In this Conversating with Yhorlife we got to conversate with Phill Westbrooks. He’s an Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and recent contestant on Love Hotel. I’m SUPER excited for this Conversating because Phill is not only my buddy he gives wonderful and insightful tips. I hope you enjoy this Conversating as much as I do - Enjoy!

Okay before we start, I don’t know if you are allowed to give me spoilers, but … when I was doing my research, I saw that you and Gisele seemed to be together; that made sense to me. But are you able to say if you guys are together? Or do you have to stay hush hush on that?

The last report that I saw Giselle was saying that she was talking with you, and when she is in L.A., she has plans to hang out with you in L.A.

We are not together. We are friends, we communicate periodically, but we are not together. Okay, so Love Hotel did not capture your heart. Was it a good experience though? Yes, it was a great experience. I thoroughly enjoyed it. They treated us very well, very polite and professional. The place that we stayed at was phenomenal.

Is it kind similar to ‘Love Island’, but just a mature version of ‘Love Island’? Yes, I would say that. A mature version of a ‘Love Island’. It was in a beautiful resort in Cabo, right on the water. Food and beverages were amazing, the Staff was amazing, and an overall great experience.

Okay now we are going to start the interview from the beginning…

How would you introduce yourself to people that are unaware of you …

Well, my name is Phil Westbrook I am from Chandler, Arizona. A small town in the Phoenix area. I had a wonderful upbringing with my grandparents, mom, and my family.

It was a very spiritual upbringing. Financially challenged I would say - my grandparents were on financial assistance, social security, and food stamps. It was a very small house -two-bedrooms.

A two-bedroom house, and they raised nine children in that house. I do not know how they did it. So, that is a little bit about my upbringing. I do speak Spanish. I enjoy my Latino and Afro-American background.

I had a very cool upbringing … I made a lot of good friends, played high-school sports, went to college, and got my degrees.

You are multi hyphenated. Yes, ‘Love Hotel’ is a part of a long list of what you have accomplished. You know how people put themselves in a box …meaning like I can only do this, or that. What gave you, and especially as you have stated coming from an environment where typically you would not think to dream big, or that you could have multiple possibilities. What made you not only decide to be multi- hyphenated, and by multi-hyphenated I mean Philanthropist, Producer, Entrepreneur, and now Reality Star. What gave you the confidence to do so many things and to be so many things to so many people? to know it was possible – but to also stay true to yourself…

Very good question, good question - and I go back to that old saying … it takes a village to raise a child. So, I had great parents, I should say grandparents that raised me. My mom was there, my father that passed away when I was very young, so he was not around. So, I had a village of other parents that would help. It was a small community, and we would help each other.

I was very shy to about Junior High School. I am still considered somewhat quiet; my friends tell me. Over time and playing sports gives you confidence. Being around good people, coaches and teachers – help you to build confidence. They believe in you, which makes you want to believe in yourself more. That was a lot of it.

I began to get my degrees, working in Government, Healthcare, and I ran for public office. You need a lot of confidence when you are going to run for public office.

I was a City Councilmember, and a Vice Mayor for eight years. So, that gave me a lot of confidence. Working with the City Manager, Police Chief, Fire Chief, and Judges – working with all these high-level people, high level businesses and departments help. You start to build your confidence when you start working in these areas.

I am now comfortable and confident with who I am. Like you have said being true to yourself. That has been a major theme for my life. Remembering where I came from, those are the things that are very important to me.

Why do you think that education is important? education is the tool that bridges any gap, but what do you think it means to have not only education but community. Let’s say someone watching this decides to dream bigger than their environment … do you think community helps to push a person to be better, and to keep striving for more? Or do you think striving for more helps you to create the community that best serves you?

Another great question. I think it is both. I think for me I always wanted something inside, but I wasn’t sure that I was enough to do it. I wasn’t confident enough to say I wanted to start my own company, I want to work in film, fashion and music and be successful.

I always saw people on television and film and would say that I would like to be like that. But I wasn’t confident enough to believe that I could do it. Once I started getting my education and the foundation of those things behind me, I thought – I can do this. You start to work and to build momentum.

The community helps to build you up and then you start having confidence in yourself as well to build yourself up. It kind of synchronizes itself, and it is kind of a beautiful thing.

You have touched on being an entrepreneur, and most people think it is easy and an overnight success ... That is so far from the truth.

