Today we’d like to introduce you to Miriam Dicks.
Hi Miriam, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
Nearly 10 years ago, I walked away from my corporate job. Although I was filled with fear and trepidation, I knew it was the right thing to do. I have been working as a consultant, serving the healthcare industry in the mergers and acquisitions space and managing the integration process of newly acquired physician practices into health systems. This work was the work that I knew. It was the work that I had been trained to do as I entered the workforce post-graduate school. While I loved my work, I saw the handwriting on the wall. My company was selling the markets I was assigned to, and shortly after that, I would either be transferred to a new division or out of work completely. As an active board member of a local nonprofit, I could start my consulting firm now. The executive director of the organization I served on the board asked if I would recuse myself and serve as a consultant for the organization. It was at that moment that I was propelled into entrepreneurship. I believe every entrepreneur has their own story, and my story is this: I became an entrepreneur at the age of 37, married to a pastor, and had three children. I had no idea what I was signing up for other than believing I was on the right path. All I knew was I had a fire in my belly to branch out into what I believed I was supposed to be doing. I have come to realize that I am a unicorn. I am an African-American female entrepreneur in the management consulting space.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My company will achieve a significant milestone on March 3rd, 2024. We will celebrate our 10th anniversary. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 65% of new businesses fail during the first 10 years. This sobering statistic reminds me of the hills and valleys I have experienced over my decade-long entrepreneurship. In 2019, I hit a wall in my business, losing clients, my home, and all my capital. It took two years to see revenue again, climbing an uphill battle I wasn’t sure I would see the end of. Being reminded of when I first started 180MG, I still knew this was what I was supposed to do.
As you know, we’re big fans of 180 Management Group. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
180 Management Group (180MG) is an operations and management consulting firm specializing in operational strategy and design for non-profit organizations. Our focus is on providing the resources, tools, and support that senior leaders need but often do not have access to “in-house.” Our goal is simple. We want to help our clients build an efficient organization that can run at the highest level so that they can win at achieving their mission and vision. 180MG provides the following services:
- Operations Consulting
- Leadership coaching and consulting
- Management services
- Trainings, Webinars, Workshops
- Speaker services
Our services are specifically tailored to the needs of our clients, which we serve throughout the United States. 180MG is a unicorn by today’s standards. In the U.S., only 8% of management consultants are African American, and only 34% are women. We seek to provide a unique perspective and service excellence that transforms organizations while breaking the barriers of stigma. I am most proud of seeing the transformational change my clients experience. When I first meet with a client, I learn what their “pain points” are, or in other words, what is blocking them from thriving. Organizations that engage in consulting or coaching services realize a desperate need to form a strategic plan for success. In doing so, leaders start to see where change has to take place. The transformation is evident as we work together; the change happens in real-time. Seeing a boost in staff satisfaction and morale, executive leadership feeling empowered, and planned initiatives succeeding gives me a sense of joy and pride that is hard to put into words. This is why I do what I do and continue striving to set my clients up for long-term success.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
I have to [continually] define what success looks like for me as an entrepreneur. Every entrepreneur has their path and idea of what they want to gain from this journey. If you make someone else’s story or experience the measurement for your success, you stop yourself from enjoying your journey. The path to success is not “one size fits all.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.180managementgroup.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/180MG/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miriampdicks
