In 2017, my mother passed away from cancer. As she was approaching her final days and her memory dwindling, I asked her if she remembered who I was. She looked at me and rolled her eyes (in true mom form). So, I repeated the question, “do you know who I am, mom?” She looked at me and said, “yes.” I immediately followed up with, “who am I?” And without any hesitation, the words confidently flowed from her lips, “the boss.” That moment will forever remain etched in my mind and heart. And now I dare the world to tell me differently. Mama had spoken! In 2008, I created Crystal Marie Events while still maintaining a corporate career. Like many, my goal was to sign my own permission slip and be the boss. Eight years later, l turned in my pink slip and took my position. I was yearning for something different because what I was doing wasn’t it. I didn’t have all the answers, and my bank account did not always agree, but I had to take the leap and pour all of my focus into running my company. Folks thought I was nuts and at some point, I have to admit that I started thinking I was nuts too. But in true Crystal Marie fashion, I regrouped and said F* fear! Instead, I started getting excited about the unknown. I wondered, what if this really worked? Like Really W👏🏾O👏🏾R👏🏾K👏🏾E👏🏾D👏🏾! I believe in acting on the vision and manifesting things that the universe provides that aligns with God’s purpose for me, and I never want to live a shoulda, coulda, woulda life, so I decided that if failure reared its head, at least I tried. Because to me, failure is just evidence of me taking action and future instructions on what I should do next time. Watching my mom kick cancer’s ass and rock it until the end while reminding me that I was the boss solidified my standing, and now I rock my boss cape proudly (and fashionably).