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CARLTON MORTON
mixes life as personal assistant with entrepreneurial ambitions
Words by: Sydne R. Hayman
Carlton Morton, the trusted personal assistant to model and Bravo’s Real Housewives of Atlanta star Cynthia Bailey, is more than what you see on the screen. The fashion lover and Opelousas, Louisiana-born model made the move to Atlanta after he outgrew the city of New Orleans. From there he jumpstarted his career and entrepreneurial goals. Carlton was introduced to Cynthia through a mutual friend at a premiere for Sex and the City 2 in 2009 and was instantly intrigued. “When I first met her, I was just like, ‘She’s so stunning,’” he says. “It was like a ‘love at first sight’ kind of thing.” Carlton told Cynthia that he was interested in working for her in some capacity and soon landed the job as personal assistant. His daily duties tie closely into Cynthia’s brand of working with developing models at the Bailey Agency School of Fashion. “A typical day can be anything from social media management to running errands, to helping to plan events, to working at the Bailey Agency School of Fashion,” Carlton says. “She’s usually traveling with her husband so I’m usually working at the agency.” The opportunities that the job presents are some of the most rewarding aspects as personal assistant. But time management and learning to balance life between business and personal life took a while for Carlton. “It takes about a good year,” he says. “If you’re going to be a personal assistant, you have to go through a whole year with that person. Different seasons bring different things.” Being associated with such a high profile show in the Real Housewives franchise can bring its fair share of haters and negativity. Other’s opinions of Carlton don’t concern him as much as their opinion of Cynthia. “I definitely clap back,” Carlton says. “My social media personality is that: A personality. It is separate from Carlton ‘the business Carlton.’” One misconception of personal assistants is that they have no life of their own, but Carlton assures that isn’t the case. “It’s just that we are constantly on call,” he says. “If Cynthia calls me right now, I have to figure out how to make sure she’s taken care of.” The amount of flexibility he has with his job still allows him to do what he enjoys in his free time, including spending time with friends or getting out of the city of Atlanta. Carlton’s current project is creating his own charity, LoveF² (Love, Food and Fashion), which will provide food and clothing to homeless and underprivileged families in the Atlanta area and eventually in his hometown. Publishing a book and launching a fashion line are other undertakings of Carlton’s. In 10 years, he sees himself as a successful businessman who is mobile in the entertainment industry and active in humanitarian and charity work. “I hopefully see myself kicked back on a yacht checking my bank account statement by the hour,” he jokes. For anyone interested in following a path similar to Carlton’s, “you have to keep God first,” he advises. “You have to know exactly what you want to do and stick to it. Know your brand.” Carlton trains potential personal assistants through webinars, where the registrants are then added to a list of people who are searching for personal assistants. Anyone interested can register for the next webinar at TheCoutureFirm.com.
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NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2013 delux-mag.com