Meet Jade Dickens

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jade Dickens. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jade , 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?

Resilience has the power to shape a person, for better or for worse. Some people might be born with it, while others learn it through experience. Personally, I believe it’s a mix of both. It was only recently that I discovered my mother had mental health struggles that led to our estrangement from her family. Even as a child, I sensed that something wasn’t right. The way she acted, the things she’d say, and how we lived didn’t feel like how things were supposed to be. I can’t quite explain how I knew, but I always felt like I was the adult in our relationship, never really the child.

We moved at least once a year, often more. By age seven, I was coming home to an empty house, and by nine, I was spending weekends alone. We lived in rural areas, usually on someone else’s horse ranch, where my mother worked as a ranch hand or manager. All that time alone taught me resilience. We didn’t have cable TV, but we did have animals and acres of land—though none of it was ours. Over the years, we moved at least 21 times, and I attended 13 different schools. I was an only child until I turned 13.

Looking back now, I can see how much of our hardship was a result of my mother’s actions. Even now, she refuses to acknowledge any wrongdoing, won’t apologize, and insists that she did everything right. She continues to struggle with her mental health, which she claims to manage—though in reality, it’s more like self-medicating through alcohol abuse.

Responsibility came early for me. I taught myself how to cook using the microwave, since I wasn’t allowed to use the stove, and figured out how to do laundry on my own. I can’t even remember when I started getting myself up for school. No matter where we lived, I usually had to walk a long distance to catch the bus. I learned time management early on.

After school, it was my responsibility to feed the animals, care for any bottle-fed calves or goats, and make sure everything was done right. If I made a mistake, punishment usually came swiftly—often with a belt or whatever was within reach. She’d say things like, “I’m going to beat your father’s temper out of you,” even though I didn’t meet my father until I was 14. This kind of treatment can break a person. But somehow, no matter what, I always managed to bounce back.

It was always important to me to succeed, to become somebody. I remember being nine years old and thinking, Only nine more years until I’m 18 and can move out. Even then, I knew I could make it. I wasn’t an extraordinary student, but I wasn’t a bad one either. Sometimes, I look back and wonder (and even grieve) how much more successful I could have been if I’d stayed in one school. But then I remind myself that it doesn’t matter—I’ve proven to myself that I can achieve anything I set my mind to.

As a teenager, I went through a rebellious phase—not in any extreme way, no drugs or major trouble—but I did become pregnant at 15. Once I worked through the initial embarrassment and accepted that it was no longer just about me, I knew I had to make serious life decisions. I was determined to break away from my mother because I didn’t want her influencing my child. Graduating early wasn’t an option back in the early ’90s, but I managed to earn a vocational license in cosmetology and take college classes while still in high school. When I graduated with my class in 1992, I had a two-year-old daughter, a cosmetology license, and nearly an associate’s degree, which I completed by December that year. By May 1993, I started at the University of Texas at Tyler and began working as a correctional officer for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in November 1993.

Even as an adult, I didn’t choose an easy life. I found my voice working as a correctional officer. It was another situation where I had to bear down and just do the work. It wasn’t easy—I worked in a male maximum-security prison. As a female CO and only 19 years old, I wasn’t cut any slack. In fact, I was pushed harder because I was young and female. I had to prove that I belonged. In my mind, I didn’t have the option to quit; I wasn’t a quitter to begin with. That’s how I found my voice—the power to stand up for myself. There were times I had to make immediate life-or-death decisions. Others depended on me to react quickly and to stay strong in the face of danger.

Prison isn’t what you see in the movies. They aren’t locked in their cells; it’s more like a town of its own, filled with convicted felons who don’t want to be there. They worked in food service, did laundry, went to school, and many were truly dangerous individuals. They could walk to the dining facility and showers. The prison I worked at housed over 3,400 incarcerated men. They fought each other, they fought us, they rioted, and they damaged property. There were gang members and gang riots. I was right in the middle of it all, thriving because I found something I was good at—and I was respected for it. Resilience is what made me great!

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am recently retired and have dedicated my life to pursuing my passions. I founded a small business called Relentless Strength Promotions, where I host strength competitions across the state of Texas. This is just one of many ideas I wish to bring to life.

My primary goal with all my projects is to introduce as many people as possible to strength sports. I believe it’s important for individuals to discover their inner strength, whether it’s internal or external. Many of us need a competitive outlet, and I aim to create an environment where everyone can find their place.

The strength community is one of the most loving and accepting groups I have encountered. I found my tribe 24 years ago, and I want to extend this gift of community and support to as many people as possible.

I both host and compete in Strongman, Powerlifting, Arm Lifting, and MAS Wrestling. Personally, I am a 10-time world champion, 11-time national champion, and I hold several national and world records in powerlifting. I have participated in 99 competitions and am set to compete in my 100th at the Official Strongman Games.

One projects involves speaking to high school, collegiate, and professional athletes at the end of their careers. After dedicating years of their lives to a team sport, many athletes find it difficult to let go. I want to provide an alternative, a way for them to stay involved in the sports community and channel the competitive energy that remains within them. I also aim to advise older individuals that strength training is accessible to them at any age.

Next, I am developmental phases of creating a strength training series for beginners and older women. Incorporating strength training into a routine can lead to numerous physical and mental health benefits for women over 40, promoting a healthier, more active lifestyle. I want to be able to provide the knowledge that I have gained over the past 20 plus years to educate and be a representation of our age category.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The most important lesson I’ve learned is to never, ever give up. If someone told me “no,” I found another way to make it happen. I refused to let anything stand in my way. Don’t fear anything—don’t fear rejection, failure, or even the opinions of others. If you want something, go for it! My latest motto is: “Pull the Trigger!”

Hard work truly pays off. I worked in a job for 11 years that wasn’t the most exciting, but I made smart decisions about my retirement along the way. Now, 20 years later, I’m retired at 50 with healthcare secured and a steady monthly income. Sometimes, we have to push through the tough times to reach the rewards. If there was a quicker route, I didn’t find it.

Stay open to new ideas and seek input from others, even if they may not fully understand your perspective. Everyone brings a unique viewpoint that can have a positive impact.

Always, always, always be kind. Respond to questions promptly in whatever form they come. Take care of the people who support you, because without them, you’re nothing.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I’m always looking for people to collaborate with! I’m interested in working with gym owners who want to offer competitions for their athletes and potentially attract more members, coaches who are looking to provide their athletes with a path beyond sports, and business owners who want to help their employees adopt healthier lifestyles. You can find all my contact information on my website: relentlessstrengthtx.com.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://relentlessstrengthtx.com
• Instagram: @jadedickens17 or @relentlessstrengthpromotiontx
• Facebook: Jade Dickens
• Twitter: @jadedickens17
• Youtube: @jadedickens

Image Credits

MRNtography