Meet Dr. Normanie McKenzie Ricks

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Normanie McKenzie Ricks a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Normanie , thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Imposter Syndrome is debilitating! I feel an extreme obligation to speak about this. What it amounts to is FEAR…. Fear that “I’m not good enough” “I’m not smart enough” “I’m not pretty enough” and “I don’t speak articulate enough.” The damaging thoughts go on and on for most individuals who have reached a point in their lives, careers, or journeys where they may be “exposed” on a grand stage.
My advice is to OWN IT!
The best way to own it is to prepare for certain moments. Practice and study, but don’t set unrealistically high standards for yourself. How do you know if your standards are unrealistic? Talk to mentors, counselors, and peers about these fears and feelings. Get outside of your head. Perfection is unrealistic. Also, do not constantly compare yourself to others. Comparison is the thief of JOY! Your talents and abilities are different than everyone else’s because your journey is different than everyone else’s. Everyone has a unique set of experiences, knowledge, skills, and abilities. What you bring to the table is worthy, OWN that belief. I’ve always been told that I was brave because I was a woman who joined the Navy; I was told I was bold because I’ve been a boss to individuals twice my age; I’ve been told I’m a warrior because I ventured out and started my own business. But, it all started with being a little girl and doing things as small as signing up for the school spelling bee or volunteering to run the first leg on a relay. Small bouts of confidence amount to big leaps!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a former officer of the United States Navy, a motivational speaker, volunteer, and patient advocate. I have spent my career serving the healthcare sector as a Rehabilitation Clinic Manager and Occupational Therapy Clinician. Currently, I am the owner and operator of Achieve Vision Center where I provide rehabilitation to individuals who are affected by neurological deficits that affect their vision and limits their ability to perform well in school, work, and life in general. I am most known for my work with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia and vision disorders. I volunteer in my local community by providing free vision screenings for the school systems in Georgia.

I am an advocate for children with disabilities, both in the United States and abroad. Traveling globally, I have serviced youth communities in Japan, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Zambia. As a global mentor, I volunteer my time and knowledge, teaching Occupational Therapy to students attending various universities.

I have hosted the podcasts, “Health Facts with Normanie Ricks” and “A Healthy Atlanta.” My honors and awards include Coca-Cola Dean’s Scholar, Top 30 Female Entrepreneurs, Innovative Business Award, Who’s Who in America, Goldman and Sachs Black in Business Scholar, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal recipient.

My most passionate project is my 501c3, Vision Therapy Education International.
The mission of the non-profit organization is to serve the world’s 2.2 billion visually impaired individuals who do not have access to proper healthcare, education, and resources to achieve optimal functional vision. Vision Therapy Education International provides free vision screenings locally, distributes donated eyeglasses internationally, and provides education on how to achieve functional vision in conditions that affect visual performance.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Confidence, Conviction, and Grit. I have had mentors who have told me to “Launch now, and perfect later.” This playing in the back of my mind has helped me to overcome overthinking. I have also had a mentor who told me to “Plan, Position, and then Possess.” This nugget has helped me to learn to rev up my confidence by planning and preparing first, and then having the audacity to pursue whatever it is that I have planned for and positioned myself for. I attribute my grit to my parents. My mom never allowed me to give up on myself, no matter how much I wanted to. My dad always believed that I could do the hard things. Because he believed in me, I believed in myself. The conviction, I attribute to the Awesome God that I serve. If God tells me I can do it, I do it. Simple.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am looking for other Occupational Therapists to collaborate with who are interested in the wonderful field of vision therapy. Please reach out to me at www.achievevisioncenter.com

Any health professionals who would like to be featured on my podcast https://youtube.com/@healthfactswithnormaniericks?si=qd-7jY9Xzx9J8Wp8

Contact Info:

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