Discover how to curate your life's choices like items in a shopping cart, removing unhealthy habits and relationships to fill it with joy, abundance, and purpose. Learn transformative strategies to reshape your life story.
Her Story
About Rita
Rita Rocker is an international author, keynote speaker, and transformation coach whose career has spanned more than three decades, beginning with her public speaking debut in the late 1980s. A former Mrs. Nebraska and Mrs. America contestant, she built her platform not around pageantry but around a message of resilience, using that visibility to speak candidly about overcoming personal adversity. Her rise to prominence included addressing an international conference and appearing on national television, milestones she achieved while simultaneously navigating profound personal loss, including the death of her husband during her reign as Mrs. Nebraska. Through SoaringHigher.rocks and Soaring Higher With Rita (KPAO and YouTube, she has authored five books and contributed to twelve additional international publications, establishing herself as a respected voice in the fields of communication, image consulting, and personal reinvention. At the core of Rita's work is a belief that lasting career and life change must begin from within. She approaches every client relationship by first addressing inner self-worth, confidence, and self-image before turning attention to outward professional development, a philosophy shaped by her own journey through domestic violence, low self-esteem, and fear of failure. Over the years she has guided clients ranging in age from seven to ninety-two through signature programs such as Makeover Magic and Image Builder Rapid Results, while also delivering corporate training, retreats, and workshops across colleges, organizations, and conferences throughout North America and abroad. Her communication skills were first sharpened through Toastmasters, a foundation she credits alongside the enduring influence of her late mother, whose steadfast support carried her through the most difficult seasons of her life. Today, Rita continues to share her message through Soaring Higher with Rita on YouTube, where she produces and hosts programming aimed at helping others pursue meaningful reinvention. She previously held board positions with the Small Business Association of the Midlands and Professional Woman Network International, and served as local president of Speakers, Authors, and Writers. Her philanthropic commitments include volunteering with a Christian ministry supporting incarcerated and addicted women, fundraising for Ronald McDonald House Charities, and distributing free copies of her book to women unable to afford it. Guided by values of compassion, authenticity, and service, Rita remains devoted to helping others find purpose-driven work and to eventually expanding her outreach to support the homeless and hungry in her community.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Rita
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance and the inner work I've done on myself over the years. My mother had the greatest impact on my life — her support carried me through difficult chapters, including domestic violence and health challenges. Toastmasters was instrumental in helping me develop my speaking skills, including during the time I worked at Enron, and a publisher I worked with later helped me organize my books. Beyond that, my years of hands-on speaking experience and my ongoing work mentoring others in self-esteem, communication, and confidence — through workshops and volunteering with incarcerated and addicted women — have shaped who I am today.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Looking back, I consider one of my most defining professional moments to be speaking at an international conference and appearing on Pat Robertson's "Straight Talk" program in Virginia Beach. I also served as Mrs. Nebraska during that period, though for me that title was always secondary — my real focus was using that platform to deliver messages of personal resilience and transformation rather than the pageant itself.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is to discover where you truly "light up" and to pursue that calling wholeheartedly. Start by sitting down and identifying what genuinely excites and motivates you, then build a personalized plan around it — whether that means strengthening your communication skills or restructuring your existing experience, like a resume, to transfer your talents into a new field. Don't just follow directions or chase money; find work that aligns with your true purpose. I believe success should be defined by fulfillment and purpose, not only by financial gain.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of my biggest challenges has been narrowing and funneling a long, varied career into a clear niche, on top of recovering from some personal health setbacks. At the same time, I see real opportunity in adapting my content to new platforms like YouTube, learning to leverage AI and modern presentation tools, and eventually re-engaging with nonprofit work supporting homeless and hungry individuals once I'm more fully re-established.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Compassion is at the heart of everything I do — especially for women from all walks of life...from business professioinals to those needing to start over. Alongside that, I deeply value perseverance, inner transformation, authenticity, and service to others.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Rita
What's in Your Shopping Cart of Life?
Transform Your Life by Consciously Choosing What Belongs in Your Cart
What's in Your Shopping Cart of Life?
What are you putting in your shopping cart of life? Are you choosing healthy lifestyle habits that nourish you, or are you filling it with unhealthy relationships and destructive habits? The second choice was how I lived much of my life-trapped by failure, rejection, and abandonment.
Your Mantra
Today, I assess where I am in life, what is good for me, my family, and my career, and what is holding me back-even if I don't want to let it go. I have reached the point where I am willing to take whatever steps are necessary to fill my cart to overflowing with joy, abundance, positive relationships, and the fulfillment of my God-given purpose.
There is no longer room in my life's cart for the junk food in the middle aisles. Figuratively, as well as literally, I am choosing what makes me glow, grow, and go in a rewarding new direction.
