the varsity baseball team in the eighth
the varsity baseball team in the eighth
the varsity baseball team in the eighth grade
grade
grade and just watching older guys perform
and just watching older guys perform
and just watching older guys perform watching them practice I learned that a
watching them practice I learned that a
watching them practice I learned that a lot of leadership and growth is osmosis
lot of leadership and growth is osmosis
lot of leadership and growth is osmosis if you’re close to leaders you’ll just
if you’re close to leaders you’ll just
if you’re close to leaders you’ll just pick up their good habits and their
pick up their good habits and their
pick up their good habits and their traits but it wasn’t until I got to high
traits but it wasn’t until I got to high
traits but it wasn’t until I got to high school that I realized I was starting to
school that I realized I was starting to
school that I realized I was starting to have opportunities to truly lead in my
have opportunities to truly lead in my
have opportunities to truly lead in my own right so the but by the time I was a
own right so the but by the time I was a
own right so the but by the time I was a sophomore at the end of my sophomore
sophomore at the end of my sophomore
sophomore at the end of my sophomore year I was named the starting
year I was named the starting
year I was named the starting quarterback of my football team and I’m
quarterback of my football team and I’m
quarterback of my football team and I’m actually in a leadership position but to
actually in a leadership position but to
actually in a leadership position but to be very candid I was younger than
be very candid I was younger than
be very candid I was younger than everyone that I was leading a group of
everyone that I was leading a group of
everyone that I was leading a group of juniors and seniors and I didn’t know
juniors and seniors and I didn’t know
juniors and seniors and I didn’t know how to lead and so I was actually
how to lead and so I was actually
how to lead and so I was actually watching and mimicking other older
watching and mimicking other older
watching and mimicking other older players looking at them at their
players looking at them at their
players looking at them at their position understanding their behaviors
position understanding their behaviors
position understanding their behaviors and emulating them because all I knew
and emulating them because all I knew
and emulating them because all I knew how to do was work hard and learn my
how to do was work hard and learn my
how to do was work hard and learn my craft and so it was really an exercise
craft and so it was really an exercise
craft and so it was really an exercise and following by example as my preferred
and following by example as my preferred
and following by example as my preferred method of leadership and it wound up
method of leadership and it wound up
method of leadership and it wound up ultimately being successful we went on
ultimately being successful we went on
ultimately being successful we went on to go to the state championship and the
to go to the state championship and the
to go to the state championship and the largest division in the state of
largest division in the state of
largest division in the state of Tennessee and we finished with the 14 in
Tennessee and we finished with the 14 in
Tennessee and we finished with the 14 in one record but this same path continued
one record but this same path continued
one record but this same path continued on my way to college and it was the same
on my way to college and it was the same
on my way to college and it was the same story it was a different position a
story it was a different position a
story it was a different position a different uniform higher stakes the same
different uniform higher stakes the same
different uniform higher stakes the same formula and even success at another
formula and even success at another
formula and even success at another level both on an individual level but
level both on an individual level but
level both on an individual level but also on a team level it was a different
also on a team level it was a different
also on a team level it was a different position because I had never learned how
position because I had never learned how
position because I had never learned how to play or I’d never played wide
to play or I’d never played wide
to play or I’d never played wide receiver before before I set foot on
receiver before before I set foot on
receiver before before I set foot on Harvard’s campus I had always been a
Harvard’s campus I had always been a
Harvard’s campus I had always been a quarterback but I was fortunate to be a
quarterback but I was fortunate to be a
quarterback but I was fortunate to be a part of a team that brought my coach his
part of a team that brought my coach his
part of a team that brought my coach his first Ivy League title and by the time I
first Ivy League title and by the time I
first Ivy League title and by the time I was a senior I learned how to play the
was a senior I learned how to play the
was a senior I learned how to play the receiver position
receiver position
receiver position and I was named Harvard’s all-time
and I was named Harvard’s all-time
and I was named Harvard’s all-time leading receiver and the only player in
leading receiver and the only player in
leading receiver and the only player in Harvard history to run catch throw and
Harvard history to run catch throw and
Harvard history to run catch throw and return a touchdown in the same season
