“I Persist,” the biography of Patricia Smith, provides a first-hand perspective of her journey from abandonment in Spanish Town, Jamaica, to an outcast and homeless young woman in New York. Through years of hard work and perseverance, Patricia became the CEO of a multimillion dollar home healthcare company, Sweet P Home Care.
FWM: You are the ultimate success story. Tell us about your journey from being homeless to CEO of a Multimillion-Dollar Home Healthcare Company.
The journey from homelessness to CEO was a long and arduous one marred and impaired by chronic depression that permeated every fiber of my being. I was born and raised in Jamaica West Indies. I came to the US when I was 19-years-old. Shortly thereafter, within about 3 months, my so-called father and I had a minor disagreement and he threw me out on the street. Not having any family, friends, or associates to rescue me, I immediately became homeless. I roamed the streets of Hempstead Long Island during the days and slept on the Long Island Rail Road at night. During that period, I didn’t realize that my disheveled appearance and heavy Jamaican accent depicted my situation. Certainly, there was nowhere to shower or change my clothes so I possibly even had an odor. Thankfully, I found a factory job here and there was sometimes able to rent a room. Still, I was homeless on and off because my domicile was as short-lived as my jobs. This is because the demands of depression would always concur and force me to quit or I would get fired from the job. Since childhood, going to school was my weapon of choice against depression. Academic accomplishments soaked up some of my feeling of worthlessness, sadness, and low self-worth. So, I started my nursing career only to become a nurse aide. But my desire to pursue excellence in whatever I do leads me to attain a post-graduate degree in nursing. Armed with this degree, I felt that if I didn’t find work that allowed me the freedom to work at my own pace, history of intermitted homelessness would persist. A number of business options played ping pong in my mind. Some I actually tried and it didn’t work out. Finally, in the year 1999 while trapped by depression in the basement of my house for months I conceptualized the idea of starting my own nursing business. Through perseverance in spite of multiple obstacles, the multimillion-Dollar Home Health Company was born and my journey to wellness manifested in wealth.
FWM: Where does your strength come from?
The abandonment, abuse, and homelessness that I experienced in my life made me thick-skinned and callused to the idea that anyone other than myself was responsible for my success. I relied heavily on psychotherapeutic counseling and upgrading my education to help boost my sagging self-esteem.
FWM: Through perseverance and sheer determination, you have managed to escape horrific events. What is your advice for women who have led similar paths and how they cannot be defined by their circumstances?
In my view, a grim past should not blemish or determine your bright future. Step out of your story and into your glory, the glorious future that awaits you if you only persist.
FWM: When you were homeless, what did you want people to understand about you?
I wanted people to understand that emotional pain from depression weighed heavily on me and hampered my movement from poverty to prosperity. It also hid my infinite possibilities and potential.
FWM: You are the successful owner of Sweet P Home Care, currently on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic in the New York metropolitan area. How are you helping others during this crisis?
Honestly speaking, on March 6, 2020, at a company’s board meeting, I mandated that all staff wear a mask or face covering. In my view, not knowing enough about COVID-19 was enough information to prompt my drastic decision to lock down the COVID virus with a face covering. After the board meeting, I met with the office staff and told them about the decision. They looked at me like I had 10 heads. Energetically, I also felt the passive resistance to wear a face covering. At that time, New York’s Governor did not implement a state of emergency or recommend face-covering yet, so you can imagine how my decision was viewed. Still, based on my knowledge and expertise in the area of disaster preparedness and infection control, I mandated the face covering. Hence, I am convinced that I was one of the first at least before the Governor to ask people to wear a face covering. Further, during the height of the pandemic, April and May 2020, I allowed my office staff to work 2-3 days per week while still providing them with full pay and benefits.
FWM: “If it is to be, it is up to me, I persist.” What does this mean to you?
