We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Monica Ricks recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Monica , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Honestly- resilience comes from surviving tribulations and troubles. I had to learn to actively choose to be positive no matter what came my way because at one point in my life-it seemed like the hits never stopped. In 2018 I was pregnant with my youngest son and lost my cousin who was my best friend. A few months later, I lost a beloved uncle and one of my favorite aunts. During all of this loss- I also found myself going through a very difficult divorce. I found myself at my lowest point and realized I had a choice to make. I had to choose what I wanted the future to look like for my kids and myself. If I wanted a more positive future- I had to choose to keep focus on that goal no matter what curveball life threw at me. I know that I can survive tough times and I’ve seen how quickly life can change. My hard times have taught me how to keep going and how to bounce back from anything.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
By day I am a pharmacist with our state’s Public Health Preparedness and Response team. I travel the state helping local health departments develop strong programs to respond to natural disasters and other threats to public safety. It is a very rewarding career and I am blessed to be one of only 4 pharmacists in the entire state to have this position.
By night I am a skincare mogul in the making. I love anything that makes me feel beautiful and feminine. I also have a love for chemistry. Combining the two, I was able to start creating natural products that smell amazing, are gentle on skin, and made with natural products. My products range from body butters to body wash and everything in between. I quickly expanded my focus from just women to also making wonderful products for men and children. My customers are excited that with me they can shop for the entire family. Most recently I have launched my new natural bar soaps. My soaps are made with ingredients your skin will love and pair nicely with my body butters and are wildly popular.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Early in your journey you have to gain a clear focus of what you want the future to look like and never lose sight of this goal. Every decision made should be one that will further your vision and not hinder it. Never be afraid to make a mistake as it is always a learning opportunity. Never be too proud to admit your shortcomings as it prevents growth. Also never be afraid to pursue an idea because you never know which one will be THE idea.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents ensured that in everything I did- I always put forth my best effort. These lessons also instilled discipline within me that I am sure contributes to my work ethic. I do think these qualities translate over into my products. I always do a quality inspection and test to ensure my product has the look and consistency I always provide. Any product that doesn’t meet these standards is scrapped- even if it means I start over from scratch. I refuse to put anything into a customer’s hand that I can’t say I put my best efforts into developing.
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