Today we’d like to introduce you to Crysta Wicks.
Crysta, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Do you believe in fairy tales?? Life is what you create it to be… I was born and raised in the beautiful City of Chicago on the Southeast Side. I’m the eldest daughter of three girls, it is no surprise that I quickly identified with being “The Boss” in my house. Being the oldest child gave me the privilege of being in charge while Mom & Dad were away at work.
Honestly, I’ve always been in love with the power of being needed and the go-to person in the family even as a child. It wasn’t until I became a teenager did all that change, I developed what many would call “Teen Rebellious Syndrome” I began to resent everything I thought that I loved in having motherly duties. By this time I was very much grown in my own eyes and I thought that I knew absolutely everything there was to know about life. This was the attitude that convinced me that I would probably be okay on my own living as an adult, although very much a child.
Growing up fast was common in my neighborhood but my family wasn’t having any parts of that lifestyle. I come from a hard-working, no-nonsense type of family, a do as I say not as I do type of family. Once I got a taste growing up fast, my behaviors didn’t align with what would be deemed acceptable under their roof. For many years I watched my family work hard, play it safe, and just survive. The more I paid attention to the people and things around me is the more that I realized that life is so much bigger than what we were living. I couldn’t figure out why they didn’t understand me?
I grew up in an era where there were the “Brenda’s Got A Baby” situations in many households, teenage pregnancies was a norm in my neighborhood. My family was protecting me from everything I was running towards. I admit if I knew then what I know now, life would be extremely different. What I’ve learned is experience is your best teacher and I would not change one experience for the world.
I had no reason to be rebellious, I was living a very good life and yet I had become everything that my family was protecting from. Now it’s comical to hear a person say… Stay a child as long as you can! I became what I didn’t want to be and that was a statistic. Quickly I identified as teenage Mom on welfare, in a beautiful City with so much opportunity and yet I wasn’t taking advantage of it. I’ve always had desires for more than what was in front of me & yet I had become the very thing that I resented the most from the behavior of my family… and that was being satisfied. A teenage mind can never understand the difference between satisfied vs sacrifice, there is a huge difference.
Life wasn’t slowing down it was speeding up. At the tender age of 17 years old, I gave birth to a baby girl and only then did I get the biggest dose of “Wake Up” & get your stuff together! We don’t realize what/ why are parents do what they do and behave the way they do until you have a little face looking at you with expectations. The life that you are now responsible for is expecting to be cared for, fed, safe, and loved because that’s what’s required when you make adult decisions. That’s when life got real for me, it was no more fun and games! It was never them it was me…trying to find my way.
Having my daughter completely changed my life and my attitude. It’s totally different when you are playing house in somebody else’s house. You aren’t really a grown up when you are temporarily handling someone else’s responsibility. The truth of the matter is that you can relinquish those duties at any time and give those responsibilities back after an eight-hour shift. When you create your own responsibilities it becomes a “so what are you going to do” type of situation?
Now the high school dropout that thinks she knows it all has a baby! All I could think is now what’s next? This was the first time in my life that I realized that my circumstances would not define me and being okay was not enough. The responsibility of having a daughter ignited a fire under me that has that was silently burning, what was required of me was the catalyst that began to fan my flames and create a warrior mentality. I was so accustomed to people putting my fire out that when the right opportunity presented itself I was ready to walk through the fire for it.
I refused to be an unemployed Mom looking for a handout so I applied for a housekeeping position at a local Hotel near my neighborhood. Athough the requirements stated that I wasn’t qualified for this position, I wasn’t taking no for an answer. At this point I have too much to lose, this was first time I looked my future dead in the eyes and claimed my fate. I came to the interview with expectations to leave with a position in housekeeping and walk out with a position in the front office of the Hotel. We have to be ready for everything we say we want even if another person feels you are unqualified. When you change your mind and realize that there is a purpose on your life magical things happen. You will witness doors, windows, and cracks in the floor of opportunity will opening for your behalf.
Every day, I went to that corporation with GRATITUDE in my heart. They gave me a chance and I vowed that I would excel in every area of that hotel and change my life. I quickly climbed the corporate ladder in the Hospitality Industry. I became a Supervisor at 18 y.o. & a Front Office Manager by 19 y.o. At that very moment and that’s when real magic began. I realized that life was made up of a lot more than red tape and logistics but more of what you believe. I found that it is vital to your success to go out and take what’s yours, you can’t wait for anybody to give you anything. If you want great you have to be great, learn from the great, and implement great.
