We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristy Pridgen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kristy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Please tell us about starting your own firm and if you’d do anything different knowing what you know now.
I have always been the go to person for personal & business matters amongst family, friends & strangers on the outside looking in so I decided to start my non-profit organization “Inspiring Lady Bosses”… our mission is to assist our members develop and/or grow their business legally & successfully. The main steps in forming my non-profit was research, then executing the information that I discovered & tailor it to my nonprofit according to its structure.
While setting up my non-profit proved to be easy, recruiting & keeping members interest has been a bit of a challenge, however I shall press on!
Knowing what I know now, I would have built a more reliable team of ladies that would be of more assistance in the work side of “Inspiring Lady Bosses” as we host several free monthly events for the community!
I would advise any young professional seeking to start a non profit organization to be firm in their mission regardless of how it looks in the beginning, Rome was not built in a day!
Kristy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am Kristy Pridgen, a mother, wife, minister, multiple business owner, & self published author! I have been active in the beauty industry for 25 years & counting.
I am the proud mother of Dwayne (28), Samuel (27), Briauna (19), Amanda (18) & Brian (15).
I am the blessed wife of Wilton Pridgen & Bonus mom to his son Jamarion (15) of Clarksville, TN where I minister Restoration & Happiness
I own an amazing Hair, Bath & Body care line “Kristy’s Naturals” (since 2010)
I am the CEO of Kindom Professionals Inc. of Clarksville, TN a virtual call center I launched January of 2019 for single parents, college students & our beloved veterans!
I am the founder of “Inspiring Lady Bosses” nonprofit organization, started March of 2022
I have self published four titles & am working on my fifth…
Beauty Business Startup Guide
Kristy’s Kitchen
Kristy Pridgen’s Mindset Repair
Kristy Pridgen’s Building Brickhouse Faith
All available on Amazon!
“Be Well” – Coming Soon
Having been a business woman for the past 25 years and counting, I am most proud of the husband that I have been blessed with as he is very supportive of what I do & that’s what it takes!
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
There are two books that I have found to be the core of my entrepreneur mindset…
First and utmost, the Bible & the scripture that reminds me not to forget that no matter what I have to do & who I seek to help, it is the most high God in the heavens above that is in control & I could not be who I am to anyone without him!
Romans 12:11 – Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Second, “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Napoleon Hill, I enjoyed the break down of the difference in mindsets. This was the book that thought me the true meaning of assets & liabilities, that knowledge helps me in all areas of life today.
Third, but most certainly not least “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle, Many people ask me how I am able to maneuver so many ventures at a time, a settle mind & a calm spirit is the answer. I remember sitting in a park reading The Power of Now, I was near the middle of the book, when I looked down & there was a squirrel sitting right next to my foot looking up at me. I was so amazed, I had never seen a squirrel that close to a person & to top it off, I was unbothered by its presence as I continued to read. I looked over from my book as my new friend went on his merry way & noticed the grass waving back & forth, back & forth… there was ABSOLUTELY no wind on this hot summer day!
Any fun sales or marketing stories?
I remember when I first launched “Quick Loc Foam”, I manufactured 240 8oz. bottles, loaded them in my Jeep & hit the highway (I-4, Florida) headed to Tampa from Orlando… I had already sold about thirty bottles here & there in Orlando, however I wanted to touch a new market. I reserved a room in Tampa & on the road I went in my super old should have broken down twice Jeep Cherokee, that had been diagnosed with the “Death Wobble’… it was all I had, I could only drive between 55-60 miles per hour to prevent this terrifying wobble…LMBO! I made it to Tampa safely & sold 140 the first day there. When I woke up the next day to visit the remaining salons on my list, I had a message stating, “Hey, I bought a bottle from you yesterday for one of my stylist & she wants to know if you sell them by the case”… I giggled so hard, my stomach was in a knot. Needless to say I left Tampa that weekend “Sold Out”.
Did I mention that at this time in “2014” I was homeless with my three youngest children living in the only shelter located in Sanford, FL!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/InspiringLadyBosses
- Linkedin: www.LinkedIn.com/in/Kristy-
Pridgen-83b99366 - Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPFdGv-_f3i6yijCOH9Gvng
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kristys-naturals-clarksville