Yes! It is … but with my generation with social media we are so instant gratification. If it is not accomplished in thirty seconds or less, we throw in the towel. So, what advice would you give to a budding entrepreneur, or one that is saying ‘oh gosh this is taking so long’…

Again… your question is very much on point. I believe it comes down to having a mindset, and how you think. Believing in yourself and having passion for what you are doing. It is something that is helping to improve yourself and/or the community.

That is how I started my business. I wanted to pick something that helps people. Then I wanted to pick something that I want to make a good living at - and that was my mindset.

After that it is about discipline, commitment and understanding that it is not going to happen overnight. And it is going to be a lot of ups and downs, and twists and turns. Then there is all these things that are going to happen that you just don’t expect. They do not teach you this in school. And you just must go through it.

You must stay disciplined and focused every day and then things start to happen. You start to meet people that are on your same wavelength, vibration, and frequencies. Things start to elevate, and you start to make breakthroughs – that is how it worked for me.

Because you mentioned fashion … what are your three staples of clothing that make you feel your most confident? For me its my dad’s blazer, my favorite Jimmy Choo’s. What are yours? (even if you are not prepared, and they give you that confidence) ….

Blazer is one. I actually use to frequent this social lounge, and I would always wear a blazer, and they nicknamed me blazer. How original! … yes, I love a nice pair of shoes – it can be a cool pair of sneakers, or nice shoes.

Now after that it can be jeans or t-shirts. Oh, and I do like a nice belt, and sometimes will tuck my shirt in to show it. Then, something that you cannot see – a nice cologne.

So, a blazer, nice shoes, and a very nice cologne. I feel like I am good.

My next question is multi-faceted like you. Now you started off in business – healthcare, governmental, and it is very conservative. It is a disciplined industry and career. Then you go into fashion and music, which is still a business, but you have more room to play with your outside garb. You can be more avant-garde.

But reality television … I know that it is a business. I just have not figured that one out yet. What is the commonality with what you have done thus far? Or was it just something nothing like what you have done so far, and you just wanted that cool experience?

I wanted a new cool experience. When I was approached my initial response was ‘no, I do not think that I would be a good fit’. Because, I am more business, and more entrepreneur.

I do enjoy music, fashion and film; and this is more artistic. I wanted to bring out my more artistic personality.

That is why I said that I was going to try it. I am happy that I tried it. I met some great guys on the show. We still stay in touch; the guys (from the show) we have a group chat. With the ladies most of us stay in touch, but I feel like we could all connect again if we want to.

So, it was a good experience, and I am glad that I did it. However, it was more to go outside of my comfort zone, which I definitely did.

You know how they say that we grow and change as people every seven years (of our life). We touched earlier on staying true to yourself, so as we grow and evolve our needs and wants change. How do you still stay true to yourself, because I believe the essence of who we are does not change. How do you manage to stay true to yourself … yet evolving and growing …

It comes from your upbringing – your community, your village, so to speak. You will have those core values, if you have been taught from the beginning that Spirituality is important, and having a good Spiritual connection is the upmost. And that will stick with you for life.

If you come from that core value of family is next, then community and neighbors are next – then that is your core value. It is hard to get away from that … well at least for me.

I constantly stick to that. Each morning, I pray and meditate. I read something from a book, or a verse that is uplifting, or inspiring. That helps me to stay grounded, with my core value. And remembering and knowing who I am.

What can people expect next from you, what exciting things do you have in the works? And what do you hope people remember you for…

My main thing in life is to inspire. To give people that inspiration, that hope, that they can do more than what they are doing.

I am a humanitarian. So, you will see more philanthropic efforts in the states, and internationally. You will continue to see me working on more films and working on more fashion brands. As well being a part of music development.

With regards to your philanthropic efforts will they see your government name attached or your business name…

Oh, they will probably see both. It is not important for me to see my name out there … it is more about me giving back and helping people and inspiration. We need to see more peace, love, and respect for each other.

***What is your favorite way to unwind…***

I like fitness – hikes and bike rides. Traveling - I have traveled a lot; I have been to over sixty countries. I enjoy spending my time with family, friends, and just relaxing.
I love to go to fashion shows, and music concerts. Phil what do you do to unwind after a long day … oh! I just go home. Take a walk around the neighborhood and being around nature. Take off my shoes and go in the backyard … and ground and connect with Mother Earth.
Take some deep breaths and be Grateful and Thankful for my health, and my family’s health..

FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WATCH IT HERE

PHILL WESTBROOKS - ENTREPRENEUR, PHILANTHROPIST + CONTESTANT ON LOVE HOTEL

DALAL ELSHEIKH - ENTREPRENEUR + DESIGNER AT RIVIAN