#MAKEITHAPPEN
Tricia Clarke-Stone & Antoinette Clarke, Authors & Branding Experts
It's all about listful thinking, not wishful thinking. This is just one of the many gems from our chat with power ladies and twin sisters Tricia Clarke-Stone and Antoinette Clarke. The two have reached great heights in their careers, knowing that it's important to go beyond your job description and to NSL (never stop learning): Antoinette is the SVP, Branded Entertainment and Media Innovation at CBS, and Tricia, the Founder and CEO of Shift, an innovation, marketing and product development studio. Both are authors, too, and shared their guide to achieving your full potential in their 2019 book Double Down, which teaches you how to define success on your own terms. Below, we chat with the sisters about all this and more.
Our Hustle
Our hustle...
Doubling down—it’s in our DNA and a muscle we’ve been using most of our lives and it keeps getting stronger. Doubling down is going all-in when you know you have the odds on your side. It’s banking hard on the edge you’ve got. Also, when you double down on yourself, others will too—there’s a multiplier effect. And it’s the title of our book, Double Down: Bet On Yourself And Succeed on Your Terms. (Read more about it here.)
What got us started...
To be legendary, not temporary. It’s about building a legacy and making an impact.
What clears our heads...
Taking walks and talking it out
When in doubt, we...
Remember our past achievements
Greatest challenge—and how we overcame it...
AC: When I decided to leave my supervising producer role and pivot to branded entertainment at the age of 35, everyone thought I was crazy. I was one step away from being a Co-EP and was walking away from it all. For 12 years my identity was about me being a producer. That’s all I did and all I knew. As a producer, you do a lot of everything, so when I sat down to figure out what my skill set was, I had so many doubts about transferring what I knew to a different role. I felt lost. I had to reconnect and remind myself what I was capable of. I’m all about listful thinking, not wishful thinking. I had to literally sit and write down who I was, what I was good at, and what I wanted out of life. I listed out my skills, what I wanted to become better at, where I wanted to be in 10 years, where I saw the white space, and how I thought I could try to fill it. Then I felt confident and went out on interviews and connected the dots for everyone I met with. I created a career narrative and made them understand what I could bring to the table that was different from who they had working for them already. I knew how to be strategic, creative, build things from scratch, systematic, tell stories, connect with audiences, and package things together... and when selling, you’re only as good as your ideas. I also had to go back to school and learn this new business. It’s all about NSL (never stop learning) and doing a deep dive and due diligence in the new area I was entering.
I also had to remind myself that I had success and could have it again. I won two Emmys, had 12 years of producing experience, so I had proof of concept and that gave me confidence. My tribe of friends was also very helpful. I pressure tested my new role/direction with them to make sure I was on the right path and making the right decisions. It’s always good to get an outside perspective from people you trust, especially if they’re in a similar industry. Ultimately, I knew I was making the right decision because I was following what I was passionate about and where I found purpose.
Doubling down—it’s in our DNA and a muscle we’ve been using most of our lives and it keeps getting stronger. Doubling down is going all-in when you know you have the odds on your side. It’s banking hard on the edge you’ve got. Also, when you double down on yourself, others will too—there’s a multiplier effect. And it’s the title of our book, Double Down: Bet On Yourself And Succeed on Your Terms. (Read more about it here.)
What got us started...
To be legendary, not temporary. It’s about building a legacy and making an impact.
What clears our heads...
Taking walks and talking it out
When in doubt, we...
Remember our past achievements
Greatest challenge—and how we overcame it...
AC: When I decided to leave my supervising producer role and pivot to branded entertainment at the age of 35, everyone thought I was crazy. I was one step away from being a Co-EP and was walking away from it all. For 12 years my identity was about me being a producer. That’s all I did and all I knew. As a producer, you do a lot of everything, so when I sat down to figure out what my skill set was, I had so many doubts about transferring what I knew to a different role. I felt lost. I had to reconnect and remind myself what I was capable of. I’m all about listful thinking, not wishful thinking. I had to literally sit and write down who I was, what I was good at, and what I wanted out of life. I listed out my skills, what I wanted to become better at, where I wanted to be in 10 years, where I saw the white space, and how I thought I could try to fill it. Then I felt confident and went out on interviews and connected the dots for everyone I met with. I created a career narrative and made them understand what I could bring to the table that was different from who they had working for them already. I knew how to be strategic, creative, build things from scratch, systematic, tell stories, connect with audiences, and package things together... and when selling, you’re only as good as your ideas. I also had to go back to school and learn this new business. It’s all about NSL (never stop learning) and doing a deep dive and due diligence in the new area I was entering.
I also had to remind myself that I had success and could have it again. I won two Emmys, had 12 years of producing experience, so I had proof of concept and that gave me confidence. My tribe of friends was also very helpful. I pressure tested my new role/direction with them to make sure I was on the right path and making the right decisions. It’s always good to get an outside perspective from people you trust, especially if they’re in a similar industry. Ultimately, I knew I was making the right decision because I was following what I was passionate about and where I found purpose.
how we make it happen
3 morning musts...
We’re both firm believers in routines and starting our day with structure, which helps set our intentions and makes us better equipped to handle whatever chaos comes our way. So every day we both start our mornings with meditation, “me-time,” and a great playlist. We set our alarm 35-45 minutes early so we can gather our thoughts and go over our personal to-do list for the day before we get out of bed and then we meditate. While we get dressed there’s always music playing to create a good vibe and get our energy going. A good playlist is our coffee.
