It's been months since I
shared an interview, but I didn't want to let August end without giving you a
dose of inspiration from Christina Bright! I've followed Christina (who is
known as chrismiss_ )
on Instagram for quite a while, and she's one of my favorite people to follow on
social media because of her authenticity. She shares the joy, struggles, and
work of her life transparently. Her posts will make you laugh, think, and
inspire you to get serious about turning your goals into a lifestyle. When I
met Christina at Ayana Iman's Authentic Convos event in February, she was so friendly and her vibrant
personally shined through; I immediately knew I needed to introduce her to you.
Christina lives life beautifully because she lives life authentically.
Who are you and where
are you from?
My name is Christina Bright and I am from Newark, NJ.
What is your purpose?
My purpose is to be the best version of myself I can
possibly be …to manifest the life I deserve so that I can inspire people to do
the same.
How does your purpose
align with your passion?
I’m passionate about creating, from directing, to writing, modeling,
and the list goes on. I’m learning that when your work is an authentic
reflection of you, you work to connect with people on a very human level. I
don’t set out to inspire people, but I understand that knowing, loving, and
appreciating my SELF means that I will produce work that will inspire people to
start finding and loving themselves.
How did you discover
your passion?
I discovered my passion when I made the decision to dedicate
my life to self-discovery. I’ve always wanted to help people. When I saw that
sharing my story was doing that…I knew what I’d be doing for the rest of my
life. Living, being, doing, sharing.
Those who are
familiar with you on social media know you are a visionary and have been
involved in some awesome projects! What are some of the things you do for a
living?
I have been really getting into creatively directing
projects. It’s so natural for me to create. From the look, to the message, to
the vibe…I like to see an entire project through from beginning to end. I act,
and have a web series premiering within the next few weeks. I model…which was
cool in the beginning but I’m really beginning to LOVE it. I also have clients
who I provide personal and brand development for. I’ve recently gotten into
public speaking and have spoken at a few colleges this year. So YES , I do it
ALL!
What is a typical day
like for you?
My days start of snuggling with my 6 year old son. We mediate,
eat breakfast together and then I drop him off to school/camp. Lately I’ve been
so BUSY that I can’t make a move until I look at my calendar. Every day is SO
different for me …I can be hopping on the train and heading to the city for a
shoot or meeting with clients. It all depends.
You made a bold move
to leave the corporate world to pursue your passions full time. What prompted
your decision to exit the corporate world and never look back?
I was feeling so unfulfilled an uninspired. So I thought
about what I had to lose, and aside from money I couldn’t think of anything. The
choices were money or my purpose. SO I jumped. Once I left, it wasn’t an easy
road. It still isn’t. But I recognized that I’m a winner and I was made to live
the life I am living and when I accepted that BIG things started happening in
my life.
Do you have any
mentors who have helped you on your path? If so, how did you find them and what
advice would you give to someone seeking a mentor?
I was blessed to have an AMAZING neighbor (Miss Glecia) who
was there for the beginnings of this process. I would stop by her house and
talk to her several times a week. She
encouraged me, and gave me a lot advice on my journey and parenting. I’ve just
connected with another woman from my hometown who’s spirit is amazing. Her name
is Q. Her energy is so familiar to me,
and she’s making moves that I aspire to make. I believe the mentoring should be
a natural thing. It’s about recognizing who you look up to, who you TRUST and
who’s advice you value.
How do you use your
passion for good?
I use social media to bring people along the day to day. I
talk about the ups and downs. I’m able to do everything I love. I can express
myself through story telling, and creating positive images and videos while
inspiring people to go after whatever it is they love.
What motivates you to
persevere when obstacles arise?
My son. My only option is to persevere because I know he is
watching me. I also know that obstacles are a part of the design. Nothing comes
easy. Obstacles are a sign that you are on the right path. They test how much
you really want it.
Have you ever felt
like giving up on the entrepreneurial life or lost focus of your passion? If
so, how did you get re-centered?
I’ve definitely had times where I felt discouraged, uninspired,
and burnt out. I was putting too much focus on making something happen and
always worried about what the next opportunity would be but I wasn’t treating
myself fairly. I wasn’t resting enough or eating well. I was taking care of
everyone but not myself. Becoming Vegan has made a HUGE impact in my life. It’s
helped me re-center and put the focus on SELF. When you’re intentional about
what you’re ingesting, you really begin to pay more attention to ALL of your surroundings.
I’ve noticed that I’m way more aware, more relaxed…and more in unison with the
universe all together. The things that are manifesting in my life are
predicated from maintaining that good emery.
What is the most
valuable lesson you have learned while pursuing your path? Is there anything
you wish you had known before transitioning to full time entrepreneurship?
Don’t give up. It’s ok to have a moment or two or three...or
however many moments it takes. But when you continue to go for it despite any
of that, your real purpose will reveal
itself. We learn from everything…the good and bad alike. I think that people
want to know everything there is to know about entrepreneurship before they
take the leap but again, it’s a PROCESS. You will learn as you go. Anyone can
start from the very place they stand. You just have to decide.
What advice would you
give to a young adult who wants to become a full time entrepreneur but is
facing pressure to stay in corporate America?
Follow your heart. Don’t allow fear to make you back down
from your heart’s true desires. Know that you will ‘fail”. You will “struggle”.
You will question yourself, but all of those feeling are normal. They test your
faith and your character. See it through. Show up for you dreams and they will
show up for you.
What is the most
difficult part about being an entrepreneur?
I would say time management. Everyone wants to be their own
boss until its actually time for you to start managing every single part of
your business. You have to make every
single decision and if something goes wrong, there is no one to point the
finger at.
What legacy would you
like to leave?
I want people to know that simply BEING who you were made to
be is ENOUGH. The gift(s) that God has given you will provide for you. I want
people to see me and see someone who is fearless, who goes after what she wants
no matter what barriers may exist. I want people to know that it’s ok to be
transparent, and to be human, and to be brilliant all at the same time.
Where can we find you
on social media?
IG: ChrisMiss_
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