At some point, we have all wondered what it would be like to work with someone famous. What are they like in real life? How would we even get the opportunity to get that close? Do I have what it takes to work side by side with a celebrity? Well, I have the perfect person who can help answer all of these questions and more! Meet Adrienne Williams! She is beautiful, successful and more importantly, she is driven! She went from being the Director of Operations at a staffing agency, where the owner had recently had a baby and needed Adrienne to run personal errands for her, to being the personal assistant of NFL star, Terrell Owens. I’d say that’s a pretty decent upgrade! Her work experience allowed her to realize a couple of things: she likes the freedom of working from home (not in an office) and she is good at what she does. A lot of people dream big and want to be in front of the camera, but there are some career paths that most don’t even think about; let’s see what life is like working for T.O.!
Were you nervous when you first knew you’d be working for T.O.?
Honestly, I wasn’t really nervous because I knew how badly I wanted the job and knew that once I got an interview, I could get the job. I had a custom t-shirt from his website made with a message on it and sent it directly to him at the Bills’ practice facility. I wanted this job and I was going to do whatever it took to stand out. I got a call the very next day!
What advice would you offer someone who is looking to be a celebrity assistant?
Know that it’s not all glitz and glamour. Being a celebrity assistant is a lot of hard work, long hours and very little down time. While there are obvious perks to the job (sporting events, parties, gifting suite swag, etc.), it is a 24/7 commitment. I’m always on-call.
How hard is your job? Do you have a personal life anymore?
It’s a balancing act. Terrell consumes a large part of my life right now but this is what I signed up for. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I work hard but I play hard too. When he leaves, it gives me a little more freedom to catch up with friends for lunch or dinner but I always make sure that I’m handling my business. You will often times find me with my BlackBerry in one hand and iPhone in the other. But hey whatever it takes!
What is your ultimate career goal?
I would love to continue working in the sports industry. I’m a huge football and basketball fan so this has been perfect for me. I would eventually like to run my own personal assistant/concierge agency geared specifically to athletes. It takes a great deal of trust to give someone complete and total access to your life’s details and I think athletes could benefit from a “one-stop shop” for their life management needs.
How is it working for T.O. (he seems like a really nice guy btw)?
It was definitely intimidating in the beginning. Terrell is a pretty quiet person believe it or not so it took some time for him to warm up to me. Right around the time I was coming up to the one-year mark, we were headed to Cincinnati and I think that was the turning point in our working relationship. He jokes around with me all the time and we talk about everything under the sun. At the end of the day though, he’s still the boss and I have to respect that. You can never get too comfortable!
For the ladies out there looking to work with male celebrities, how important is it to be professional at all times and not be “that girl” who is attracted to their boss (assuming he’s attractive)?
I cannot stress enough how important it is to keep it professional and strictly platonic. It sounds cliche but you really shouldn’t mix business with pleasure. While it’s nice to have some eye candy to look at on a daily basis, you have to look at the big picture and know what your purpose is in this person’s life. Stay in your lane. You’ll earn so much more respect that way.
What do you think makes you so successful at your job?
I am a people pleaser by nature so this job was a really good fit for me. I put Terrell’s needs ahead of my own a lot of the time but that’s what he pays me to do…to be his right-hand. I also recognize that there is no set list of responsibilities. I have done everything from relocation from one city to another to taking out the trash to filming his workouts and everything in between. People ask me all the time “What exactly do you do for him?” The question is what DON’T I do? I have done it all! You just have to put a smile on your face and get things done.
Did you have to relocate for the position? If not, is that something that potential candidates would have to consider when entering into this career field?
I did have to relocate to Buffalo when I was first hired. Part of the deal with becoming one of two finalists for this job was that you had to pack as if you weren’t going back home because the person who got the job had to start training immediately. I mean trust me, I never imagined myself living in Buffalo but if it meant getting the opportunity to work for one of the greatest NFL players our generation has known, then so be it. I definitely think your chances of landing a personal assistant position increase when you open yourself up to relocation.
What’s the funniest/most embarrassing thing that has happened to you on the job?
Oh my gosh! Right after Terrell and I arrived in Cincinnati for the season, we went to see Andy Roddick play in a tournament. I was super excited because this was the very first time Terrell and I had been to an event together. This being my first tennis match, I’m just looking around, taking in the whole scene. All of a sudden, they start the Kiss Cam. I sat there thinking “Omg, they’re going to show us…please don’t show us…” Sure enough, about 3 couples in, guess who’s on the Jumbotron…Terrell and I! I played it off and just shook my head like nope, not going to happen. He was such a good sport…just shrugged and laughed it off. The funniest part of the whole thing was that the match was televised and people started tweeting Terrell asking him why “that girl” next to him wouldn’t kiss him. Talk about embarrassing!
The perks of being a blogger is that you can interact with so many people from all over and in many industries! Adrienne, by far, has been one of the sweetest people I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing and seems very down to earth. The Dreamworld wishes you MUCH success…T.O. has hit the jackpot with you! I hope this encourages my readers to think outside of the box and remember that no task is ever too small…a humble beginning can lead to a very rewarding future.