We’re both firm believers in routines and starting our day with structure, which helps set our intentions and makes us better equipped to handle whatever chaos comes our way. So every day we both start our mornings with meditation, “me-time,” and a great playlist. We set our alarm 35-45 minutes early so we can gather our thoughts and go over our personal to-do list for the day before we get out of bed and then we meditate. While we get dressed there’s always music playing to create a good vibe and get our energy going. A good playlist is our coffee.
Favorite life hacks...
We don’t travel with bulky jewelry cases. We use press-and-seal plastic wrap instead to keep our jewelry from getting tangled and seal each piece separately. We always travel with extra bars of scented soap that we keep in the same compartment as our dirty laundry because it keeps our clothes smelling clean. When sharing travel photos, we make it easy and seamless by using IFTTT to automatically save a copy of our iPhone and Instagram photos to Dropbox. When we were in a bind, we figured out multiple uses for lip balm: obviously, to moisturize our lips, but also to tame our flyaways, keep our brows in place, and it even helps when a zipper gets stuck—rub a little on it and it loosens right away.
We don’t travel with bulky jewelry cases. We use press-and-seal plastic wrap instead to keep our jewelry from getting tangled and seal each piece separately. We always travel with extra bars of scented soap that we keep in the same compartment as our dirty laundry because it keeps our clothes smelling clean. When sharing travel photos, we make it easy and seamless by using IFTTT to automatically save a copy of our iPhone and Instagram photos to Dropbox. When we were in a bind, we figured out multiple uses for lip balm: obviously, to moisturize our lips, but also to tame our flyaways, keep our brows in place, and it even helps when a zipper gets stuck—rub a little on it and it loosens right away.
Secret work weapons...
1. Go beyond your job description.
2. Challenge the status quo and drive change.
3. Don’t confuse activity with achievement.
4. And of course, NSL—never stop learning
1. Go beyond your job description.
2. Challenge the status quo and drive change.
3. Don’t confuse activity with achievement.
4. And of course, NSL—never stop learning
Personal talisman…
A diamond and emerald evil eye bracelet
A diamond and emerald evil eye bracelet
Best advice received…
The road to success is paved with failure. Failure is an opportunity to learn, innovate, and be more creative. Just because it excites you doesn’t mean it’s good for you—and that’s across the board: relationships, jobs, opportunities, etc.
The road to success is paved with failure. Failure is an opportunity to learn, innovate, and be more creative. Just because it excites you doesn’t mean it’s good for you—and that’s across the board: relationships, jobs, opportunities, etc.
Our Style
Favorite wardrobe hack...
Is to have things tailored and invest in great staples and unique one-of-a-kind pieces.
Wardrobe MVP...
Fancy black pants. You can dress them up or dress them down—they’re seasonless.
What would you tell your younger selves about getting dressed?
You can have anything you want if you dress for it, so have fun... but be intentional. Fashion is your armor and what people see and connect with before they get to know you. It’s an extension of who you are and embodies how you want to feel. When we put on an amazing outfit, we immediately feel great. We live in a world where everyone is a brand and your personal style is an extension of that. The way we all look plays a significant role in our success because appearance translates to performance.
How does wearing Veronica Beard make you feel?
Stylish, feminine, very put-together, confident, and cool. One of my favorite VB outfits is their pink leather suit. It fits perfectly. I feel like a black-barbie-superhero every time I wear it!
Antoinette, left, in the Isabel top, Beverly jean and Dacey Clog, and Tricia, in the Scuba dickey jacket, Rocha pullover and Arya jean, with the Miller dickey jacket to the bottom left; photographed by Maya Darasaw
Our Recharge
What we’re reading/listening to/binging...
Reading: The Vanishing Half
Listening: Donda and Certified Lover Boy
Binging: Money Heist
Beauty/self-care must-haves...
Massages, facials, and anti-aging products :)
Favorite thing to do...
Having amazingly unique, deep, fun, special, laugh-till-our-faces-hurt connected experiences with the people we love the most. And if we’re traveling while that’s happening, that’s the cherry on top!
Favorite thing to make...
Penne with vodka sauce and shrimp
One mover and shaker we admire...
We were raised by our single mom, aunts, and grandmother, so in essence, we were raised by a committee of amazing women. They all represented different archetypes that provided a great base and foundation for us. They shaped so much of who we are and who we still strive to be. They taught us to expand our horizons and learn from and be inspired by other women—public figures, friends, mentors, gurus, and colleagues. The common denominator of the most influential role models in our lives, besides our family, are all women of firsts who have defied the odds, continuously broke down barriers, and created opportunities for themselves and others like Oprah, Michelle Obama, Stacey Abrams, Rihanna…and so many others.
Reading: The Vanishing Half
Listening: Donda and Certified Lover Boy
Binging: Money Heist
Beauty/self-care must-haves...
Massages, facials, and anti-aging products :)
Favorite thing to do...
Having amazingly unique, deep, fun, special, laugh-till-our-faces-hurt connected experiences with the people we love the most. And if we’re traveling while that’s happening, that’s the cherry on top!
Favorite thing to make...
Penne with vodka sauce and shrimp
One mover and shaker we admire...
We were raised by our single mom, aunts, and grandmother, so in essence, we were raised by a committee of amazing women. They all represented different archetypes that provided a great base and foundation for us. They shaped so much of who we are and who we still strive to be. They taught us to expand our horizons and learn from and be inspired by other women—public figures, friends, mentors, gurus, and colleagues. The common denominator of the most influential role models in our lives, besides our family, are all women of firsts who have defied the odds, continuously broke down barriers, and created opportunities for themselves and others like Oprah, Michelle Obama, Stacey Abrams, Rihanna…and so many others.
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