I had no relatives, friends, associates, or a support system. I felt like I was in the world alone. If I was going to make it in life, it was entirely up to me to do whatever it took to pull myself out of poverty. Doing the things that need to get done, regardless of whether I enjoy doing them or not was necessary to move me in the direction of my dream and reach my destination. If I was going to get rid of my old identity, I had to drop the deprived and depraved story and boldly step towards my glory. Staying the same was not an option or I would die on the backward escalator “If it is to be, it is up to me, I persist” is a statement that I have learned to live by. Growing up, I didn’t have access to entertainment (No TV or Radio) so I didn’t encounter the concept of a ‘role model’. I believe role models are beneficial, but we should never rely on others to feel motivated. One’s own motivation to succeed is more powerful than what anyone else says. Accordingly, the most important voice is our own. The threat and fear of failure weighed heavily on me and yielded the most influence over my existence.
The abandonment, homelessness, and abuse that I experienced made me thick-skinned and callused to the idea that anyone other than myself was responsible for my success. Now that I have founded my own company, the instinct to survive is still very strong. I have applied the strength and perseverance of a deprave and deprived childhood to my business dealings and have never allowed anyone to bully me into giving up on success.
FWM: You are working on your autobiography, I, Persist the Book to be released in the Spring of 2021. Share key points that will open up the hearts and minds of your readers.
Arm yourself with knowledge and read about the things that hamper or hail you in life. I increase my knowledge about depression to help me manage and control it. With the rise of the mental health crisis in our world today, there is a dire need for inspiration and hope. My story could be used in the service of others. The message of overcoming low self-esteem, fear, anxiety, depression, hopelessness, helplessness, and parents leaving their children in search of a better life that ultimately left their children without a life. The will to persist exists in each of us. As Helen Keller once said, “character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved”. Fortunately, I am the mongoose that conquered the snake.
FWM: Share a pivotal moment in your book. How has it changed your outlook on life?
Kindness can change a life. A pivotal moment occurred when I became ill in my early teens. It was during this time, I felt the most alone in my life. Thoughts like, “Is this the end for me?” and “Nobody cares about me” permeated my fragile young mind. When my regular doctor sent me to a venereal disease clinic, the nurse noticed I was young and alone. She took time to care for me, showing me a tenderness which I had never really experienced and did not forget to this day. Today, I am grateful for that nurse’s attentive care. She calmed the destructive thoughts of a young girl and planted the seed for a career in caring for others especially, the most vulnerable. I have found myself equipped with special sympathy when caring for the sick, and I know in my heart, this skill has come from that nurse. Her non-judgmental tender kindness worked to change my life’s trajectory.
FWM: What is your advice for young women entrepreneurs today?
The Business World is a male-dominated space. Do not allow men to intimidate or bully you. As a woman, you have to transform the obstacle of gender stereotypes and inequality with performance and demand respect. Business success is not a romantic journey or a destination. You must persist despite any obstacles and turn all of your obstacles into opportunities, each and every one of them. You have to be intense about building a business and stay the course. Do not heed temporary derailments. Get back on track and persevere until you prevail. Problems and obstacles come to pass not to stay. Keep your eyes on the prize and your end goal in mind. Business is extremely vulnerable to failure at any level. Accordingly, one must be conscientious, frugal, avoid waste and abuse of company funds. No job should be too big or too small for you to do when starting and growing a business. I cleaned the toilet and floor of my office every evening until I could afford to pay someone to assume that task.
FWM: They say, “Hindsight is 20/20,” in reflecting upon your life, describe times in your life when you wish that you would have done things differently?
I realize that I didn’t create my situation or the circumstances that hampered my childbearing years. Still, one of my biggest regrets is giving birth to just one child. Sadly, that one child is estranged for at least 16 years. So, I feel like I have no kids.
FWM: What is next for you?
Now that my company is on curse control and my role is mainly that of consultation and maintenance, I can now pursue my long-term goal, a Doctorate in nursing science. I also relish the extra time I now have on hand to nurture and take better care of myself.
Website: www.IPersistOn.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ipersiston/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PatriciaSmithOfficial/
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