We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Markesha Miller a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Markesha , thanks for joining us today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

My parents did so many things right. However, the biggest thing that stands out in my mind is planting the seed of belief in me that I can do absolutely anything that I set my mind to and they placed the resources in place for me to do so.

At a very young age, probably around 3 or 4, I was fascinated with cash registers. I remember my father going to an auction one week, as he did weekly, and bringing home a cash register for me. I played “store” for years after that. At the age of 5, I decided that I wanted to work in the pharmacy as a high-school student. My mother encouraged me that I could and that I should. By the age of 16, I was a pharmacy tech at Revco.

These patterns only grew to attaining positions in high school, college, being the first in my family to obtain a doctoral degree, etc.

Dr. Markesha , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a licensed psycho-therapist and mental health consultant. I often tell individuals that I did not choose this field, it chose me.

I wish that I could say that I knew that I always wanted to be in this industry since I was a child, but that is not true. My journey began with the desire of becoming a neurologist. I followed this dream to my sophomore year in college and then realized that I did not like blood and probably did not have the stomach for gruesome things. I immediately decided that I would change my major over to Pre-Law. I did that and followed this desire all the way to law school and then realized that I was bored and felt unfulfilled. During my time with this endeavor, I did become a Guardian ad Litem. So, this is when it became sketchy. I started working in a sports bar in Columbia, at the time known as Bailey’s. This was probably one of the most self-awareness experiences that I have ever had. This stop in my journey introduced me to a broader world of mental health as I met very influential people from connected programs at the University of South Carolina.

As I would discuss my work as a Guardian ad Litem, I was encouraged to look at this path as I had double majored in English and Psychology.

Well, the rest is history. I went back to the University of South Carolina and obtained my Ed.S and Ph.D. Later becoming licensed. I have worked in every sector of mental health from hospitals to government agencies, schools, private practices and of course in academia as a professor for many years.

Currently, I have a private practice and provide concierge therapy for celebrity clients.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Yes, I think that my journey to my present career was definitely a pivot. I imagined one thing, but obviously that was not the alignment for my purpose. I never imagined this career for myself, now I can not think of anywhere else I could be.

In life, there will always be moments in which you must pivot in order to sustain.

Seven years ago, I walked away from academia full time in order to take care of my parents. As an adult, if we are blessed, we will have aging parents and the circle of life will allow us the opportunity to care for them. This pivot placed me back at home with my parents after giving up my home and storing all of my belongings. During this time however, I took my private practice from part-time to full-time. I never imagined myself being a full time entrepreneur with a full-time practice. However, this is what fit in best my presenting circumstances. This time with my parents really gave me a time out to fully capture the vision for my brand and the direction that I desire to travel. Also, it was the best time that I could have ever spent with my parents. Since their passing, those years that I spent finding myself and new direction give me peace because I also was able to make lasting memories with them and capture precious time that I did not realize was drawing near.

Ebbs and flows are okay. Often times, they float you to where you need to be.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson that I had to unlearn was ‘keeping your business to yourself”.

I don’t mean the business that earns you money, I mean the business that involves the day to day tasks and struggles that you may experience.

Growing up, I was taught that “Everybody’s business is nobody’s business” and while I still agree with this, I now have a healthier understanding.

I have had to realize that we are not meant to navigate the journey of life alone and it is important to have help in the areas that we need it. I have had to have help carrying bricks of this masterpiece of life. However, I don’t just trust anyone and everyone to carry my bricks. It is important to choose those builders that you can trust to build you up not tear you down. This is in your business, your life, and your health.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.drmarkeshamiller.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/drmarkesha
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DrMarkeshaMiller
• Linkedin: http://www.Linkedin.com/DrMarkeshaMiller
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/drmarkesha
• Other: http://www.onthemarkcc.com http://onthemarklive.com

Image Credits
Denise Benson Photography