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

Hi Crystal, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Bet on yourself and you’ll never lose. I live by the philosophy that courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to act in spite of being afraid. Risk taking has been at the center of my life from the age of 14 when I got pregnant from sexual assault and decided to carry my child to term. I placed my daughter in an open adoption and had no idea how I’d be able to do that and move on with life. It ended up working out so beautifully, and she is such a blessing to my life. Taking risks still remains very challenging for me, because by nature I’m an overthinker. The motivation to actually step into action and take my chances throughout life came from pure passion and grit – even if it was because I was so unfulfilled and miserable. The decision to start my own business and create a location-independent lifestyle came from unbearable discomfort with the status quo of working a 9 to 5 until I was able to retire at 65. I knew in my heart that I was meant to impact lives on a greater scale and that I had unlimited earning potential on my own. The denial of my heart’s desire was causing me more pain than any risk associated with taking the leap. However, I always tell anyone thinking of quitting a job to be sure that when they do leap, that they either “have a very large parachute or a soft place to land”, because failures are almost guaranteed in the first couple years in business. Every major accomplishment I’ve had in my life is the result of me being willing to lead with my heart and embrace those (real or potential) failures head on with courage, despite not being able to see precisely what the outcome would be.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’ve been blessed to have a 15-year career in entertainment business marketing and public relations working with top celebrities and corporations like Universal Music, Warner Bros, CBS and Disney Music. I left my 9 to 5 in 2016 after I went through a very challenging divorce, and not feeling supported in my position. I also knew as a woman of color that the growth opportunities I desired weren’t going to be given to me that easily. I decided the best way to step into the “greatness,” income and impact I desired for my life was to start out on my own journey of self-discovery and personal development. I began by freelancing as an independent marketing and public relations strategist, and eventually founded by transformation coaching business, The Crysalis. This evolution of me stemmed from my healing journey as a trauma survivor and a passion for empowering others to own their story, reinvent their lives and take charge of their destiny. I’ve learned so many incredible lessons along my entrepreneurial journey thus far, and I’m certain I have many more to glean. I’ve learned the importance of investing in and looking for great mentors, asking for support and building a team. No successful empire was ever built by one person alone, and you can’t really call yourself a boss if you’re grinding yourself to the bone to prove how much of a “hustler” you are. So far, I’ve started four companies: The Omni Firm LA, Ala Exotic Cannabis, LipLadyFab.com, and The Crysalis Academy. There is no way on earth I could ever manage this all without a team. What I truly want the world to know, is that anything you dream is possible and you are the hero of your own story. In my new Crysalis Collective membership, I teach mindset shifting techniques to re-wire self-doubt and negative beliefs, so you can manifest your best life. I was able to heal my life, learn to love myself, replace my full-time income, travel the world, land publicity and work from anywhere, because of the power of re-writing my stories. You can literally take every single thing that was meant to break you and use it as a stepping stone. Every one of my flaws, the things I was bullied for, the pain I’ve experienced. I’ve been able to re-frame those stories and the meaning I give to them in order to fuel my purpose and build my brand. I’m an entertainment industry veteran with a few multiplatinum plaques on the wall, but major media outlets don’t typically care about a woman in a suit representing someone else’s dream. As a professional speaker, coach and author I’ve been featured in major news media outlets mainly because I was willing to show up, share my personal stories and be seen. I was willing to be vulnerable enough to share my story. I believe that level of transparency truly inspires others because it gives them permission to stand out and authentically be themselves. Your flaws are your footstool.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Los Angeles is so full of culture, amazing food and incredible views! When my best friends visit LA, their usual stops are tourist attractions like Disneyland, but all of them are closed at the moment. But, I like to spoil them and let them experience the real culture of LA – incredible hikes, relaxing spas and the ambiance of some of the great foodie spots in Los Angeles. Lately, I’ve been really interested in discovering great black owned establishments. One restaurant that I’d really love to take my best friends is Poppy + Rose in Downtown Los Angeles for the chicken and waffles. They have amazing brunch style offerings, salads, espresso drinks, and I’m really looking forward to enjoying their rooftop once things go “back to normal.” For shopping, I’d definitely take them to the Grove and Farmer’s Market, as well as the Beverly Center to take a look at the renovations. Plus, we’d have to stop by the amazing new art and pop culture gallery, The Lost Warhols, to check out the hottest local artists and the latest fashion trends from black-owned brand ‘Juicy Queen Coco,’ the resident fashionista! In February 2021, my birth-daughter and grand-daughter are planning to visit me. We’re looking forward to enjoying a stroll on the beach near Malibu, which can be enjoyed year-round with a light sweater. My daughter is an aspiring songwriter, so chances are we will also go have a songwriting and recording session at the Vortex Hollywood recording studio, ran by my business partner and multiplatinum music producer, Caviar Cross. One thing that hasn’t slowed down in Los Angeles is artists finding places to create great art! One place I know we can vibe out together is the House of Intuition on Melrose Avenue. They have the most enchanting selection of crystals, candles and trinkets. Every time I go there, I stock up on incense, candles and allow my intuition to guide me to a crystal to add to my collection. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Any success, credit or recognition I’ve achieved in my life is the result of my faith in the Creator. I also would like to thank my incredible friends and family for supporting my entrepreneurial journey and holding me down!

Website: www.crystalwillis.com
Instagram: instagram.com/mscrystalwillis
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/mscrystalwillis
Twitter: twitter.com/mscrystalwillis
Facebook: facebook.com/mscrystalwillis
Other: Also visit: www.TheOmniFirmLA.com www.AlaExotics.com www.LipLadyFab.com For more inspiration, Listen to The Crysalis podcast on Spotify (also on iHeart Radio and Apple Music): https://open.spotify.com/show/7uX97QROHjVvXKJZRM1PfU?si=vDHP0a4dSGK1d_QQEb8MBw

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.