Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Maxwell.
Hi Crystal, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Absolutely!
I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, home of Fiesta and the San Antonio Spurs. A for sure paradise for Authentic & Tex-Mex cuisine. I grew up on the Northside of San Antonio where there was literally no trouble to get into, but somehow, we found it.
Growing up, my life’s medal was failure. Not bronze, not silver, not gold; but failure.
My life was doomed by the age of 8. I was a very shy, timid, and awkward girl in every way. I repeated the 3rd & 8th grade twice and attended 4 years of high school and didn’t even graduate.
Not because I wasn’t capable of doing the work, but because I didn’t believe I could. Early on, I was already defeated in my mind because a teacher told me I would never be anything. I believed the chatter and tried my best to live out the negative opinion of others.
In fact, I skipped school, failed classes, & by the age of 15 was suspended 6 times. Alternative school, home school, & remedial classes were the only option for me. I believed that I would never amount to anything.
Until one day, everything changed.
One day, alone, I cried as I talked to God and asked him to change my situation. I promised that I would quit rebelling & would fight to make something of myself. God heard my prayer. I went off to college and eventually ended up obtaining a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree.
After graduate school, I landed a job that would be the stepping stone to entering my career.
It’s sad because I used to be so ashamed of my journey, but not anymore.
I can proudly say that behind the education, experience, photos, and videos is a girl who beat the odds. A girl whose life was doomed before she could even turn 10. A girl who has fought to stay determined, silence the negative treatment & opinions, and persevere.
I am here at this place in life because I have failed over, and over, and over again.
I am here to speak to the little girl or boy whose life has been in shambles and the only shadow they see is failure.
I am here to speak to the female or male who’s definition of life is defeat.
Through facing the unexpected, I built a backbone out of necessity, that is why my goal is to speak God, light, love & perseverance.
When you see me, know that you are looking at a person who’s life’s misfortunes have walked me closer to my purpose, so I can tell you, keep going.
When you see me, know that you are looking at a person who’s grimy path traveled is designed to walk me into my destiny, so I can tell you, don’t give up.
When you see me, know that you are looking at a person who has been shattered, broken, and crushed to pieces, but the only option presented was to survive, so I can tell you, let the pressure mold you into who you are destined to be.
I believe everything is a learning experience, and if you let it, you will grow & come out stronger.
In my photos, and in my videos, I smile because my story was supposed to end in my teenage years, but it didn’t. I smile because my story is supposed to end now, but it won’t.
Even today, my path has continued to be a roller coaster ride as I live my life from day to day, but I realize it’s necessary.
Necessary for my journey. Necessary for my testimony. Necessary to grow. Necessary so I may be a vessel and pour into the people who are lost and have given up, lost hope, & feel their life has ended before it has begun.
My life’s battles have made me into someone who is eccentric and unconventional in my thinking and my actions, which has played a big part in Pretty Paisley Designs being born.
Pretty Paisley Designs represents a need, coupled up with passion.
Pretty Paisley Designs, LLC launched on April 20, 2020. At the height of a Global Pandemic when the world was in a frenzy. Not knowing why our world turned upside down—hearts begin to collapse & minds began to shatter.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the CDC recommended wearing face coverings; however, there was no mask insight. All masks were sold out with no hint of when they would return. Nervous, with a 1-year-old,—I pulled out my sewing machine and taught myself how to sew by watching YouTube videos.
It’s the craziest thing, because three months prior, 1- 22- 20, I made a Vision Board to show a visual representation of my goals. One of my goals was to learn how to sew & sell/ market my products.
2- 11-20- For the first time, I took out of the box a sewing machine that a friend bought for me 8 years ago.
2- 13-20- I attempted to learn how to sew via YouTube. I wasn’t successful and gave up because I couldn’t figure out how to thread the bottom bobbin.
2- 15-20- I gave up! My goal was to sew an apron, and although I envisioned my apron being the best apron that has been created, I decided learning how to sew just wasn’t for me.
3-13-20- The world begins to shut down due to the pandemic. I began to learn how to sew fabric masks.
4-20-20- I thought sewing was pretty cool, so I launched Pretty Paisley Designs and made 53 fabric masks & sent them out to people who I felt needed them.
6-15-20- Received my LLC for Pretty Paisley Designs.
7-8-20- Learned how to Embroider.
9-20-20- Started selling & marketing my handmade/ embroidered masks.
10-20-20- Launched my website: prettypaisleydesigns.com
Even talking about it now, it’s still surreal. I don’t really feel like I had time to think. I just saw a problem & I wanted to provide a solution.