return a touchdown in the same season
return a touchdown in the same season but the point is not the success but
but the point is not the success but
but the point is not the success but rather the fact that following to lead
rather the fact that following to lead
rather the fact that following to lead is replicable and if you can learn to be
is replicable and if you can learn to be
is replicable and if you can learn to be a great follower you will inevitably
a great follower you will inevitably
a great follower you will inevitably learn to be a great leader and I want to
learn to be a great leader and I want to
learn to be a great leader and I want to make a point about leading because it’s
make a point about leading because it’s
make a point about leading because it’s important because you’ll sometimes have
important because you’ll sometimes have
important because you’ll sometimes have a bad leader and just because you have a
a bad leader and just because you have a
a bad leader and just because you have a bad leader does not mean you have to be
bad leader does not mean you have to be
bad leader does not mean you have to be a bad follower in fact you learn your
a bad follower in fact you learn your
a bad follower in fact you learn your greatest lessons from your bad leaders
greatest lessons from your bad leaders
greatest lessons from your bad leaders and it’s not always all bad and you
and it’s not always all bad and you
and it’s not always all bad and you actually can reverse their traits so I
actually can reverse their traits so I
actually can reverse their traits so I want to move to the next theme and it’s
want to move to the next theme and it’s
want to move to the next theme and it’s this notion of continuous napping
this notion of continuous napping
this notion of continuous napping mapping but before I do there’s a
mapping but before I do there’s a
mapping but before I do there’s a snapshot of a younger me the notion of
snapshot of a younger me the notion of
snapshot of a younger me the notion of continuous mapping is complicated and
continuous mapping is complicated and
continuous mapping is complicated and you know it’s not as complicated as the
you know it’s not as complicated as the
you know it’s not as complicated as the life of Homer Simpson or even the map
life of Homer Simpson or even the map
life of Homer Simpson or even the map that he’s looking at but this was the
that he’s looking at but this was the
that he’s looking at but this was the concept that didn’t emerge for me until
concept that didn’t emerge for me until
concept that didn’t emerge for me until after I graduated from college and the
after I graduated from college and the
after I graduated from college and the basics are this you need a plan and it’s
basics are this you need a plan and it’s
basics are this you need a plan and it’s more complicated than just needing a
more complicated than just needing a
more complicated than just needing a plan but you actually need your map to
plan but you actually need your map to
plan but you actually need your map to be a living document you’ve got to
be a living document you’ve got to
be a living document you’ve got to create it it’s ok if it changes in fact
create it it’s ok if it changes in fact
create it it’s ok if it changes in fact I can remember going off to college and
I can remember going off to college and
I can remember going off to college and going backwards a bit and thinking I
going backwards a bit and thinking I
going backwards a bit and thinking I wanted to be a doctor a pediatrician and
wanted to be a doctor a pediatrician and
wanted to be a doctor a pediatrician and be specific but it wasn’t until after
be specific but it wasn’t until after
be specific but it wasn’t until after four semesters chemistry five economics
four semesters chemistry five economics
four semesters chemistry five economics ten psychology one sociology three and
ten psychology one sociology three and
ten psychology one sociology three and then government 10 that I didn’t realize
then government 10 that I didn’t realize
then government 10 that I didn’t realize that I wasn’t gonna be anyone’s doctor
that I wasn’t gonna be anyone’s doctor
that I wasn’t gonna be anyone’s doctor and I wasn’t going to anyone’s medical
and I wasn’t going to anyone’s medical
and I wasn’t going to anyone’s medical school and that’s okay because new
school and that’s okay because new
school and that’s okay because new fields emerged I was exposed to new
fields emerged I was exposed to new
fields emerged I was exposed to new things and I was open to the change and
things and I was open to the change and
things and I was open to the change and some of this was attributable even to my
some of this was attributable even to my
some of this was attributable even to my mentor that helped me develop the
mentor that helped me develop the
mentor that helped me develop the frameworks for my future Maps
frameworks for my future Maps
frameworks for my future Maps and I can remember my coach at Harvard
and I can remember my coach at Harvard
and I can remember my coach at Harvard he was often quoted in the Boston Globe
he was often quoted in the Boston Globe
he was often quoted in the Boston Globe and he would say in practice you know TP
and he would say in practice you know TP
and he would say in practice you know TP one day you’re gonna be governor at
one day you’re gonna be governor at
one day you’re gonna be governor at Tennessee you just wait because I
Tennessee you just wait because I
