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

Alright, Dedrick thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

My daughter, Haelee was the central motivating factor in publishing my first book. That book is entitled The Unexpected Journey: Fire and Gold. The story recounts traumatic experiences that she and I lived through while sharing how we became one another’s hero in the process. But before I get to that Haelee went first in publishing her self-help book entitled, The Rules of a Big Boss: A book of self-love on June 25, 2020. She shared how she overcame depression, anxieties, and betrayal to help not only herself heal but others as well. I met two fellow authors and podcasters (Shanique MJ Davis and Genesis Amaris Kemp) by way of Haelee. To be specific they interviewed her on their platforms. In doing so, they said something to the effect that she was so very wise for her age and that they were floored by her resilience and testimony. Having said that, they told her that they’d like to talk to me to gain additional perspective. After hearing my side of things, they told me that I needed to write my own book and that they would assist me in doing so if I was willing. I started writing The Unexpected Journey in concert with Haelee in November of 2020 and published it on March 5, 2021. Shanique held true to her word in helping me publish it in serving as my editor. Genesis helped me push past my pains and traumas of reliving the events that transpired in the book by keeping me encouraged throughout the writing process and each day thereafter.

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 back background and context?

The Rules of a Big Boss LLC mission is to elevate and empower children, teens, adults, and families across the world. Our resultant vision is to bolster self-love and self-esteem through our books, clothing, accessories, programs, services, and partnerships.

As for how we got started, my daughter, Haelee developed low self-esteem and anxiety due to being bullied when she was 7-years-old. Her bullying included multiple attempts on her life, sexual assault, physical assault, and the spreading of sexually perverse rumors. Haelee suffered with the ill effects of that trauma from the time that she was 7 until 12-years old. She decided that she did not want to be that person anymore in May of 2020. She resultantly took steps to overcome it by writing her first book, The Rules of a Big Boss: A book of self-love. This award winning book is a manual for maximizing higher self-esteem. Haelee published it with assistance from me on June 25, 2020. Her purpose in writing it was to help prevent others from going through what she experienced at such a tender age.

She also shared with me that she wanted to be a fashion designer when she grew up. I retorted, “Why not now? You can design products that support your book. Doing that might help increase your book sales and vice versa” She thought, “Why not” and she commenced designing clothing, shoes, and accessories with the intent of improving self-esteem across the globe. Here she is only 14-years-old and she’s a published author, style influencer, motivational speaker, brand, and small black owned small business.

We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.

I met my cofounder at 6:20 PM on October 18, 2007 at The Birthing Inn at Inova Loudoun Hospital. We gazed into each other’s eyes momentarily as she rested comfortably in my arms shortly after she was born. It’s like she knew that I was the guy who’s heart that she’d stolen and she was right. My business partner is my daughter, Haelee.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I work a full time job in addition to serving as the Chief Operating Officer of The Rules of a Big Boss. I decided to fund the business of my own accord by taking money from savings after hearing Haelee’s business proposition. I did so because I wanted to give her the leg up in life that I didn’t have in investing fully in a brand for the two of us. In that sense I wanted to give her a better name than she was born with. Sure I could’ve raised capital through Kickstarter or some other venture but I refused to do so because I wanted to be able to explicitly say that I solely invested in both her and myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thebookofselflove.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/dmoone78
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DMoone78/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dedrickmoone
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/dmoone78?lang=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx8HoL60TSmBuNk3x9hicvw
• Other: Clubhouse: https://www.joinclubhouse.com/@dmoone78
  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/dmoone78/