Originally written and posted on substack.com.
Sh*t What’s Your Life Purpose?
What brings you joy? It’s a really hard question to answer, but one that I have certainly spent a lot of time pondering lately as I try to figure out what’s next for me. My guest today believes that we can find fulfillment if we are able to discover our life purpose and then make a concerted effort to live it every day.
Patrice Tanaka is on a mission to make the planet more joyful. I met Patrice through our shared passion of empowering women and girls, and her story has always been one I’ve looked up to because it’s a masterclass in crafting a life that’s not just successful on paper, but also rich in joy and purpose.
Patrice’s transition from the fast-paced world of public relations to founding a consultancy dedicated to cultivating joy and purpose is a bold testament to following one’s passion. Through our conversation, we explore the essence of finding joy in the mundane and how aligning your work with your core values can transform not just your career, but your overall outlook on life.
This episode isn’t just about career changes; it’s a deeper dive into the philosophy of living a life that resonates with your innermost desires. We delve into Patrice’s journey, her embrace of ballroom dancing as a metaphor for life, and how creating a nurturing work environment can lead to profound personal and professional fulfillment.
Patrice Tanaka is a best-selling author, public speaker on business and life purpose, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of three award-winning, PR & Marketing agencies, and the consultancy, Joyful Planet, focused on building purpose-driven individuals and organizations to help them unleash greater success, fulfillment and joy in their personal lives, workplaces, and communities.
She is the co-author of the best-selling books, Beat the Curve and Performance360, where she writes about life and organizational purpose. She is also the author of Becoming Ginger Rogers…How Ballroom Dancing Made Me a Happier Woman, Better Partner and Smarter CEO, a book about her late-life passion for ballroom dancing that resulted from her discovering and actively living her purpose, “To choose joy, be mindful of that joy and share that joy with others.”
Patrice has been honored by many organizations, including PRWeek (Hall of Fame inductee), Public Relations Society of America (“Paul M. Lund Award for Public Service”), New York Women in Communications (“Matrix” Award), The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations (“Legacy Award for Mentoring”), PRSA-NY Big Apple Awards (“Excellence in Mentoring” Award), Asian Women in Business (“Entrepreneurial Leadership Award”), Working Mother magazine (“Mothering that Works” Award), Girl Scouts of Greater New York (“Women of Distinction” Award and “Gold Achievement” Gala Honoree), University of Hawaii (“Distinguished Alumni” Award), among others.
She is Past Co-Chair and now an Advisory Council member of the Diversity Action Alliance, a PR industry-wide coalition of 15 influential organizations committed to action on diversity, equity and inclusion. Patrice has also served as a trustee and volunteer for many organizations committed to serving youth, girl- and women’s leadership development, economic empowerment, gender equity, and social justice. She is a co-founder of the Asian Pacific American Women’s Leadership Institute in 1995, which is now part of the Center for Asian Pacific American Women where she works with emerging leaders. Patrice is a vocal advocate for the AANHPI community and co-organizer of the Museum of Public Relations first-ever AAPI Heritage Month celebration, which is now part of its ongoing “Diversity Series.”
Patrice has lived in New York City for most of her adult life but calls Hawaii “home” and she is committed to living her life with the “Aloha Spirit.”