Just as reading food labels helps steer you away from unhealthy foods and drinks, putting clear labels on your habits and relationships can guide you toward choices that nourish you and give you the strength and endurance to rise, thrive, heal your scars, and learn "brain jiu-jitsu" to take down and neutralize the obstacles-the junk food aisles-in your path as you create your beautiful new brand.
We can get into the habit of labeling behaviors and patterns, but never label yourself with anything negative or defeating. Instead, speak the truth found in Proverbs:
"I am a capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman, and my value is far beyond rubies and pearls."
Because it is true.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do the feelings and habits I'm holding onto serve any worthwhile purpose for me, my family, or my career?
- Do they help me move toward my goals, or do they keep me stuck in an unhappy comfort zone?
- Do they work in my favor in any way? Why or why not?
If your emotions, thoughts, self-talk, or life choices-including relationships, jobs, or activities-are not helping you transform and move forward, move them to the dumpster and reach for the "good choices" you truly deserve.
I never felt deserving of anything good. Because of that, I spent much of my life collecting scars, trauma, and even more reasons to believe I was worthless. It is amazing to realize that when you ask God to order your steps and allow you to see yourself through His eyes, new opportunities begin to appear before you.
What steps can you take today to improve your life?
Begin with small, intentional actions, one at a time, to move your mind and heart in a new direction. They can be as simple as learning new job skills, developing healthier behaviors and patterns, discovering a new hobby on YouTube, treating yourself to a makeover, or joining an organization where you can contribute your valuable knowledge and life experiences-which are far greater than you may realize.
Explore online communities that challenge your thinking and inspire you to grow. I'm still doing that myself.
Let's sing, dance, and ride the roller coaster of life in high gear. Choose to live life to the fullest.
As Jim Rohn wisely said:
"We cannot change our lives overnight, but we can change our direction overnight."
Start now, right where you are, and continue creating a brand-new ending to the story of your life.
Rita Rocker
International Author, Professional Speaker, and Founder of Have Value Rapid Results
Email: rita@soaringhigher.rocks
Discover how to bloom into your best self by recognizing your unique gifts and purpose. This empowering affirmation and guided project helps you transform life's challenges into strength and share your wisdom with others.
You, the beautiful flower...not the packet of seeds
Discover Your Gifts, Embrace Your Journey, and Bloom Into Your Best Self
Affirmation: Bloom Into Your Best Self
A flower does not think of competing against the flower next to it. It simply blooms!
Today, I make a list of all my abilities, accomplishments, and qualities. These are the gifts I will nourish so I can flourish and continue to grow stronger.
Age is not a limitation; it is filled with wisdom and life lessons that I can share with those who are sent across my path.
My physical, mental, and emotional scars-the weeds that once tried to choke me-are continuing to be removed until all I can see is the flourishing bouquet I have become.
I am ready. Let's do this!
Who isn't delighted by a gorgeous rose, a beautiful symbol of love, romance, and life itself?
It didn't start out that way, though.
Nature's storms pelt the little seed in a way that mirrors what we experience in life. However, turbulent moments are often where roots grow deepest and where the seed begins to take the shape of a beautiful flower-if, as the gardener, you nourish your seed (your life) properly.
In spite of the thorns-the trials of life-the transformation brings you from a tightly closed bud into a magnificent bloom.
When shopping for flowers, you look at the photographs on the seed packages. They do not show you what the seeds look like in their current state: dark, shriveled, and seemingly unable to showcase their true beauty and potential.
The package shows the magnificent end result.
Given the right nutrients and care, that seed will blossom into a vibrant and delightful creation.
Likewise, when you look in the mirror, never see yourself as inferior, unlovely, or defective-but as you truly are: a child of God's magnificence.
Allow the seed within you to blossom into the beautiful creation you were always meant to be...God's amazing daughter.
Let's rise together!
Project: Discover Your Gifts and Purpose
It's time to sit quietly with a pen and paper and reflect on all the things you do that truly light you up:
- Music-singing, playing instruments, or creating.
- Coaching and mentoring others.
- Serving as a mediator when people seek your guidance in resolving disputes.
- Helping those in need through acts of service and compassion.
- Using financial skills to support others during challenging times.
- Sewing, baking, creating, or other artistic talents.
- Providing makeovers and helping others feel confident.
- Offering medical assistance or caregiving from a place of compassion.
- Using your athletic abilities to coach and train others.
- Applying business knowledge to coach others in career development.
Most importantly, write down your positive and negative experiences-the moments that can guide others toward a more rewarding life and help them avoid the challenges you have already overcome.
Transformational stories are written in my books and shared in my signature speech:
"Triumphing Through Trials and Transitions: Keys to Recreating the Rest of Your Life!"
Rita Rocker
International Author, Professional Speaker, and High-Value Rapid Results Coach
SoaringHigher.rocks
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