Inspirational Woman: DeBora M.Ricks | Coach, Speaker, Author, Editor & Host of She Struts Radio

Please tell us a bit about yourself, background and what you do currently.

DeBora M.RicksWhen I was young I was a shy little girl with a dream, a secret dream. I dreamed of one day becoming a lawyer, or a psychologist. From whence this came, I don’t know. Six years after graduating college, after one failed attempt to get into law school during my brief marriage, I was admitted to the University of Baltimore School of Law. I worked as an advocate for at-risk youth during the day and attended a law school at night. My heart was full because I love learning, dynamic discourse, challenging ideas, growing and I love people. After law school and a year serving as a law clerk to a circuit court judge, I went to work for an insurance company. For three and a half years I litigated worker’s compensation cases, only to discover that though I loved law school the practice of law was like sandpaper to my spirit. I soon embarked upon a journey to find my bliss.

What inspired you to start a business?

For years I thought about writing a book. As a child I’d had a troubled relationship with my charismatic minister father; that relationship left me feeling damaged, unloved, and unlovable. Consequently, I careened into adulthood searching for love, as they say, “in all the wrong places.” During my brief marriage I discovered something heart breaking about myself: I didn’t know how to love, or BE loved. I was addicted to “love” and relationships. So from this I walked away from the courtroom to write my first book, Love Addicted: One Woman’s Spiritual Journey Through Emotional Dependency.

I fell deeply in love with my freedom, and words. In time, people started to ask me to edit their work and I discovered I had a talent and passion for editing, so I decided I’d edit books. Years later I wrote another book on relationships, Why Did He Break Up With Me?, a compilation of stories from ten women, and a few good men, about their breakups and what the lessons they learned about themselves and life from being dumped. Every where I went people asked me for advice on how to write a book. This lead to me doing workshops, talks and teleseminars on how to birth your book. I then went on to write my third book appropriately named Write That Book! How to Start or Finish the Book You’re Meant to Write, to inspire wannabe authors.

I now support aspiring authors as a writing coach, consultant and publisher. Along side that I work closely with women, coaxing them out of hiding and supporting them in finding their own voice. I’m also the founder of Sisters Gathering to Heal, an annual gathering of women of all races for the sole purpose of healing ourselves so that we may transform the world.

What is the greatest challenge and the greatest reward in being your own boss?

I love FREEDOM. Being free to set my own schedule and do what I love—coach, consult, teach, speak, blog—is the greatest reward of being my own boss. Oh, and to travel whenever I desire! My biggest challenge has been to believe I could make money doing what love. I had no problem earning money as an attorney, as an employee, but when I stepped out as entrepreneur I had to heal self-limiting beliefs about money, power, and worthiness.

What motivational tips can you give to our members about goal setting and managing both successes and failures?

Life’s too short to just exist, to wake up every day to live somebody else’s life. Get still, if you haven’t done so already, and go within with the desire to know what YOU deeply value and desire. Then endeavor to live from that place. (I stopped using the word “want” because it keeps us in a state of wanting. Desire is a sweeter, sexier word.) Expect to fail. All successful people have failed, a lot.

The road to success is littered with failure. Before I understood this, I’d fall into despair when things didn’t materialize as I’d hoped. I now know success happens in increments.

Take small steps in the direction of your desires. Love the journey. Let the success of other women inspire you, but don’t compare yourself to them. Your path is unique. Own it. Relish it. Appreciate it. Have fun. Surround yourself with people that see you, support you, and inspire you. That is, find your community, your tribe, and immerse yourself in it often.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a business owner?

Plain and simple, the biggest challenge I have faced has been to elevate my consciousness to that I am able to magnetize paying coaching clients to me. As an editor, I did that with relative ease. But when I started calling myself a coach, I didn’t inspire trust in potential clients because I had yet to believe in myself as such. Once I started believing in me, paying clients started to seek me out. We are energy. When our consciousness about who we are matches our titles the world will agree with us and our business will prosper.

Have you benefited from mentoring or coaching?

Yes, immensely. I look to other women being, doing and having what I desire to be, do and have for proof that it, whatever “it” is, can be done. All of my coaches have been women who are living examples of what’s possible for me.

What advice can you give about the benefits of networking?

All good things come through other people. Social media is wonderful, but do not underestimate the power and beauty of connecting with others face-to-face. Many of my editing and coaching clients are people I have met at a conference, seminar, retreat, a speaking gig, or book event.

What are your tips for scaling a business and how do you plan for and manage growth?

I encourage women to reach out and connect with others. Partner. Collaborate. Go into relationships with the desire to give, not just receive.

What does the future hold for you?

I can’t tell you what’s in my future, but I can tell you this—it’s bright. One day last year, in 2015, I was reading a book about reclaiming our power as women. Midway through the book the author said she worked with loads of women, powerful women—coaches, speakers, authors, leaders, experts—who feared being visible. WOW! Her words stopped me in my tracks. I reread that sentence over and over again. She was talking about me. Maybe about you. Since then I have been committed to stretching beyond my comfort zones and helping other women do the same. My Blogtalk radio show, She Struts Radio, is all about helping women come out of hiding, find their voice and use this voice to transform the world.

Find out more and connect with DeBora at her website here.

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