Meet R. “Reese” Broadnax | Motivational Speaker and Lifestyle Enhancer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rodriquress “Reese” Broadnax and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi “Reese”, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
I made the decision to begin charging for my services. I am definitely a people person and have been the “go to” person over the years for friends, colleagues, and family members.   I am the one who would always help others, yep that was and still is me. But I found myself overworked and very rarely paid. Many times, I would be exhausted and sometimes not even thanked properly, but I had been “Wonder Friend” or “Ms. Get it Done For You” and saved the day. In reality, I was not receiving compensation for valuable services provided nor the time I had spent doing the work. Internally, I sometimes had resentment about providing services but to not upset friends, associates, etc I wouldn’t speak up. I had to learn to attach the appropriate fees to my work so that I could prosper, so that I could replenish supplies used, and to place value on skills and strengths I have, and the services I provide. 

What should our readers know about your business?

Starting out, I envisioned Broad Minds being a consulting firm however I discovered that my passion in life is what I call “lifestyle enhancement”, whether working across the US or abroad.  Lifestyle Enhancement with Broad Minds happens through:

▪︎motivational speaking
▪︎career development services
▪︎resource location and networking
▪︎employee training/workforce development
▪︎mentorship and coaching
▪︎spiritual/chaplaincy services (weddings, ministry services, conferences and workshops, funerals, etc)
▪︎volunteer recruitment and mobilization for organizations
▪︎Fun-Shops (girls and women confidence building events)
▪︎community and economic development
▪︎teaching line dance classes
▪︎”people gathering” and event planning
▪︎offering travel services
▪︎and more

My slogan is, ” You should be excited about your future”.

I made my business official in 2019 but had been doing the work since the early 90’s.  I guess you can say Broad Minds was birthed through my various careers and my educational background. I am a graduate of Wichita State University and Rhema Bible College.  I started pursuing my Masters in Public Administration but a life event caused me to stop after one year. Since then I have completed four (4) years of Community Development Institute (CDI).  When a person becomes a customer or client of Broad Minds they will get my 20 year Workforce Development skillset, the knowledge I have gained by becoming certified as a Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED), a Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP), a certified Job Coach, and sometimes my spiritual coaching experience from being a pastor/church planter/licensed chaplain.

Challenges I have experienced include being a woman in ministry, which I consider to still be a male dominated profession, and salary inequality. Each challenge mentioned has never stopped me from doing my work, however.

I mentioned ministry challenges because I became acquainted with many of my customers through church or religious events.  I live in the region of the USA that is known as the “Bible Belt” and many people do not agree with women being ministers. While my customers know me and book my services, there are others who will not book Broad Minds because of their viewpoints.  I never get into debates.  I simply offer my services; that’s it!  Being in business for yourself does not mean everyone will want to do business with you, but when they do, they win!

As far as salary inequality is concerned, I look at my career development through the years and that of some of my male peers who were in the same professions.  I have worked since I was in high school. I worked at places and in industries where women were less likely to be promoted to higher paying positions and their salaries were lower than their male counterparts. I noticed this when talking to others about their career development and progression also.  I often had the chance to speak with women who had amazing stories.  I have truly learned how unbalanced the scales can be, but when I experienced it firsthand, my eyes were opened all the more.  Today, I coach employees on how to approach career advancement and how to position themselves to receive greater compensation.  

Since becoming a “woman-praneur”, I have learned the art of believing in oneself on a whole new level. I still work on a job but have an exit plan with a definitive deadline to become a full time business owner, with employees. Presently, I still juggle Broad Minds work and the responsibilities of my day job.   It takes a lot out of you but maintaining work-life balance is a must for every business owner.  

When my business began to take off, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. I pretty much stalled operations and got disappointed because my momentum was interrupted. But, the long game is what new business owners need to focus on. I kept my focus, did some virtual work here and there, and kept planning. Now, business is picking up! I feel great about new opportunities, but I had to keep believing in myself. Through the years I discovered I could be someone else’s greatest cheerleader and do all the work to make them successful, but I had not done the same for myself. Being who I am today comes from investing in myself more than I invest in anyone else. It may sound selfish but, for me, it is a key priority if I am to become a successful and self-sufficient business owner. I want to be that community advocate, motivator, philanthropist, and entrepreneur who came from El Dorado, Arkansas, but it is imperative I feed my mind and spirit to be emotionally, spiritually, and physically healthy.

At the end of the day, when I am no longer on Earth, I want to be remembered for the impartations I made in the lives of others, the excellence in which my work is performed, the changes I helped bring to past in various communities and organizations, and the authentic, fun filled life I lived–on purpose and without regrets.  After all, I am a product of Broad Minds!

Catch how versatile my business is: I can marry a couple, christen an infant, bury the dead, notarize documents, train someone in Customer Service, preach about God’s love, sell one of my books, coach someone to career success – with financial and personal fulfillment, book trips as a travel agent, help communities in economic and community development endeavors, then teach an individual how to dance, relax and enjoy their life!  That is truly lifestyle enhancement.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Well, I love to travel and live to travel so it would depend where I happened to be. As the perfect host, I would try and take guests where I think they would most enjoy based on their personal tastes and preferences.

