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

Hi Krystal, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
For me, “success” is defined as being excited about my work more often than dreading it. Don’t get me wrong. There are still days in my business where I don’t feel successful, but those don’t happen nearly as often as days that light me up! And I have to attribute those days to just sticking with something. I teach entrepreneurs how to start, launch, and market their podcasts through my podcasts, digital course, membership, and YouTube channel all dedicated to podcasting. And if I didn’t find any of that fun or exciting anymore…then I’d be in trouble! Many entrepreneurs get started on a specific path and run into obstacles. (I know I have…I’m looking at you failed blog posts!) But when you’re faced with the crossroads of “Do I take a left here, down the mysterious path…?” or “Should I go right and just take the easy way…” I always recommend going with the path that’s mysterious and exciting. If I would’ve taken the path that felt easier when I first started on this journey, I would still be trying to write blog posts (probably unsuccessfully) about topics that don’t really excite me. And maybe it would be easy. Instead, I always lean into excitement – with a huge dose of patience and grace – knowing that there will still be obstacles but at least my work won’t be boring!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business, Proffitt Media, is a dream come true for me. Some people say, “I’ll be happy when my company reaches 7-figures.” But I feel like I’m already living my dream. Box checked. To-Do item complete. Sure, the “million-dollar business” title will be nice when we get there, but for now…I’m happy with the idea that I was just a stay-at-home-mom in 2014 that started tinkering around with creating something for myself. That’s what Proffitt Media is to me. It’s a love letter to all of those women out there who may be working a corporate job that they’re good at, but don’t love. Or those moms who are scared that they’ll feel selfish for pursuing something outside of raising their children. Or for anyone who’s ever dreamed of being their own boss. Creating and running a company hasn’t always been easy. And there is definitely still lots of hard work that goes into the business every day. But I also believe in the long-term vision I have for my life and my family. I love that I can work before my kids wake up in the morning and be done by the time they get off the school bus. I also love that I can literally do my work anywhere! But the biggest lesson I’ve learned along the way is to just keep going. Keep making those small tweaks here and there to course-correct. Don’t worry about those 1-star reviews or refund requests. They happen to us all. Don’t let your identity be so wrapped up in your business that you can’t take a step back and see the bigger picture. One lesson I wish I would’ve learned sooner is whenever you get customer feedback, LISTEN! Take the emotional side of “they don’t like me or my product” out of the equation and listen to how you can make your product better for future iterations and customers. Business isn’t meant to be complicated. It’s pretty simple actually. But we make it complicated by putting too much pressure on ourselves in the first few years. One final tip, find one person – someone that you trust – and check in with them at least once a month. This could be a friend, colleague, or partner, but it’s important to be really honest about your business. No fluffy numbers that’ll make you look good to others in your industry. Be really honest with yourself and the people you trust so you can measure how you and the business are doing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We love the ocean, technology, and being outdoors! So if you’re visiting the Houston area, I’d say check out: – The Seawall in Galveston – Moody Gardens (Especially for the kiddos!) – NASA is a must – The Woodland’s Children’s Museum is fun for little ones – Kirby’s in The Woodlands is great for a fancy dinner out

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
“Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert is the book I come back to time and time again. When I get started on any creative endeavor in my business, I know that the end result doesn’t have to be perfect. The process of creating is where the “magic” lies. As a podcast host, content creator, and coach, I think it’s so important to share with others that we don’t have to be perfect when we’re trying something new. Sharing those first-draft messes or those big-time “oopsies” with my audience is what lets them in. (And my audience loves a good behind-the-scenes moment!) It’s what connects us all. Because let’s be real, we ALL make mistakes. Gilbert’s book gave me the creative permission I needed to make more mistakes and to not try to fix everything that I thought was wrong with the way I create things. Instead, I was encouraged to follow the messy creativity as it comes at me. I write my books, create podcast episodes, and even draft out business strategies this way because trying to be perfect is boring! I’d rather move forward making mistakes and enjoying the process along the way than try to fit my creative work into the mold of everyone else’s standards.

Website: https://krystalproffitt.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystalproffitttx/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystalproffitt/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KrystalProffittTX/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/krystalproffitt
Other: Clubhouse: @KrystalProffitt Book “Start a Binge-Worthy Podcast”: thebestpodcastbook.com

Image Credits
Kelly Buckner – Bee Bold Consulting

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