Meet Anthony Brown | HBCU Advocate, Life Coach, Mentor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anthony Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anthony, what are you inspired by?
I am inspired by my life lessons. Simply put, there is so much to live for and opportunities to gain from. There was a time in my life that all I could do was look at the negative side of things and not appreciate what I had in front me. Bottom line, if I didn’t love, respect and appreciate what I had – be it my family, my job and even finances, then why in God’s green earth would I or should I get something else. Life has a way of teaching you those kinds of lessons to show you that. This reminds me of a quote from the late actor, James Dean, when he said, “The gratification comes in the doing, not in the results.” It’s a good feeling to celebrate the win, but let’s not forget the work it took to get to the finish line. In that work you developed a system, a strategy and certainly discipline to make it. Don’t be so focused on the final destination that you miss out on some great life lessons. Enjoy and appreciate the journey just as much as you celebrate the accomplishment. You’ll be glad you did.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I would describe myself as a working actor, an experienced educator, motivational speaker and a consummate professional.

I take extreme pride in the projects and programs that I participate in. I wholeheartedly believe in the mantra of, “If a task is once beyond, never leave it until it is done. Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all.”

Many years ago, my wife (at that time) and I wanted to provide a program or service to support individuals and families with life decision-making based on social emotional philosophies. To make a long story short, I wanted to name the practice Anthony Brown’s Way, and she wasn’t having that. Needless to say, I lost that debate along with the marriage, though I was able to maintain a great friendship and business partnership till this day. We even settled on a company name, mission and vision. Because we realized that “There Is A. B.etter Way” to reach your goals and it all starts with realizing the potential in you. We strive to achieve this mission through positive interaction and engagement, individuals will be better positioned to set goals, become self-aware and become intrinsically motivated to reach their potential.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As a native of Cleveland, Ohio, one of the first places we would visit is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Every time I visit this establishment, I am guaranteed to see a massive collection of everything that is music – be it the fashion, the cars, the instruments, the social commentary of the day and so much more. Better yet, before we leave we will visit the interactive section of the museum called “The Garage” to play with various instruments and have the chance to rock out with the house band to some of the various hit songs that got so many entertainers inducted in the museum.

Listen, I’m not even going to hold you long on this one, but we must go visit some of the other museums of the city such as the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Christmas Story House, the Western Reserve Historical Society, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Great Lakes Science Center and the Steamship William G. Mather, just to name a few.

But wait, I am big theater buff, so a trip to Cleveland would not be complete with catching a rousing theatrical stage production. I could not go without saying that Cleveland’s Playhouse Square is the largest performing arts center in the nation outside of New York. However, I am more interested in the many small, independent houses. Convergence-Continuum Theater is one of Cleveland’s up-close, personal and intimate theatres. Con-Con is known to expand the imagination and extend the conventional boundaries of language, structure, space, and performance that challenges the conventional notions of what theatre is. Let me also note that I have the unique opportunity of having worked in this space and I currently serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

The other theater that is special to me is the Karamu House. Karamu House is the oldest African-American theater in the United States, opening in 1915. Many of Langston Hughes’s plays were developed and premièred at the theater. Trust me when I say that Karamu has produced professional theatre that far exceeds any spectators expectation while providing an array of arts education and programs that is inclusive for everyone while honoring the African American experience.

With all of this, we would figure out where to eat, what to drink and how to be merry along the way.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to SHOUTOUT the National Alumni Council of UNCF for the opportunity to serve. This is a group of HBCU alumni, students and supporters that uphold the mission and philosophy of the United Negro College Fund through acts of service in the areas of fundraising, student recruitment, alumni engagement, HBCU advocacy and networking. Another group that I would SHOUTOUT is to every parent that must deal with the complexities of life yet is still able to put food on the table, provide a place to stay and offer love, resources and educational support for their child(ren).

Website: https://www.aharrisbrown.com/

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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-brown-bba1582a

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