Tennessee you just wait because I believe in you and it was words of
believe in you and it was words of
believe in you and it was words of inspiration and also guidance and
inspiration and also guidance and
inspiration and also guidance and direction that helped think about what
direction that helped think about what
direction that helped think about what these maps would ultimately look like
these maps would ultimately look like
these maps would ultimately look like for me but I want to get back to the map
for me but I want to get back to the map
for me but I want to get back to the map for a minute because it is real and the
for a minute because it is real and the
for a minute because it is real and the map should necessarily be done in pin
map should necessarily be done in pin
map should necessarily be done in pin but in fact it should be done in paper
but in fact it should be done in paper
but in fact it should be done in paper and this is what one of my maps looked
and this is what one of my maps looked
and this is what one of my maps looked like this is a replica from 15 years ago
like this is a replica from 15 years ago
like this is a replica from 15 years ago and it’s got twists and turns it’s got
and it’s got twists and turns it’s got
and it’s got twists and turns it’s got different occupations and all of the
different occupations and all of the
different occupations and all of the things in between the key is you start
things in between the key is you start
things in between the key is you start with your dream job at the end and then
with your dream job at the end and then
with your dream job at the end and then you backwards map to determine how you
you backwards map to determine how you
you backwards map to determine how you get there and every year or so you take
get there and every year or so you take
get there and every year or so you take your pencil out or your pen and you
your pencil out or your pen and you
your pencil out or your pen and you scribble things off and you make
scribble things off and you make
scribble things off and you make adaptations to your map because life
adaptations to your map because life
adaptations to your map because life changes you’ll get new opportunities and
changes you’ll get new opportunities and
changes you’ll get new opportunities and ultimately this map will help you make
ultimately this map will help you make
ultimately this map will help you make educated decisions that will guide your
educated decisions that will guide your
educated decisions that will guide your longer-term future and so that also
longer-term future and so that also
longer-term future and so that also connects directly to this notion of
connects directly to this notion of
connects directly to this notion of taking risks but well-thought risks and
taking risks but well-thought risks and
taking risks but well-thought risks and this is a tough one because I don’t want
this is a tough one because I don’t want
this is a tough one because I don’t want to be the guy that shows up and tells
to be the guy that shows up and tells
to be the guy that shows up and tells you it’s okay to take risk and then you
you it’s okay to take risk and then you
you it’s okay to take risk and then you fail and it costs you a lot but I
fail and it costs you a lot but I
fail and it costs you a lot but I believe it’s okay to take risk and it’s
believe it’s okay to take risk and it’s
believe it’s okay to take risk and it’s okay to fail and you have to prepare
okay to fail and you have to prepare
okay to fail and you have to prepare yourself you have to have a map you have
yourself you have to have a map you have
yourself you have to have a map you have to understand pros and cons and for me
to understand pros and cons and for me
to understand pros and cons and for me there are three instances in my career
there are three instances in my career
there are three instances in my career and in my story that stand out the first
and in my story that stand out the first
and in my story that stand out the first is being a sports agent I graduated from
is being a sports agent I graduated from
is being a sports agent I graduated from law school and I was representing three
law school and I was representing three
law school and I was representing three players three clients that were
players three clients that were
players three clients that were teammates of my younger brothers at the
teammates of my younger brothers at the
teammates of my younger brothers at the University of Memphis and northwestern
University of Memphis and northwestern
University of Memphis and northwestern at the time and I had an opportunity to
at the time and I had an opportunity to
at the time and I had an opportunity to go work at a big law firm right out of
go work at a big law firm right out of
go work at a big law firm right out of law school and I decided not to and I
law school and I decided not to and I
law school and I decided not to and I decided to go work for my mentor at a
decided to go work for my mentor at a
decided to go work for my mentor at a big agency and represent the likes of
big agency and represent the likes of
big agency and represent the likes of Donovan
Donovan
Donovan and Dwayne Wade and Brian Westbrook and
and Dwayne Wade and Brian Westbrook and
and Dwayne Wade and Brian Westbrook and Brandon Marshall and it didn’t work out
Brandon Marshall and it didn’t work out
Brandon Marshall and it didn’t work out well kind of because I had the
well kind of because I had the
