We were lucky to catch up with Dominique M. Williams recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Dominique thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I believe that in life we must take major risks to obtain major rewards. In order to take big risks, we must overcome our fears, push through stagnation, self-sabotage, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and negative aka stinking thinking. How do I overcome my fears you ask? By adopting a fearless mindset. You choose to be fearless while taking the risks. I began taking risks by asking myself this question, how will I ever achieve anything if you are NOT bold enough to take the risks? I realized that I must decide if i wanted to be powerful (fearless) or powerless (fearful). Fear fades away when we believe our future is secure in God’s hands.

I have been told by many people over the years that I am fearless, in other words I don’t mind taking risks because I desire to reap the rewards! At the tender age of 17 I took a major risk by moving from Akron Ohio to Atlanta Georgia to attend the one and only Spelman College. I ensured that I did everything in my power including graduating as the Salutatorian of my graduating class of John R. Buchtel High School in 2006 to be one of the 600 accepted with over 6000 applicants. Many people couldn’t wrap their minds around the fact that I was leaving the familiarity of family, friends, and location to walk into the unknown. And I was thinking to myself I desire more than what this small city has to offer, and I cannot live my life on anyone else’s terms but my own. Not to mention once I set my mind and heart on something it’s a done deal. I have never been one to subscribe to mediocrity.

We took the long drive from Ohio to Atlanta which is 10 hours without any stops. With stops I’d estimate it took about 12 hours to arrive. Upon arrival we began moving my items into Manley Hall on the 3rd floor without elevators and with the blazing temperatures of summer in Atlanta, talk about a workout! And I embarked upon a new journey, a chapter that I had not yet written, one that I didn’t have figured out exactly but one that I’d create along the way. I had no idea if my roommate and I’d get along, how I’d adapt to college coursework, who my friends would be, if I’d like the food offered on campus etc. Yet I was ready for the ride, and it was a ride of a lifetime. Did I experience some hiccups along the way? Of course! I was a broke college student, I didn’t have a job, and didn’t come from money. I also was scammed by someone who sold me an outdated book for my biology course. Biology was my major. I was young and naive and was preyed upon for that very reason. I was also almost kicked off of the campus at the end of the fall semester for an outstanding balance, while I received many scholarships, they didn’t fully cover my tuition, room and board expenses which at the time was about $32,000.

In moments if despair, frustration and difficulty we learn our greatest lessons. Yet it was a ride that I do not regret. One that I wished I had the opportunity to complete. As I came to the end of my freshman year, I became ill all of a sudden. I was enjoying my young adult life. I came back to my dorm room after going to a fashion show and my stomach was in knots and I was vomiting profusely to the point that blood vessels in my eyes burst, I was extremely dehydrated, and I couldn’t walk upright. First thing in the morning my sister friend walked me to our student medical clinic. They were unable to render the aide required, and an ambulance was called, and I was rushed to Piedmont Hospital. It turns out that I had kidney stones, I went through surgery to have as stint placed to help the kidney stones pass. My friend called my mom to notify her, and she made her way to Atlanta. Although I was released from the hospital, I was far from well. I wasn’t able to bathe or feed myself. Since I required so much care, my mom brought me back home to Ohio since I didn’t have any family in Atlanta. In about 2 weeks I began feeling somewhat normal. I completed my coursework online. And just like that my dreams and hopes were shattered because I couldn’t fiscally afford to return to Spelman College for my sophomore year. At 33 years old it is my prayer that I can return to Spelman College with grants or scholarships to finish what I started. I am a firm believer that not yet doesn’t mean not ever. Stay tuned because this chapter is still being written.

I discuss this more in detail in my book entitled She Is Fearless.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

Dominique M. Williams is a wellbeing advocate for girls and women. Advocating as a Certified Life Coach, Empowerment Speaker and Author. She is the CEO of Inspiring & Empowering Ladies, an organization dedicated to inspiring, empowering and equipping girls and women to develop a greater sense of self. Without a clear vision about yourself and your life, you will NOT be able to take ownership or accountability. I provide physical products of books, journals, mugs, and coloring books. I provide speaking, coaching, and ghostwriting services. I also have returned to hosting events post the influx of the COVID 19 pandemic. I recently hosted a Mommy & Me Tea Party on the May 7, 2022. The Mommy & Me Tea Party will be an annual reoccurring event. I have had the pleasure of speaking in Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina, and Montego Bay Jamaica. I’ve coached countless clients and look forward to coaching more as a Tony Gaskins Certified Life Coach. I’ve been a guest blogger for several outlets. I’ve helped others begin their writing journey and have also written for others as a ghostwriter. I also serve as the Editor in Chief for the She Wins Society Blog.

The Life of a Woman: Authenticating Complexity-a book of poetry inspiring and empowering women that in spite of life’s complexities they are intelligent, resilient, insightful and virtuous.

From Broken To Purpose-a book of poetry inspiring and empowering women to begin the process of healing by reminding them not to allow your pain to cripple you because you are powerful beyond measure.

She Is Fearless- inspiring and empowering women to adopt a fearless mindset by facing their fears with faith, pushing beyond their comfort zone, and embracing the challenges along the way.

Positive Thought Journal-inspiring and empowering all to adopt a positive outlook to conquer each day; with a positive outlook you will be effective, unstoppable and determined. The positive thought journal has both writing prompts and coloring pages.

