Name: Rachel L. Proctor
Title: Council Member – Place 4, City of DeSoto, Texas
Organization/ Company: DeSoto City Council, Place 4, Owner – NCLC of Dallas Inc., and Raysquared, Inc.
Describe your role ? I am a council member for the City of DeSoto and I serve as CEO of both NCLC of Dallas Inc., and Raysquared, Inc.
What qualifications/education/skills prepared you for this job?
As far as my role in public service, I was always that child that was interested in government and leadership. Not so much for the reasons of gaining power or control, but I wanted to be in a place in which I was able to help spur change. Much of what I do in my down time from work involves community service, and more specifically service to the DeSoto community. This work helps keep me connected to the the people that I have been elected to serve. Also, I grew up working in the family business and I believe wholeheartedly that is was where the seed was planted and where my love for entrepreneurship and leadership was cultivated. In regards to my formal education, my undergraduate degree from UT- Arlington prepared me for taking on administrative roles within a corporation and I have also received a small business certification from the Bill J. Priest Small Business Development center in Dallas. I am currently pursuing my master’s degree in professional development from Dallas Baptist University as well. This degree is deepening my skills for professional coaching so that I can better serve those clients looking to become entrepreneurs.
What are your thoughts on being a powerful woman?
I will start by saying a powerful woman knows her place and she is secure in what role she plays in the world. She has a positive worldview and she seeks to compliment, uplift, mentor and learn from other powerful women because she knows what comes with connecting herself with other like-minded women who are going places. A powerful woman continuously looks for ways that she can grow and educate herself. I believe “applied” knowledge is power. You have to do something with what you gain and use it to cultivate change and empower those around you.
What are the three most important factors of being a successful woman?
1. The very first factor in my opinion is to do the things that you love! When you love something and are passionate about what you’re doing, you are going to be motivated to work hard to see that thing through.
2. Know your WHY! This is a big one for me. We have to have purpose behind everything we do or else we will wander through life aimlessly. It is also important to be clear on why you are doing something because when, not if, hard times come, knowing your why will keep you in the game.
3. You have to hustle — HARD! And you have to be willing to take risks. Moving into entrepreneurship and leadership of all kinds will require you to work harder and longer than you’ve ever worked before. Starting something and laying the foundational groundwork will require you to hustle hard for extended periods of time. And no matter how many hours you put in there still is no guarantee that your idea is going to work. That’s why I stated you must be willing to take risks. And I’m not saying that to discourage anyone. I want to empower someone with this! Because if you are looking for a guarantee then you really don’t want to venture into entrepreneurship. As a business owner you have to assume both the risks and the rewards that come with owning a company. Being in business for yourself requires you to research, use your intuition, persevere through criticism and rejections and you must be willing to take correction and learn from your mistakes. You must go into it realistically and with your eyes wide open.
How can women increase their income and net worth?
You have to get clear on your business model from the very conception of your idea. When you are starting a business it will rarely generate the kind of money that you can eventually make over time, but that’s why you must be very intentional in laying the foundation for your business. That will be the factor to determine whether or not it can support your financial goals later. In short, one other piece of advice that I will give when building net worth is to look for ways to reinvest in your business by acquiring assets and making sound investments. This is where seeking wise counsel comes into play. Surround yourself with people that know more than you and take good notes!
What advice do you wish to offer other women that are seeking a similar career path?
For women that are looking to get into public service I would have to start by going back to one of my previous statements and that is know your “why.” You will be challenged in many many ways when you forge into the public service arena. You will always have individuals no matter what that will judge you and your abilities based on factors such as your age, gender, race, socioeconomic status, your family background and so forth. People may be able to question and doubt your credibility and judgment based on what you “say” but they cannot argue with what you “do.”
For those looking to go into business for themselves I would suggest that they let the mission of building a business be one that focuses on making positive change in the world and rather than getting caught up on starting a business to “make a lot of money.” Yes, I know the bottom line for most people when they go into business is to make a profit but the truth of the matter is when you are in business for the right reason and stay committed to making a difference in the lives of others, building your business will be fun, fulfilling and financially profitable.
Names 3 books that changed how you see life and you recommend to others?
– Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg
– Uncommon by Tony Dungy
– How Successful People Think by John Maxwell
Favorite Quote or Words of Wisdom?
“Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you.”
– Jim Rohn
