I first became a showrunner at 36 years old. I had no experience doing this job, which is as complicated and multi-faceted as anything I'd ever tried. Courtney A. Kemp More Quotes by Courtney A. Kemp More Quotes From Courtney A. Kemp Great partnerships thrive because the people need each other. Courtney A. Kemp partnerships need great people Great power is setting a goal, working hard for it, and achieving it in exactly the way you expected with no consequences and no remainders after the long division is done. But does that happen to anyone? The unexpected always hitches a ride along with everything you planned. Courtney A. Kemp ride great you power If you wanna be your own boss, you gotta work your way up - have the skills. Courtney A. Kemp you boss work way Writers are, for the most part, crazy people. We're like Hephaestus of the forge. We're gnarled. We're curled over. We walk with a limp. Courtney A. Kemp walk like crazy people As a writer of fiction, you don't ever want to limit the characters you create to the life you've lived. That's insanity to me. Courtney A. Kemp me you want life When I watch television, I want to be surprised. Courtney A. Kemp surprised watch want television 'Power' is not a black show. It's not a white show. It's a New York show. Courtney A. Kemp new black power white I always like to write myself into a corner. I think the best stuff comes from only having a few ways out. Courtney A. Kemp best myself think always 'Power' would never have gotten on the air if the folks at Starz weren't saying to themselves, 'This is an underserved audience.' It was a financial decision, not a benevolent decision based on a need to change the industry. Courtney A. Kemp never decision change power People are realizing that there is a financial consequence to not opening doors. It doesn't mean that they are any more inclusive in their hearts - it means they're more inclusive in their wallets. Courtney A. Kemp more opening doors people My dad was born with no money. Courtney A. Kemp born dad money My dad and his sister, who is no longer with us, used to dance on the streets for money. They had nothing. Courtney A. Kemp sister dad money dance My dad was very, very invested in image. He felt that as a black person, the thing you could control was how did you look, how did you dress, how did you sound, how did you smell, how did you act. All of that stuff that you could control would absolutely have a strong impact on your access. Courtney A. Kemp dress look you black I knew I wanted to write professionally and get paid. Courtney A. Kemp knew write get paid 50 and I are extremely close, so all that social media drama? It's just for the show. Courtney A. Kemp just social-media media drama 50 Cent is a brilliant marketer. Courtney A. Kemp 50-cent cent brilliant What I'm about to say won't be popular, but it's true: If being a television showrunner is the job you want, and you are a woman, I would not suggest you have children. The reality is that you just cannot do both well. Courtney A. Kemp woman job you children There's this idea that you can have it all, but in my opinion, you can't - not if you're a perfectionist. Courtney A. Kemp idea you perfectionist opinion When you pretend to be an authority on everything, it forces your subordinates to defer to your opinion - which may not be the most informed in the room. If you have humility concerning the gaps in your experience or ability, it allows others to shine. Courtney A. Kemp shine you experience humility Knowing what I don't know helps me every day. Courtney A. Kemp every-day day know me
