We recently connected with Crystal Stevens and have shared our conversation below.

Crystal, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

I aspire to leave behind a legacy that reflects not just my success and achievements, but also my unwavering determination, hard work, and resilience in the face of challenges. As a young Black woman, I face numerous obstacles that challenge my status as an entrepreneur and professional, but I want to be remembered for the ways I overcame those obstacles and achieved my goals. Being a first-generation college graduate and entrepreneur, I am motivated to continue striving for greatness so that a legacy is established for my descendants. Despite the odds against me, I have been able to rise to new heights and I hope that my journey serves as an inspiration to others. With a strong work ethic, positive mental attitude, and unwavering faith, I believe that anything is possible.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Bartending was not something I initially set out to do, but it found me. My only goal was to earn a living and help others in the process. However, after my first shift at a local restaurant during college, I was hooked. I knew that bartending would be a part of my life from then on. After graduating, I felt pressure to find a “real job”, but it didn’t fulfill me the way bartending did. During the pandemic, with the lockdown and uncertainty, I was inspired to finally launch the mobile bartending idea that I had been sitting on for years. And ITM was born. We are a full-service mobile bartending organization that strives to provide exceptional and unforgettable experiences to our guests. I believe that creating and maintaining connections is one of the most valuable things we can do as humans. Through ITM, I have had the pleasure of connecting with amazing individuals while adding value to their events and lives. I am most proud of having built this brand from scratch, incorporating my unique style and personality while reflecting my personal values of exceptional customer service, innovation, humility, and creating opportunities for others.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Of course, I love reading and enjoy sharing book recommendations with others. As an entrepreneur, I initially struggled to progress in my business and felt like something was missing. It wasn’t until I confided in someone close to me that I was introduced to two books that changed my life: The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. These books helped me realize that to achieve success, I needed to change my mindset.

Early in my career at ITM, I undervalued myself and settled for lower compensation. After re-evaluating my goals, and with the help of the aforementioned books, I understood that the quality of our services was worth far more than we were charging. Our clients agreed, and I was able to increase our prices accordingly.

Recently, I read We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers. This book is a must-read for women entrepreneurs (especially Black women entrepreneurs). It teaches readers to increase service value, secure matching salaries, and rethink their worth, and has proven to be a valuable resource in my life.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Before starting ITM, I had to unlearn the misconception that success is linear. I used to believe that success can be achieved quickly and with little effort. However, I soon realized that it was not the case. Our first year of business was challenging, and I struggled to build a secure clientele base. I also had difficulties with brand development and marketing strategies, and felt overwhelmed with the responsibility that comes with owning a business. I entered the business world with naivety and optimism, but I have learned a lot since then.

Now, I aim to improve myself as a human being and business owner every day. I understand that to reach my goals, I must move forward, even if it’s just a small step at a time. Committing to the journey and trusting the process is crucial. Although it can be challenging at times, striving for higher heights while maintaining the goal of providing exceptional customer service and respect to every individual is always worthwhile.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.itmbar.com
• Instagram: inthe_mixbar
• Facebook: ITM Bartending