In live in Camden, Arkansas and most people who come to Camden want to eat catfish at Woods Place where James Woods is owner. Woods Place is nationally known! Visitors almost always ask to go there. I would introduce them to James and his long-time employee, Shelia, if they were working. They are people lovers. For those wanting the best big, juicy burger and didn’t mind dining in a small spot or grabbing some takeout, we would run by Jake’s on Monroe Avenue. If they like Disc Golf, I would take them to Carnes Park because there are some avid Disc Golfers here.  I would have to introduce them to Camden’s Mayor, Julian Lott, whose door is always open.  He is very hospitable and would probably take them on a tour of Camden if his schedule permitted.  And, to top off the day or evening, I would have a special line dance class for my guests with my 870 Freestyle Dancers.  We love dancing!

When traveling in DC, I drop by Ruth Chris or The Oceanaire Seafood Room. In DFW or the ATL we would go to Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen. In Little Rock, Arkansas we would find out where my friend Rodney Block (a phenomenal trumpeter) was performing and I would call him for good seats (usually at South and Main).  Rodney is the best!

I love traveling to Vegas.  There is so much to do.  In Las Vegas I would take my crew to hear live music at Cork and Thorn, a cozy, jazzy lounge with down-home people.  And, I can’t leave out K.B.’s Kreative Kreations for a cake or a pastry party pack!  Shanyce is my personal “Cake Boss” in Vegas!

In my hometown, El Dorado, Arkansas there is a plethora of establishments to patronize. For outstanding soul food and BBQ I would make a call to my friend Angela to get a few plates from the Candley’s. They cater and have food trucks. For fine dining, live entertainment, and outdoor recreation we could go to Murphy Arts District in Downtown El Dorado where the Griffin Restaurant provides an elegant dining experience, often with live entertainment. I also enjoy dining at Howell’s on Hillsboro/Hwy. 82B and The Town House Restaurant on Griffin Street.  I would definitely advise guests to loosen their belts when eating in South Arkansas.

When in Shreveport, Louisiana with my friends who like a fun experience, we could eat breakfast/brunch at Another Broken Egg or River View on the Board Walk. Later on, I would take them to line dance or swing dance with SB Steppers at Josh Lounge or the Greenwood Venue. 

In Hot Springs, Arkansas (The Spa City) we would definitely eat at my two favorite spots Back Porch Grill or The Porterhouse.  But I’m going to the newest restaurant in Hot Springs soon, The Bugler. I will have to update you later on that experience.

I recently dined at Red Oak Steakhouse in Pine Bluff, Arkansas for an early birthday gift. The food and atmosphere was great and I highly recommend dining there on Wednesday through Saturday evenings.

I love taking people to enjoy live, “outdoor on the greens” entertainment in West Monroe, Louisiana at Landry Vineyards. The hospitality is everything wonderful. The parking lot attendants are teenaged young men and their manners are impeccable. Landry’s brings in various bands and they provide live entertainment and tours of their establishment (indoors and vineyards), for adults and children. It’s a 2 hour drive for me but I usually go, alone, and just chill in my lawn chair, people watch, and dance of course! Ask for Libby. She’s the perfect host.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

I have multiple shoutouts!  Father God! He loves me unconditionally and is my source and strength!  He helps me do all of my jobs, literally.

Shoutout to my mother Lela Dixson who is a retired Educator of over 40 years and my deceased father, Jimmie Dixson, who both had impeccable work ethics and taught me how to be a productive, indispensable, and successful worker as a teen.

Shoutout to my spiritual mentor, Mrs. Marzelia Hill, who was the pastor’s wife of a church I attended in Tulsa, Oklahoma, before her passing.  I learned so much from her.

Shoutout to all the people who entrust me to help make a difference in their lives.

Shoutout to the young lady I call my “daughter”, Kierra Brown Williams, whose mother shared her with me when she was in the second grade.  I don’t have birth children but she is just like my own because I helped raise her!  I performed Kierra and DeRay’s marriage ceremony and they have made me a “Grams” with their new daughter, Brooklyn.

Last but not least my furbaby Princess Barbie, a beautiful, black Cocker Spaniel. We became family at a local animal shelter. 9 years later we are still besties. She never complains, she likes what I feed her, and she loves me unconditionally. We are both seniors, but we don’t look like our ages! <Wink>

Website: Under Construction

Instagram: broadmindsllc

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodriquressdixsonbroadnax

Twitter: @broad_llc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Broad-Minds-LLC-628317204319964/

Other: Mini E-Book on Amazon by Broadnax: WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT FAILURE https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018DARVJG/ref=cm_sw_r_u_apa_glt_SGBJJTS524J6MVEWH5RZ I also have a mini-book in print with a 30 day devotional to fight fear in the midst of COVID-19. E-mail me at: 4me.consult@gmail.com Most services can be booked through the Broad Minds Facebook page or by email.

Image Credits
Sherry Clark Canva for flyers Ophelia Gill