Meet Phillip Hodge III

We recently connected with Phillip Hodge III and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Phillip, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
I’d say my optimism derives from my faith in Jesus Christ. From an early age, my parents instilled into my siblings the Christian Religion. I grew up in the church & was constantly taught to lean not onto my own understanding but unto God’s. Life gets hard at times. I’ve experienced the heartaches that come with pursuing your passion. The constant rejection can be disruptive to the creative flow because you can start to feel as if you’re not good enough. When I trust that Jesus has me, I know there’s nothing that I can’t accomplish in this Life. You have to keep watering the seeds even when you feel low & down.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Modeling was my first entry way into the industry. My passion for modeling came at a time in which I was gaining confidence in myself to be in front of the camera in high school. I created 90’s Aesthetic Shoots with Retro Designed clothes. I then decided to be an Actor in 2020. Throughout my pursuit to be an Actor, it’s always to be the best at what I do. How I can Entertain people & create Laughter amongst others while the world itself is very chaotic? As I’ve dipped more into my Acting ventures, I wanted to eye more complex roles to diverse myself as an actor. I’m also a Co-host on a Podcast named, Empower Talk Media. Hykeem Rashad, the CEO, asked me to be apart of the platform. What grabbed my attention about the platform was the topic of Mental Health. I’m at a place in my life now I want to use my platform to be a voice for mental health. It’s about how we can improve lives and be of service to individuals. I’d say my time on the platform has been amazing & the best decision I’ve could’ve made. I’m 23 years old. My mind is on the future & how I can line myself up for success.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My three biggest qualities is my Personality, Work Ethic, & having a strategic mind. My Personality is, in my opinion, the biggest out of the three. I believe to be influential & Likable, you have to have a personality that meshes well with people so they would want to work with you. In the Theatre, there’s such thing as “Chemistry Reads”. It allows the two actors to feel each other out and see who meshes well with each other. You can’t buy or fake Chemistry. Creating laughter and entertaining people has always been my niche. I believe my best advantage was being able to go to a mostly African American public school then transferring to a mostly Caucasian Private school. It helped me to be able to know how to navigate & socialize with both crowds.

Worth Ethic is the key to everlasting success. I’m a firm believer on how you do one thing, you do everything. It’s about the grind fighting for what you want to accomplish in life. That means after a longs day work & you’re exhausted, lay another brick as Will Smith would say. Tired of the rejection? Lay another brick. The continuous pursuit for your goals will help you plant the seeds for the family tree.

Being a strategist is also what has helped me in my career pursuit. I’m always looking for the next thing. When one door is closing, I look to the next. I started as a model & I thought to myself what can I do next to broaden my spectrum? Feature & short films. Ok, what’s next after that? Get an Agent & look at TV Roles. Ok I’ve been on TV & Modeled ATFW what else I can possibly do? Co-Hosting on a Podcast essentially in today’s society is beneficial to your brand. It’s about building the blocks that can help sustain longevity. I’m thinking of tomorrow which is why I’d say I’m a “Man of Tomorrow”.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
Three Books I’ve read that have been insurmountable to my success & pivotal to my growth are; “Will”, “The Odyssey”, “& “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck”. All three books have an underlining theme of The Heroes Journey and how to overcome obstacles to get to the next chapter of your life.

Will Smith is one of my favorite Actors. The reason why I was so keen on studying him as an Actor is because I had no prior experience acting like he did. I remember watching Fresh Prince growing up & wanting to be like his character “Will”. While I was doing the thorough research on him, I learned things about him that I can relate too. He also dealt with the need to be liked by others & being consumed by success. He even enlisted the help of the author of “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck”, Mark Manson, to help him write his Memoir.

“The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck” is basically as it sounds. In my life, I’ve always cared of what others have thought of me. I’ve played the victim & asked “Why is this happening to me”? This Book gives me the space of understanding Life happens & that not everyone is against you. The more you focus on what others think of you, it will draw to insanity.

I remember reading “The Odyssey” when I was in college and loving the book. Through & through, I like reading on Greek Mythology. The Journey of odysseus in “The Odyssey” shows how the Hero can overcome the obstacles to be able to make it home in which home can be a metaphor for the top.

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