Self Love Journal-inspiring and empowering all to confront the issues which have caused them to be in a loveless relationship with themselves. This journal will allow them to maximize self love, self esteem, dignity, healthy relationships while restoring confidence.

Count Your Blessings: A Gratitude Journal-inspiring and empowering others to be grateful in all things, It is a solution to being ungrateful, discontent and greedy that must be practiced daily.

Your Prescription: Medicine For The Soul-inspiring and empowering all to allow their soul to glow by implementing this daily devotional to be an integral part of your health and wellness.

Mommy & Me Journal-inspiring and empowering moms and daughters to cultivate a deeper connection to establish a positive and healthy relationship. As a healthy and confident mother, you can raise a confident healthy daughter.

Daddy & Me Journal-inspiring and empowering fathers and sons to cultivate a deeper connection to establish a positive and healthy relationship. As a healthy and upstanding father, you can raise a healthy and upstanding son.

You Can’t Wear A Crown With Your Head Hanging Down-a journal which inspires and empowers blacks in America to journal their thoughts and feelings as it relates to our black excellence, resilience, our power and our strength as we fight to overcome. When we are educated, empowered and equipped with the tools to keep their heads up so that their crowns do not fall off.

Black & Brilliant Coloring Book-a coloring book filled with inspirational, intriguing, educational and empowering information provoking black children to pursue excellence because they are innately brilliant, The coloring book can be explored by the child alone or as a bonding activity for the entire family.

Mugs-an assortment of mugs inspiring and empowering boys, girls, women, breast cancer survivors, melanin, the beautiful city of Atlanta, celebrating Juneteenth and more.

Coaching Services: I assist in invoking real transformation in the lives of the clients I serve so that they can shift their obstacles into opportunities. I am happy to be my client’s accountability partner and specialize in faith, inspiration and mindset coaching.

Ghostwriting Services are available upon request by sending an email to [email protected]At that time a 15-minute discovery call will be scheduled to see what the client’s desires are and to determine if I can execute properly.

I help my clients realize their limitless and inherent potential. I help them realize that they are fearlessly and wonderfully made. I help them believe those things which are good and true about themselves. I do this by reminding them that they are much more than their titles. I remind them to focus on the person they’d like to become. I do this by reminding them to adopt a positive mindset. One that focuses on what’s going right instead of what’s going wrong. I encourage them to establish habits that are pushing them in the direction in which they’d like their lives to go.

The thing that sets me apart is that I have the courage to take the first step even when I don’t see the entire staircase because I desire growth and growth doesn’t occur when standing still. My journey is one of a kind, it’s a journey of self-discovery, and a journey of healing. While navigating my own journey I want others to develop a greater sense of self and to heal from the very things that have wounded them. I am aware that I don’t have it all figured out yet and that is my strength. I am not afraid of my power; therefore, I am operating as my highest self completely and unapologetically. I cannot inspire and empower anyone if I am not doing the work required to produce remarkable results. I am set apart from others because I am intentional in everything that I do. I strive to provide excellence and in doing so I overdeliver which is a win for both parties-the servant and those receiving the services.

I’m most proud of myself for not allowing others to define me. Instead, I am writing my own story one chapter at a time. I get to decide what the pages will convey not the world. Each and every day we must continue evolving because when we aren’t evolving, we are slowly dying. I’m equipped for the adventure because I gain new tools daily to navigate my personal journey of becoming who I’m destined to be.

I want my potential clients to know that I am doing the inner work required. As a result, working with me their lives will shift in a positive direction because working with me is much more than a transaction.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

A story from my journey that illustrates my resilience is my ability to persevere at a time when I was experiencing intense turbulence. I had recently resigned from my job and was having an extremely difficult time obtaining gainful employment. As a result, I lost everything I owned, was forced to move back to my hometown and file bankruptcy. During that time, I didn’t sit around and mope, but I begin working with a life coach, wrote and compiled 50 poems and self-published my 2nd book entitled From Broken to Purpose. I also created my very own website, it wasn’t perfect, but it was a job well done with the tools I had at the time. From there I went on to obtain gainful employment and self-publish 8 more books. It was a defining moment in my life where I had to sink or swim. It was a moment where I was determined to swim because I knew that God has and always will be my lifeguard. It was a slingshot moment, where it felt like I was being pushed backwards but I was actually being propelled forward.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Other than training I believe what’s been the most helpful for succeeding in my field is patience because my true power to reach my destination lies within the process. The process is unique for everyone and will sometimes include setbacks. Sometimes setbacks are also opportunities. In those moments of uncertainty, we have to learn new skills, mature, evolve, and further develop our existing capabilities. We must be patient in the preparation phase. During the preparation phase in addition to learning patience we are also building our confidence muscle. The more we train our confidence muscle the stronger it will become. As a result, we will know when it’s time to make a move and when we should do absolutely nothing at all. As we build confidence in our talents, we will also build confidence in ourselves. Confidence is contagious, it helps others to be more confident. You should be confident that all things are working out for your good even when it doesn’t seem like it is. God’s divine plan for our life is always better than ours because his view is not obscured.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.inspiringandempoweringladies.com
• Instagram: www.Instagram.com/Dominiquemwilliams
• Facebook: unfortunately it was hacked in May 2022