Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rodney Shepherd. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Rodney, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
In my profession, more times than not, I’m typically the only black person in the room and/or the only male in the room. I choose not to focus on the obvious. Instead, I understand that my race and gender are people’s first impression of me and that’s important. However, what’s more important is that I leave a lasting impression. Therefore, when I interact with people, I look for ways to elevate them and pierce through the external being leaving a lasting impression on the internal being. It is my belief that we can all make up for a first impression but we can’t make up for a lasting one. That belief has helped me be effective/successful when being the only one in the room that looks like me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and I treat mental and emotional wellness through talk therapy. The most exciting thing about my career are the relationships that I build with my clients. Most people come to therapy because they have an unhealthy relationship with someone or something. It’s special when I can serve as the template for what a healthy relationship looks like. My brand is all about applying wisdom and relationship building. Wisdom Counseling aids in the journey of growth and applying wisdom to every situation. As a relationship builder, I am passionate about couples and desire to see their relationship flourish through embracing each others differences. How couples relate to one another becomes the blueprint for their children to follow. Therefore, we have to teach how to properly interact with one another even when we don’t agree. There is a way to still be civil and walk away with everyone feeling valued rather than one person devaluing the other because of a lack of understanding.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
A very important piece of knowledge that I acquired as an entrepreneur is the importance of having a business mentor, a financial advisor, and legal representation. Those three make up your board of directors and keeps your business in good standing. It’s by far one of the best investments you can make in business because it keeps you accountable and ahead of the curve as you continue to make business decisions for the future. Another key skill I learned is the importance of knowing your passion, because your passion becomes your niche and your niche becomes your specialization. In business, you have a generalist and a specialist. You commonly pay more out of pocket for a specialist because that person solely displays mastery over one predominant thing. I’ve learned to accept insurance for areas where I’m a “jack of all trades” and to charge out of pocket for areas where I display exceeding expertise. The last quality I picked up along the way is becoming the brand. My purpose in life is to be of service to people by elevating them. In doing so, God elevates me. Therefore I never have to concern myself with income because I’m always looking for the outcome of those that I serve. Consequently, I’m never without because there remains a consistent flow of me giving to others as God gives to me. I am my brand and my brand is me.
How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client is one who is teachable and open minded. People often only see through their lens. I challenge clients to see other perspectives that give them a different narrative. I also challenge clients to apply what they hear in session. Talk therapy is the easier part of the process. The real work is done outside of session. It’s common for me to revisit previous sessions and inquire about application. If we never apply what we learn, we’ll never own the solutions. I look for clients who are not just coming to therapy to acquire knowledge but to apply it and turn it into wisdom.
Contact Info:
- Website:www.applywisecounsel.com
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Image Credits
Photographer: Jason Payne
