La La Anthony, 39, got her start on Total Request Live in the early 2000s. She married NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony in 2010, they had a huge VH1 special for their wedding and a follow-up reality show which ran for five seasons from 2011 to 2014 called La La’s Full Court Life. They separated in early 2017 following rumors that Melo was unfaithful although they never got divorced and from what I could find they reunited or at least they appreciate each other and aren’t divorced yet. They have a son together, Kiyan, who turns 12 in March.
La La gave one of those “How I Get It Done” interviews to Lisa Ryan at The Cut. That’s a great feature as I love reading about the schedules and mindsets of celebrities. La La is currently starring in Power on Starz. She talked about making the move into acting and about achieving your dreams with a plan.
On the importance of making plans:
You definitely have to find your passion in life, and then put together a plan to figure out a way to fulfill that. When I was young, I knew at that time that I wanted to be on the radio. So I started interning at a radio station, because I knew that was my way to get a foot in the door and get that experience. I put my plan together and then worked my plan throughout the years. Then, I set new goals and figured out ways to achieve those goals. It’s hard work. It’s perseverance. But most importantly, it’s having a plan.On pursuing multiple careers:
It’s great to show people that you can do more than one thing, but the challenge is that people often only see you as one thing. So if you’re a radio personality, they only want to see you as that; if you’re a TV personality, they only want to see you as that. I’m all about breaking barriers down and showing people that you can not only be more than one thing — and you can be good at more than one thing. It’s possible. No one should put you in a box.On going into acting:
The hardest part was making everybody believe that I could do it. I always believed in myself, I’ve always taken acting classes, and I’ve always worked really hard at it. But for so long it was, “Yeah, we know her from MTV” or “We know her from the radio, can she really act?” So it was all about proving to people that I could do that — and I’m still having to prove it. It’s not easy for me. I have to audition and work really hard because some people just still see me as “La La.” It’s really hard to make people see me as more than just that, and as an actress.
Growing up my dad always emphasized the value of a plan and especially a basic list to get things done. I have a framed saying in my office “A dream is just a dream, a goal is a dream with a plan.” My approach is similar to La La’s, I think of what I want to achieve and try to work toward it every day. However I’m trying not to plan quite so much lately. My default response, especially when something is new and seems hard, is to come up with a strategy and stick to it. This has backfired when I haven’t adjusted for changes or when I plan something before all the details are clear. I still plan and make lists, but I strive to be flexible, to not be so hard on myself and to adjust as needed.
La La also talked about being friends with other successful women, and how they help each other. She said she clearly asks people how they achieved success and if they have advice for her. “It’s great to have that network of support from people who love you, are rooting you on, and can give you the best advice. That’s priceless, and it’s a really great thing.” This was a great interview!
Look at this incredible outfit! I love it.
photos credit: WENN and Instagram
This rings true to me. I’m one of those people who have let circumstances change my plans again and again, until one day I woke up and wondered how this had become my life. I’m taking a workshop tomorrow night on “Achieving Your Dreams”; I imagine it’s similar advice to LaLa’s, but I needed a bit of help getting started!
Good luck and God bless, Nikki! It’s really true that every day is a new opportunity.
No on that outfit but yasss On having a plan! I’m a planner and like to have lists and to dos but will admit pinpointing my goal is the issue…what I want to do the rest of my life has been on my mind the last couple of months/years! Also to be fair LaLa utilized the relationship with a famous bb player into better career opportunities and milked that for all it was worth. A grain of salt for all the advice celebs like her give.
Yeah, marrying a highly paid baller will definitely get you farther and open certain doors.
LaLa looks like putty now (sort of like the KarJenners). It also helps your plan to marry into money.
This was a great interview! It perfectly encapsulates where I’m at in life right now. I’ve identified my passion and I’m starting to put together a plan to achieve it. I’m a little fearful. But I’m trying not to let fear hold me back.
Good for you, Nina! I don’t know you, yet I feel proud of you. Good luck to you, my dear!
Just came to say that I LOOOVE Power.
I love LaLa. She’s a few years older than me and remember her MTV stint well. I never really knew her husband. It was clear that she had hustle and the look. I believe her look opened more doors than the hubby. When her career was stalling the reality show helped, which was in small part to him but I still think her success falls on her. I’m a planner. I bought 3 life planners last year because I was in search of planner peace.