I believe Pretty Paisley Designs is truly a blessing from God. This business has allowed me to learn so much about myself personally. I am starting to see that everything that I have gone through in life has prepared me for this moment.
Pretty Paisley currently specializes in making custom, embroidered masks. Our masks are in a class by itself, in that you will not see them anywhere else. Each mask is unique and made just for you.
My masks have opened the door to an even greater vision. Outside of the creative aspect, my goal is to provide a language of Hope.
Ultimately, when people ask what my brand represents, I would say it represents God’s love, that is surrounded by an action that is unprecedented and speaks to fear, failures, and overcomers.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
No, not at all.
To be honest, there are days when I feel I’m winging it. Straight up dancing to the words and not the music.
I believe that it is important to say because some platforms make it look like building a brand is easy and it is not. This entrepeurneur grind is no joke. Entrepreneurship is ruthlessly aggressive and can be a bit disrespectful at times. It is worth it, though. If you really want it.
I believe Pretty Paisley Designs is truly a blessing from God. What I have learned about myself in this season will forever supersede any type of monetary value I could receive. Growth, strength and self awareness are priceless.
This journey often brings feelings of self-doubt, rejection, and the fear of failure. That’s why I can speak to you. I am living it.
It’s weird because when I speak encouragement to you, I am also speaking to myself. Every post I share is a reflection of what I need to hear and remind myself of daily.
Life already causes a certain level of uncertainty, but by adding entrepreneurship to your resume can make you feel like you arrived in a foreign country for the first time. Lost.
I am the first entrepreneur in my family, so in my personal life, I have no playbook on how things should go.
When I launched Pretty Paisley I didn’t have a plan, which I believe is important to have. I mean, you at least need to know who your audience is and let the rest follow. But for me, I just knew masks were needed & I wanted to make that happen. I didn’t think of my Why, my target audience, how I was going to get there, and when it was going to take place. I just let my creativity flow and the content you see awakened the person inside of me. I literally watched my passion come alive as I continued to create. That is when I started to think of my platform.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
In my entrepreneur journey, Pretty Paisley Designs is the first business that I have owned. Like I mentioned before, it was born out of necessity but is a reflection of who I am.
In my 9-5 life, I am in Healthcare Administration. In my previous position, I was the Director of Revenue Cycle where I managed 13 surgical centers and all of the back-office functions.
Even in my role in leadership, outside of meeting goals and metrics, I was exactly who you see today. Consistently pouring into my team letting them know they were capable of doing anything. It’s who God made me to be.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Definitely. Right now as we speak.
I have always used LinkedIn to network professionally.
About three years ago, I decided to step a little outside of the professional realm and start posting Monday Motivations that I wrote to encourage folks who I felt needed to hear something positive.
I began writing when I saw a post randomly come across my feed of Oprah Winfrey speaking at a commencement ceremony. It was so encouraging. I was shocked to see anything like that on Linked In, but I immediately said I wanted to do that, but in my own words.
Recently, I have taken my written post to another level and have been posting motivational videos & “Friday Dance Fun”, which is totally “not Linked In” in my opinion. Well, the old platform that is.
Not saying that anything that is being done would damage my personal and professional character, but I present myself with a headwrap, braids, a septum piercing & festive lipstick, which can be viewed as a little “out there.” So I put myself ‘out there’, with my network of the same CEOs, VP, Physicians, Recruiters, etc. watching and presenting myself exactly how I am.
I have had some say it’s too risky. I’m ruining my “good image”, but sometimes you have to step outside the box and introduce yourself to you.
In some environments, if your look reflects too much of your culture, you can be viewed a certain way. So, I believe my presence on Linked In can be viewed as being a bit unorthodox, but I’m still the person with the education, experience, & credentials—I just look different, but my core hasn’t changed. Well, my core has changed, but for the better.
It’s a bit risky, but the culture of Linked In as a whole is changing and I am excited to see what the future holds for that platform.
In this season I am raising the bar for myself in knowing that I am at this very place for a reason.
If you are a little quirky or in need of some you can do this vibes, come along on this journey. I am here for you!
Be the best you!
Pricing:
- $25-30 Custom Embroidered Mask.
Contact Info:
- Website: Prettypaisleydesigns.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettypaisleydesigns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prettypaisleydesigns/
- Twitter: www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-maxwell-mba-530b76a9
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD9RAoRgdeSZG1Z1cWssFRA
