We were lucky to catch up with Christina Collins recently and have shared our conversation below.

Christina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of the toughest things about entrepreneurship is that there is almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

The world of being a boss comes with inconsistency, long hours, uncertainty, and risk, constant problem-solving, slow growth at first, and so much more. It can literally be the complete opposite of working a 9-to-5.

One of the main things I’ve experienced as an entrepreneur, and I’m confident others can relate to, is the mental strength it takes to persevere—often being put in the position of a student, constantly learning lessons while running the business.

These topics get talked about often, yet they still feel unexpected when they occur. But these challenges are inevitable and come with the territory. Personally, a real-life event that stood out was not having enough clientele and experiencing attrition. These situations can feel genuinely discouraging and will make you second-guess yourself.

However, some key things I keep in mind are that my current circumstances don’t determine my future success, and that I’m 1000% a BOSS and amazing at what I do.

How I overcame these challenges: I surrounded myself with like-minded individuals and people who push me to my greatest potential. I also sought guidance from mentors who have been in my shoes and overcame similar challenges.

In the end, the things I mentioned don’t feel good at all, and as a matter of fact, they may happen again. But the BOSS life is for me, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Highly recommended.

Christina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Christina. I was born and raised in ATL, and I’m a proud Caribbean American and child of God.

I’m an entrepreneur at heart, so I wear many hats, lol.
First, I have my brand, Classy Gyal Travels, where I help people pursue their ideal lifestyle through their love for travel and helping others.

Secondly, I have a passion for performing arts, specifically dancing. I’ve been performing and practicing in studios since the age of three and fell in love right away. I’m also dabbling in modeling, and being a dancer has significantly helped with developing this new skill.

Lastly, my most recent endeavor is UGC/Content Creation, which aligns perfectly with my Virtual Assistant skills. I’m new to the game, but I’ve been enjoying it since day one. The idea of helping brands, big and small, market their products in a genuine and relatable way to their audience is really cool.

What sets me apart from others is my ability to be authentic and genuine. These are qualities we often miss, so I pride myself on being real and staying true to who I know I am at all times.

I have a list of things I’m proud of, but since I’ve covered that before, I can say my resilience and confidence through the process of running my businesses stand out the most. I’ve been through some trying situations these past few years, but my goals and vision for the future haven’t changed.

What I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know about my work is:

If you have a dream vacation that you want planned out by an expert, I’ve got you. You dream it. I plan it.
If you’re looking for plus-size dancers or models, I’ve got you.
And if you’re a business owner who needs help marketing your products or services, I’ve got you.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective way to grow my clientele and team is through networking. I’ve mastered the art of pivoting conversations and encounters with others to promote my businesses and the services I offer.

Whether I’m at a networking event, out at a restaurant, waiting in the airport, or at a hair or nail appointment, you name it—I’m always promoting my brand. I believe in it so much that I seize every opportunity to share what I do.
It requires stepping out of your comfort zone, but after doing it a few times, you’ll start feeling more confident.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

PROCRASTINATION.

I think this topic is self-explanatory, but to go deeper—I’ve missed out on life-changing opportunities because of this bad habit. But never again. Once you experience something like this, you’ll learn your lesson.

As my millionaire mentor taught me, “When you think it, do it. PERIOD.”

Stop sitting on those skills and talents you were blessed with, and go out there and just START. You’ll figure it out along the way, and if you mess up, that’s okay. It happens, and get used to it, because mistakes happen often as a BOSS. Just address them and make adjustments.
And lastly, feel the fear and do it anyway. Don’t let that hold you back from your BRIGHT future.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chrissyg.taplink.ws/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theofficialchrissyg/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-c-500163144
• Other: Ugc Portfolio: bit.ly/3X5VK5N

  Model Comp Card: https://gracethecreator.my.canva.site/digital-comp-card

Image Credits

Instagrams:

@ spiffyshotthis
@ tmcguirejr
@jarvisreleford