I utilized every tool learned from life experiences & Corporate America in order to become everything that I ever wanted to be. I began to live life without limitations and not apologize about becoming a better woman than the world expected of me. I began to live a life that at times I didnt believe was possible, and realized I had the power to make the impossible, possible. One thing that is certain when you grow is that this canvas that we are all painting called life, can be changed/altered at any moment in order to become the masterpiece that you are living. I’ve erased and added things a time or two but I’ve never detoured from the fact that playing it safe wasn’t an option for me. When you become a risk taker and are willing to bet it all on the things you believe in, your confidence changes.The difference in mindset when I started on this journey was that I was willing to take a risk although afraid, now I take a risk with confidence because if I had to bet it all on anyone, it would have to be on ME. I became the woman that I could respect and honor.
Everyone isn’t gifted that light bulb moment but at that very moment I realized that it was time to build my empire. While building this new life I became a wife, mother, entrepreneur while co-owning several businesses with my husband. Even after many wins it still felt as if something was missing and it wasn’t until one of the employees of our company referred to me as his Boss’s Wife!! I was definitely far from where I started and more than just my husbands wife. We might think our plate is full but purpose will tell you that you are still hungry. I had to reflect on the many titles I juggle and still find time to make my mark in the world. I am definitely the “Boss” woman that created myself to be. I did what any person with an entrepreneurial spirit would do and that was to capitalize/monetize my lifestyle and areas of expertise. It was time that the world was introduced to my true position, and that was when The Boss Wife™️ was created.
Honestly, I thought that I would create a t-Shirt Line & put some quotes on some shirts. I quickly found out that the brand that I created was an example of me and a reflection of my life. It wasn’t a surprise that this title did not apply to only me many woman felt the same connection. There are many women that are ready to take back their power and announce their throne. We are the caretakers, the risk takers, and the glue that keeps it all together. Our mates our the head and we are the necks. Creating this brand has taken me on adventures that I would have never thought were possible. I founded the company but its purpose is keeping it alive.
The Boss Wife Enterprises is a multifaceted Company consisting of Real Estate Acquisitions, Property Management, Retail & Wholesale Sales, Community Outreach, & Self Development. Who would have ever thought a bossy little girl from the South Side of Chicago would be making such a positive mark on the world and a living testimony that proves you are bigger than your circumstances.
Has it been a smooth road?
Nothing worth having is going to be easy. All things “Great” will have a “Test” and a testimony! How you master it is where you create triumph!!! Once you realize the process even the bumps in the road don’t seem as bumpy. Your questions will change from ‘why” to ‘how”? The only way to overcome obstacles to prepare, either you will be ready to embrace the bump or you will be prepared to avoid them completely. Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am the author of the highly anticipated empowerment novel, Everybody Is Not Made For This and CEO of THE BOSS WIFE lifestyle brand. These are the two combinations to the company that I view as lethal components. As a highly skilled serial entrepreneur who shares a special interest in uncovering the secrets of how successful women can continue to elevate from the experiences of one another, the combination of fashion & self-development gives us a connection point with our audience. What distinguishes me from other entrepreneurs in my field of expertise is that I utilize trending tools to unite a group of likeminded women who mutually share the same common goal of professional advancement, relationship advancement, and cultivating strong family value units. The thing that I’m the proudest of is seeing the entire project through. Everybody is not made for this.
The Boss Wife Lifestyle Brand also has several women empowerment organizations within the company that keeps its audience empowered on three levels: Mind, Body, & Soul This network of woman have come together with one common goal of Growth & Development.
Members Group:
Millionairess Chicago: FB @MillionairessByTheBossWife
The Boss Wives Of Chicago: FB: @TheBossWivesofChicago
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Chicago is a city of opportunity but just like any other City but it is important to develop an aggressive nature with a positive attitude. Most major cities have an eat or be eaten mentality and Chicago is no exception to the rule. I pride myself in not getting stuck and allowing my businesses to grow by creating new businesses that complement one another. The Boss Wife Enterprises has grown dramatically throughout the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana areas. We are grateful for our humble beginning in the City of Chicago! Our City played a major role in the growth and development of my business now we are read to go GLOBAL!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thebosswife.com /
www.crystawicks.com - Phone: 219-237-9445
- Email: iamthebosswife@gmail.
com - Instagram: @thebosswife
- Facebook: @thebosswife
- Twitter: @iamthebosswife
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/
dp/1519786077/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_ awdo_t1_1feOBbG9900FJ
Image Credit:
Marcus Fizer, Shaun Michael, Sundjata Imhepi
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