7 Life Lessons From James Patterson

James Patterson doesn’t give advice. “I’m too humble for it,” he said via Zoom. But he did share with Experience Counts what has worked for him over his illustrious career and what he has learned along the way. 

Despite all his success, Patterson, 76, “still sees the world through the eyes of a kid from Newburgh, New York.” He’s listed in Guinness World Records for the most number 1 books on The New York Times Best Seller list. He has collaborated on various books with President Clinton and Dolly Parton; with his wife, Sue; and many other writers. Plus, Patterson has donated millions of books to students and U.S. soldiers and millions of dollars to students, schools, libraries and independent bookstores.

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Whether you’re a fan of his famous characters, including Alex Cross, Michael Bennett or Maximum Ride; his numerous novels, narrative nonfiction and children’s books; or the movies or television series to which his pen gave life, just a few moments with Patterson would leave you inspired.

Here are 7 life lessons from Patterson.  

1. Identify your passion 

“When I was a little kid, one of my grandmother’s lines was that ‘hungry dogs run faster.’ That has stuck with me. It’s motivated me, in a good way, to stay hungry, to keep interested. ‘Passionate humans run faster’ would be another [way to say it)]. Passionate humans accomplish more, or passionate humans maybe have more fulfilling lives. I do, anyway. With any project that I’m considering taking on, if I don’t feel the passion, I just don’t do it.”

2. Prioritize your strengths 

‘My time here is short. What can I do most beautifully?’

“I heard this once, and I love it. I’ve been living with [this perspective] for most of my life. Now, it seems [particularly] relevant, but I think it’s equally relevant — and maybe even more important — for 20-year-olds. I really think that it’s just so useful in terms of figuring out the priorities you’re going to have in life. When you understand your time is short, what are you going to do? What are you doing today? You want to live your life. Is family important to you? Is being with somebody important to you? What kind of job do you want to do? Can you sacrifice some money to do something that you really love or not? When I was a kid, I wanted to play in the NBA. I was pretty good, but not that good. Sometimes you have to let go of the dream for something that’s more realistic, and that’s OK.” 

3. Pick the perfect partner 

“To me, one of the hugest things is to marry your best friend. I did. Sue and I have been best friends for 40 years or so. We’ve been married for 26. The first time we went out for a long dinner, she said that she and I talked more that night than she did during her entire first marriage. One of the things that I mentioned in the autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson is that every night Sue and I go to sleep holding hands. I have always felt very lucky I found Sue, and that helps me to be attentive and appreciative.”