Today we’d like to introduce you to LaQueda Ricks.
Hi LaQueda, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Wow! My story happened by circumstance. I truly believe the things you go through in life happen in phases. And those phases set you up for the chapters in your life. The things we go through are never for us but for us to help someone else. My story is not a Cinderella story and it definitely wasn’t peaches and cream……well, my early adult life wasn’t.
I think I’ll start at the point of getting married in September of 2005 because this where my story took an interesting turn. Weddings are supposed to be the happiest day of your life and I actually thought it was for me but I was so wrong. Although I had all the red flags before getting married, I did what a lot of people do….I ignored them. I wanted those red flags to be pink or purple, but they were red in real life. I got married and thought I could change him to what I needed, but I know now that you can’t change a person, and you shouldn’t try to. People are who they are, and we have to accept them at face value.
Years went on, and the abuse got worse each time. I even went to work with bruises and cuts, and my co-workers would beg me to leave. My family watched the news every night to expect to see me on the news….DEAD! I can remember the police coming to our house frequently, and one police told me, “Ma’am, please leave while you’re still alive to tell your story.” I was like most domestic violence victims; I would leave and return. Statistics say, ” It takes an average of 7 attempts for survivors to leave their abuser and stay separated for good.” And leaving is the most dangerous time in the relationship. After years of abuse, I finally left the marriage, never looking back.
Leaving was the best thing that ever happened to me. Excellent new friends surrounded me; a supportive church family and my immediate family were great too! My boss later told me that she kept a journal with documentation showing each time I came to work with bruises, cuts, swollen faces, etc. I asked her why she kept it, and she said, “If he killed you, we needed documentation to make sure we put in him prison so he couldn’t hurt anyone else.”
Now don’t think that becoming a Divorce Recovery Coach came a year or two after recovering from divorce because it didn’t. I started coaching over ten years later, but as a Professional Development Coach since Human Resources was my background. My soul clients happened to be women in similar situations that I went through. Now don’t get me wrong, not all clients were DV survivors, but a lot were, and I’m so grateful that God chose me to help them. In those sessions, I knew for sure that what I went through was for them…those women were assigned to me. Each woman that I come in contact with through my coaching business has me for life through. People ask how you find your purpose. I always say, “it’s that thing you would still do even if you never received a dime for it!” I found my purpose by way of my pain!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Smooth…..absolutely not! My childhood was beautiful but the beginning of adulthood was like riding on a winding, rocky road. And some of that was from stuff that I created if I can be honest. But nevertheless, it was not smooth.
My greatest struggle was being in a domestic abuse marriage. Another struggle was learning to handle life on my own as a single mother. That struggle didn’t last long because I was rocking and rolling once I found my rhythm.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Dream Fearlessly Life Coaching & Consulting?
Dream Fearlessly Life Coaching & Consulting is a firm that handles both life coaching and HR consulting. On the coaching side, I help Divorcees identify who they are after divorce, gain clarity on their personal mission and vision for their lives, embrace their new beginning’s in life, and gain confidence to walk boldly and unapologetically in their newness and wholeness with amazing feminine energy.
On the consulting side, I help small businesses with professional development and HR processes. Everyone must be equipped with everything they need to succeed in the workplace. As an HR consultant (with over 20 years in state government) I can assist small businesses with HR processes and all things HR. Things that range from but are not limited to:
– Strategic Planning
– Onboarding & Staffing
– Executive Coaching
– Leadership Development
– Policy review and Writing
– Training & Development
– Career Development
The thing that sets me apart from others is having a solid HR background because some of the same concepts that companies use to build big successful businesses, you can apply those same concepts to your life. You’ll never find companies without a mission, a vision, core values, and strategic goals……every person needs the same for their lives! And I’m able to help my clients effectively have those in place. Another thing that sets me apart is that I understand just what my clients have been through because I’ve been through the worst. My life experiences built the woman that you see today! It wasn’t easy, but I’m grateful.
I’m most proud of it brand-wise because it’s authentically me! I don’t have to pretend to be something I’m not. Every day I show up, I show up as LaQueda Ricks. Often, you’ll see the beautiful pictures all glammed up, but my clients see ME! They see me without makeup, they see me without a mask, they see my imperfections, and they see my heart! I tell them initially that I don’t know how to be anyone but myself, and they love me for it! Because they may get on our online session, and I may break out dancing celebrating their wins, or they may catch me shedding a tear when they are going through.
My consulting services are specialized to fit your business need. We meet to build a package that is specifically for your business. I never want clients to purchase things they don’t need, and I also give them suggestions for some things they didn’t know they needed. I have one-on-one coaching with the coaching services, but it’s limited to a small number of clients I accept. I also have group coaching, and I’m about to roll out my mentoring group in July!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I also host amazing vision board workshops. These are not your typical vision board parties, we truly have a 6 to 8 hours detailed workshop. I travel all over to host these workshops for clients.
I’m the host of “The Divorce Party”. It’s not your average party! We have amazing panel discussions surrounding divorce; legal fees, having a good support system, finding love after, and so much more. Our inaugural event took place in Atlanta on April 9, 2022. Some of the powerful panel guests were Melody Holt from Love & Marriage Huntsville, Pastor Dwight Buckner; senior Pastor of Generation of Hope Church in Decatur, GA, Dr. Pamela Gurley, Life Coach Von and Dr. E with Empower All Day and a host of other amazing panelists. Shakera McKenzie with Sis Hear Me and Christal Jordan with Rolling Out were some of our powerhouse co-moderators. The next Divorce Party will be in Louisiana!
I’m also a best-selling author, public speaker, and event host/emcee!
I’m also the organizer of the 31 Shades of Melanin March Celebration, celebrating the amazing women in the community for International Women’s Month.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelaquedaricks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laqueda01
Image Credits
Images 1835 & 2170 Photo by McDaniel Dotson at the Boss Up Brunch Images 8952, 8955, EC594347, Photo by TWPhotography in Atlanta Image 3909 & 0116, Photo and Flier by Mark Stewart with Studio Elite Atl Image 0158 & 9615 , Photo by Derix Dugan with Depicted Images Image 1048 by Larry Cooper at The Divorce Party