well kind of because I had the opportunity to do my dream job I was in
opportunity to do my dream job I was in
opportunity to do my dream job I was in the green room and I was Jerry Maguire
the green room and I was Jerry Maguire
the green room and I was Jerry Maguire and I was having the time of my life but
and I was having the time of my life but
and I was having the time of my life but I realized it wasn’t for me and as a
I realized it wasn’t for me and as a
I realized it wasn’t for me and as a result of that I actually had to go
result of that I actually had to go
result of that I actually had to go backwards and I found myself at a big
backwards and I found myself at a big
backwards and I found myself at a big law firm two years behind my class
law firm two years behind my class
law firm two years behind my class learning things that they had already
learning things that they had already
learning things that they had already learned because I had taken a chance but
learned because I had taken a chance but
learned because I had taken a chance but I would never do it again differently
I would never do it again differently
I would never do it again differently because that chance afforded me a
because that chance afforded me a
because that chance afforded me a lifetime opportunity the second chance
lifetime opportunity the second chance
lifetime opportunity the second chance or risk that I took was related to
or risk that I took was related to
or risk that I took was related to moving back to Memphis and this one was
moving back to Memphis and this one was
moving back to Memphis and this one was a tough decision because while I loved
a tough decision because while I loved
a tough decision because while I loved Memphis and I wanted to always be back
Memphis and I wanted to always be back
Memphis and I wanted to always be back in my hometown I didn’t want to be back
in my hometown I didn’t want to be back
in my hometown I didn’t want to be back in my 20s or 30s but instead I wanted to
in my 20s or 30s but instead I wanted to
in my 20s or 30s but instead I wanted to be here in the twilight of my career and
be here in the twilight of my career and
be here in the twilight of my career and so here I am I find myself at Chicago
so here I am I find myself at Chicago
so here I am I find myself at Chicago Public Schools the third largest school
Public Schools the third largest school
Public Schools the third largest school system in the country I’m one of the
system in the country I’m one of the
system in the country I’m one of the youngest members of the cabinet I have
youngest members of the cabinet I have
youngest members of the cabinet I have responsibilities to transform k-12
responsibilities to transform k-12
responsibilities to transform k-12 education in one of the largest urban
education in one of the largest urban
education in one of the largest urban systems in the world and I get a call
systems in the world and I get a call
systems in the world and I get a call from my hometown saying come home and
from my hometown saying come home and
from my hometown saying come home and it’s one thing to be a small fish in a
it’s one thing to be a small fish in a
it’s one thing to be a small fish in a big pond but it’s another thing and a
big pond but it’s another thing and a
big pond but it’s another thing and a whole nother thing to be a growing fish
whole nother thing to be a growing fish
whole nother thing to be a growing fish in that big pond but I went back to my
in that big pond but I went back to my
in that big pond but I went back to my map I thought about what the future
map I thought about what the future
map I thought about what the future looked like and I determined that there
looked like and I determined that there
looked like and I determined that there was a pathway through Memphis to reach
was a pathway through Memphis to reach
was a pathway through Memphis to reach all of my goals and I took it and that
all of my goals and I took it and that
all of my goals and I took it and that risk led me to where I am today
risk led me to where I am today
risk led me to where I am today at the downtown Memphis Commission and
at the downtown Memphis Commission and
at the downtown Memphis Commission and so once I got settled into Memphis I
so once I got settled into Memphis I
so once I got settled into Memphis I began committing to civic duties I got
began committing to civic duties I got
began committing to civic duties I got to understand what was important about
to understand what was important about
to understand what was important about downtown I was serving on the downtown
downtown I was serving on the downtown
downtown I was serving on the downtown Commission’s sister and affiliate boards
Commission’s sister and affiliate boards
Commission’s sister and affiliate boards and it was important to me to understand
and it was important to me to understand
and it was important to me to understand why economic development was important
why economic development was important
why economic development was important like education but an opportunity
like education but an opportunity
like education but an opportunity presented itself and I got to know the
presented itself and I got to know the
presented itself and I got to know the president at the time
president at the time
president at the time he suggested that he was going to be
he suggested that he was going to be
he suggested that he was going to be leaving soon and he thought I may be a
leaving soon and he thought I may be a
