Meet Kimberly Harris | Serial Entrepreneur–Lifestyler & Interior Designer, Real Estate Investor & Podcaster

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kimberly Harris and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kimberly, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
God. You really don’t know whether to keep going or give up. My faith keeps me going. Entrepreneurship is a roller coaster ride. It is not for everyone. It will give you anxiety. You have really high highs and really low lows. However, when you are walking in your purpose, opportunities continue to present themselves. You have to listen to what the universe is telling you. Some are tests to see if you are ready. You have to do the work, retail persistent and stay on path. You have to be prepared for what you’re asking for-mentally, emotionally, physically prepared for the ride. Persistence, organization, and always striving to be better/learn more is what keeps me going. Giving up is the easy route. Nothing in life comes easy, and if it did, you don’t appreciate it as much. You will fail far more than you will succeed–especially in the beginning. I consider it, failing forward. The wins feel so much better after you have failed. The adrenaline and high you feel when you are finally victorious. I keep chasing that high. That’s what keeps me going.

What should our readers know about your business?
Catch 22 Boutique was my first baby. Originally started out as a trendy online boutique-in 2006, in Houston–long before Instagram & instagram boutiques. Relaunched in 2013 in DC, as a luxury consignment shop, and quickly evolved into a lifestyle boutique. I do closet clean outs & organization–for the luxury consignment, and interior design and space planning–including renovation structural design. We also do investment properties. Jane of all trades. I am also the “Momager” to my sons’ modeling careers. The oldest, Jackson, went viral for looking like John Legend a couple of years ago, but stays booked and busy! I went full-time entrepreneur (the first time) in 2013. Dipped back into corporate America in 2018, after moving back to Texas, and now full time entrepreneur again. What I realized is that what I thought was failure, was a simple stepping stone. I was more worried that I would be viewed as a failure and that–made me think I was a failure. Don’t let social media life fool you. Entrepreneurship gets this grandiose aura about it, but it isn’t all glamorous. You take dips. You need breaks, and for me, I had to find the balance between being a wife, a mom, and an entrepreneur all at the same time. I never abandoned my businesses, just lost my enthusiasm for the drive at one point and had to get back on track. Raising small kids is no joke, A mother, a wife, and a business woman are all THREE full-time jobs. I needed to get a flow that worked for me & overcome the step-back I took when we moved and becoming a new mom. Going back to corporate brought my drive back & made me realize just how much I wanted it for myself. I absolutely love doing the installations on an interior project but I can also do it remotely and design online for clients that are not local. I have designed an entire kitchen in Nashville, from home. I designed a Planned Parenthood in MD from my couch. I got to do that install because it was pre-Covid, but biggest part of running a business is knowing how to be innovative and pivot. I have been online designing but never pushed it as an added feature until now. A lightbulb went off like, tahdah! You’ve been doing this; now market it! I worked in radio sales prior to going full time entrepreneur, and it was my clients that actually pushed me the most! Realizing my attributes and strong points is what gave me the confidence to make the leap. The love for renovation goes hand in hand with the interior design, and the fact that Jasper (my husband) & I, love to be hands on in flips. He now has the design bug too! We’ve been investing and dabbling our entire marriage (8 years), and now that we have a few of projects under our belts, we can say with confidence that we are real estate investors. Last year, my friend Courtney came to me about launching a real estate podcast. She did allll this research, and basically gave me a presentation pitch as to why we should do it. A podcast was far from what I ever imagined. It is 3 women of color in the real estate world. She is in Cali, & Eboney and I are in Texas. Real Women Real Estate launched mid February, just before Covid hit, and it has surpassed any expectations I could ever have had for it. It happened so fast. It’s like, everyone was waiting for us to do this! This goes back to walking in your purpose. Nothing is over night, but when it’s right, you will get signs along the way to know that it is right. It seems like I do a lot (which I do) but they all flow together. It’s all about having a schedule and being organized. My love language is acts of service, and it shows in my desire to help people achieve goals. Jane of All Trades if you will.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
OMG sooooo many places!!! First of all, we are doing brunch EVERYWHERE lol! Places that are a must when I am home & with visitors–especially if they have never been. Hank’s Ice Cream is a must. Merida’s for brunch, Ninfa’s on Navgation or El Tiempo’s for dinner (anything Mexican or Seafood)–basically we are eating all day everyday. Benjy’s to kick it on the rooftop (if they ever open back up). Simone on Sunset for wine. Frenchy’s chicken. Lucille’s for drinks and brunch (fried green tomatoes). The Turkey leg Hut–but for the creole bowl–it’s the best thing on the menu! The Breakfast Club or Kulture. Phil & Derek’s or Brennan’s on the Bayou for the live music brunch. Cyclone’s for the bottomless mimosas. Bayou City Seafood for the crawfish & pasta. Max’s Wine Dive for the fried lobster, red velvet pancakes & the fried chicken. We are getting Sno Cones & Burgers from Red’s Wagon. Or just burgers from Sparkles, or Cream Burgers. My sister, DJ Athenz, is a DJ in Houston, and the resident DJ at the Texas pool at the Marriott Marquis, so we are DEFINITELY going to kick it there. Bar 5015 to hang. Alley Kat on Friday. The “Spot’ for the late night spot. Bar hopping in Rice Village for a chill night. The davenport for the best martinis and a chill vibe. The Flat for frozen mojitos. Boheme for the Vietnamese fries (my sister ALSO DJs there). Axelrad to chill. The Truck Yard. Discovery Green. Zaza’s Pool. Clearly I like eating, drinking and chilling! Anywhere Justin Moore (Holly Hall Supply), or my sister deems the hotspot now lol. I am SURE I am missing some spots1

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh wow. So many people deserve a shout out for adding to my success. I would like to dedicate this Shoutout to my husband, Jasper for supporting and actually starting to see the visions I see, and to my boys. They are ,my biggest motivators. People talk about generational wealth, but it can only be generational if the generations opt to keep it up. Our 4 year old, Jackson, comes on house searches with us. We tell him, this is going to be your house. Start them young. He actually enjoys it. We hope that continues as a way of life for him. We don’t want to just hand him something without him knowing what to even do with the properties/companies, to make him money. We are teaching him the skills he would need to continue on

Website: www.catch22boutique.com
Instagram: @_catch22boutique_,@realwomenrealestate, @mrskrae
Twitter: https://twitter.com/catch22boutique
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catch22boutique/, https://www.facebook.com/realwomenrealestate1/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDHyU_pd9As5AR_eYGPSwSA
Other: Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-women-real-estate/id1500520671, also available on google podcast, anchor.fm, and spotify to name a few.

Image Credits
They are all my pictures–taken by me