By: VOICE-TRIBUNE • Photos By: Rosemary Cundiff-Brown
In her newly released book, Ordinary to Extra-Ordinary: Achieving Remarkable Career Success Through Passion, Purpose, and Preparation, Pattie Dale Tye, the COO of Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC and a seasoned leader with experience at AT&T and Humana, shares her insights into building a successful career. With a unique blend of personal stories and practical advice, Tye aims to encourage readers to embrace their potential and pursue a career that is both fulfilling and extraordinary.
Congratulations on the release of your book, Ordinary to Extra-Ordinary. What inspired you to write this book?
I never expected to be an author, not in my wildest dreams! Forbes contacted me because they thought I had an interesting career path that others needed to hear about and learn from. In a day and age when we look at social media’s perfect depiction of everyone else’s life, perhaps we should inject some reality to what careers are actually like and how you can absolutely succeed - through purpose, passion and preparation. That is what inspired me to help others see that they are enough to have a great and extraordinary career - to encourage others to step in and never opt for only ordinary.
What makes your book different from other career advice books?
I actually walked this 30+ year journey and my book is filled with the good, bad and the ugly. It is filled with stories about the times I did it the right way, and times when I got in my own way. There are very practical topics, but not the ones you typically hear (examples below):
The money will come! Don’t let it distract you!
Suddenly Sunday (how to preserve your precious Sunday by preparing on Friday).
Everything needs to ladder up (we are busy and moving fast, nothing should be done in isolation, be connectional with everything).
And many, many more!
You’ve had a successful career with major brands like AT&T and Humana. How did these experiences shape your approach to career success?
I learned the beauty and the bounty of working with very smart and caring people. People that were passionate about helping the company’s mission, and understood their role in accomplishing that mission. Even as a newly minted AT&T account executive, I knew the role I played in this HUGE multinational company’s mission: connecting businesses with their customers, efficiently, effectively and affordable. At Humana, learning the barriers to health and the social determinants of health led me to my most impactful role: helping communities understand how to remove those barriers and increasing health and healthy days. It was the witnessing of passion at work that shaped me then and shaped me still. Corporations don’t thrive without soul filled missions and missions their employees can grasp onto and be passionate about moving forward. I also had amazing mentors and leaders who saw more in me than I saw in myself.
Your book is also for those re-entering the workforce or transitioning to a new career stage. What specific challenges do these individuals face, and how can they overcome them?
Life moves and changes so quickly these days, especially with technology lapping itself every year! That is an intimidating notion for anyone coming back into the workforce or moving to a new space. I encourage you to go back and remember who you were when you stepped out, you were a lot!
Get reacquainted with that person, document her/his skills, accomplishments, happy dance work moments. Reexamine and reconnect with your network. This will reignite the confidence you will need to do that scary thing of stepping back in! Confidence is an underrated attribute. It can keep you going on days you want to quit; it can help you stand up and speak with authority (assuming that is appropriate and you have topic authority). You must cultivate your confidence and your self knowledge to help you step back into the workforce or transition into a new stage.
As the COO for Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC and a board member for several companies, how do you balance these roles with your writing and speaking engagements?
Actually the work allows me to stay even more connected with my topic and allows for a more authentic voice. But I do work for balance in life and I talk about that in the book. Sunday’s need to be preserved (or if not Sunday, then some other day), so what do I do on Friday to make sure I am buckled up and ready to go on Monday, therefore obviating the need to worry on Sunday!
I am also energized by giving back, inside whatever community I find myself in: work, church, city, friendships. I spend time with people and doing things that are accretive to my energy vs. depletive. I stay grateful for life. It will be gone before you know it.
What’s next for you after the release of Ordinary to Extra-Ordinary?
I love speaking about the book and helping others, whether they are leaders or being led. My hope is to have impactful speaking engagements that balance my life as a COO, Board Member, Church Member and WIFE!
Where can readers find your book, and how can they connect with you?
Instagram: @pattie_dale_tye
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