leaving soon and he thought I may be a good fit in the future to be the
good fit in the future to be the
good fit in the future to be the president
president
president this was a total stretch to even
this was a total stretch to even
this was a total stretch to even consider because I have a government
consider because I have a government
consider because I have a government degree I have very little experience in
degree I have very little experience in
degree I have very little experience in economic development I’ve been working
economic development I’ve been working
economic development I’ve been working in education I was relatively young
in education I was relatively young
in education I was relatively young these are jobs that are typically
these are jobs that are typically
these are jobs that are typically reserved for economic development
reserved for economic development
reserved for economic development professionals and folks that have much
professionals and folks that have much
professionals and folks that have much longer years of experience it’s my
longer years of experience it’s my
longer years of experience it’s my research they have conversations with
research they have conversations with
research they have conversations with mentors I went back to my mat I thought
mentors I went back to my mat I thought
mentors I went back to my mat I thought about my experiences and I ultimately
about my experiences and I ultimately
about my experiences and I ultimately decided to put my name in the ring and
decided to put my name in the ring and
decided to put my name in the ring and when people tell you that intelligence
when people tell you that intelligence
when people tell you that intelligence preparation and passion don’t matter I
preparation and passion don’t matter I
preparation and passion don’t matter I think you should call them a liar
think you should call them a liar
think you should call them a liar because they do matter because that’s
because they do matter because that’s
because they do matter because that’s how I found myself in my position today
how I found myself in my position today
how I found myself in my position today and so going through that realizing that
and so going through that realizing that
and so going through that realizing that these types of things are possible for
these types of things are possible for
these types of things are possible for our downtown thinking about the future
our downtown thinking about the future
our downtown thinking about the future bringing major corporations like
bringing major corporations like
bringing major corporations like ServiceMaster understanding what it
ServiceMaster understanding what it
ServiceMaster understanding what it takes to bring the next really important
takes to bring the next really important
takes to bring the next really important and it actually is the culmination of my
and it actually is the culmination of my
and it actually is the culmination of my story it’s a simple story it’s one like
story it’s a simple story it’s one like
story it’s a simple story it’s one like I said of hard work and acquired talent
I said of hard work and acquired talent
I said of hard work and acquired talent I didn’t know how to play receiver but I
I didn’t know how to play receiver but I
I didn’t know how to play receiver but I figured it out I’m becoming my first
figured it out I’m becoming my first
figured it out I’m becoming my first president and CEO and I’m understanding
president and CEO and I’m understanding
president and CEO and I’m understanding what this means I’ve had to work I had
what this means I’ve had to work I had
what this means I’ve had to work I had to work at the craft I’ve also had to
to work at the craft I’ve also had to
to work at the craft I’ve also had to acquire knowledge and surround myself
acquire knowledge and surround myself
acquire knowledge and surround myself with really smart people but those three
with really smart people but those three
with really smart people but those three thing themes continue to guide my
thing themes continue to guide my
thing themes continue to guide my decision-making and what I believe is
decision-making and what I believe is
decision-making and what I believe is most important
most important
most important is my impact you remember my my story
is my impact you remember my my story
is my impact you remember my my story started in Memphis and I believe just
started in Memphis and I believe just
started in Memphis and I believe just like you if your story starts in Memphis
like you if your story starts in Memphis
like you if your story starts in Memphis it should end with an impact on Memphis
it should end with an impact on Memphis
it should end with an impact on Memphis and so whether it’s in the middle of
and so whether it’s in the middle of
and so whether it’s in the middle of your career at the end of your careers
your career at the end of your careers
your career at the end of your careers you should think about how you how we
you should think about how you how we
you should think about how you how we can help impact the future of Memphis
can help impact the future of Memphis
can help impact the future of Memphis and to me the future of Memphis is now
and to me the future of Memphis is now
and to me the future of Memphis is now and we need all of you to help make the
and we need all of you to help make the
and we need all of you to help make the now better thank you
now better thank you
now better thank you [Applause]
”
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