Meet Christi Farmer | Full Time Bling Boss and Business Coach

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

Hi Christi, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my business is defined by my google search that led me to the business I’ve been building for the last 9 years. I was an elementary teacher in 2012 during the heat of a recession. As a public school teacher I was being furloughed thus decreasing my pay but at the same time the school system increased my contribution to our health care benefits. Suffice to say I didn’t like needing to continuously go into my already small savings account just to make ends meet. I woke up one day and decided to google “Ways to make an extra $1,000 a month.”

I wasn’t new to “hustling” for some extra money. I tutored in and outside of my school system, I opened a thrift store and bought thrift clothes on sale and then flipped them for a profit in my store, I would do twice a year yard sales and craigslists posts. I’ve done closet consultations, by helping people get rid of items in their closet by asking 3 questions and it was free all they had to do was give me the clothes they decided to get rid of and I would flip those in my thrift store. I had a resume writing business for the specific market of educators. I did all of these things because I liked my career choice but it would never give me enough money to live the lifestyle I knew I was destined to live or make a large enough impact on the world. Every hustle I’ve mentioned, I was not in love with doing any of it, but they were all things I could do that others were willing to pay for.

So upon googling, I found the opportunity to invest in a franchise with a product that everyone I knew could afford in a billion dollar industry and success would come by combining all of the experience I had already gained in my vast amount of hustles. There were other results that came up such as a newspaper route, freelance writing, web development, selling my old stuff, being a babysitter and nanny and so much more. I eliminated things I was already doing and went with the one that gave me more control of how much I could make without requiring me to spend more time than I had available.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

I am in the business of changing lives, starting with mine. The vehicle that allows me to touch so many lives through my business is costume accessories. Specifically, Cuter Than Most Accessories. My career prior to being a full-time entrepreneur was in the field of education. I began as an elementary teacher, later became an Academic Coach of teachers and ended my career as an Elementary Assistant Principal. I’ve always had a heart for helping people. It was just difficult to do so when my basic needs weren’t met. After a master degree and multiple certifications I was just getting by and that didn’t leave much resources to help others or the mental space to thing of creative ways to do so.

I am most proud of the number of lives that have been positively impacted as a result of me saying yes to starting a jewelry franchise, staying consistent with building my business and using my education and leadership background to coach others on how to do the same. As a result many have seen increased confidence and income.

This journey has not been easy. Jon Gordon in, The Power of Positive Leadership, states, “as a leader you will face numerous obstacles, negativity and tests. There will be times when it seems as if everything in the world is conspiring against you and your vision seems more like fantasy than reality.” Quotes like this is what keeps me going. If I wasn’t being hit with obstacles, negativity and tests then that is a sign that I’m not on the right path to positively changing my life and others.

A couple of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to set your goals bigger than even you can image combined with a plan of action, your mindset is key to any and all kinds of success and putting intentional effort towards creating a circle that feeds your mind, body and soul. The world we live in is going to be very intentional about trying to tell you why what you dream isn’t possible and how you aren’t capable of making it happen. To soar to higher heights you have to be just as intentional about putting things in front of you that you watch and listen to that will push you to wake up every day and go after it.

I want the world to know that my brand is more than just Cuter Than Most Accessories. I am literally on a mission to change as many lives as possible while keeping everyone fashionable for less. I was a teacher who realized that I could change more lives outside of the classroom by starting with the moms who raise these children who ended up in my school building. A mom with an improved self-esteem confidence and mindset raises children with improved self-esteem confidence and a winning mindset.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
To begin, I would book us a nice natural massage. I would book our appointments at the IWI Fresh Farm. They gave me the BEST prenatal massage, manicure and pedicure. Heck we may book two appointments, one for arrival and one for departure. I enjoy shopping and eating at the Dekalb Farmers Market. We would go get some groceries from there for her week visit. Nice fresh from the farm foods for our at home breakfast smoothies and meat hubby would make on the grill.

We would make it a plan to eat out for lunch or dinner at the best Ethiopian restaurant in the city, Desta’s Ethiopian Kitchen. I’d also take her too the Ponce City Market to get some shopping in and it offers a variety of food choices for her to choose from. I’m a creature of habit so I’ll more than likely get something to eat from my go to spot, Marrakesh. Marrakesh specializes in Mediterranean food and I lived and taught in the middle east for 3 years so this place reminds me of the Chicken Shawarma I grew to love. The rooftop of the Ponce City Market is a must stop but I would put in for a reservation especially for any themed setups that are available based on the time of year.

A last must stop would be Truist Park to hang out and eat. That would be a place to go any time of the day or week. After these activities, i’d be done for the week. We’d just chill at home and catch up.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Along the way there have been so many people who have impacted my life. Whether good or bad the lessons learned have made me who I am. In my nine years as a business owner the group that keeps me pushing, showing up, and determined to continue to grow are my business partners. I have over 100,000 business partners throughout America. From the 7 figure earner to the person who has partnered with me to make an extra $100 a week they all keep me inspired to be and do more.

Shout out to the real estate broker to saw what I do and what others do in our franchise and decided to change lives and as a result bought her six figure home in cash. Shout out to the full time nurse who sends me a social media message thanking me for the Tuesday Tea Tip that has not only changed her business but has also improved her relationship with her husband.

I’m married with a two teen daughters and a toddler at home. Life gets hard, Entrepreneurship is no cake walk. There are ups and downs, but it is my team of business partners that deserve a shout out because they keep showing up and so will I.

Website: www.CuterThanMost.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/Cuterthanmost_by_Christi

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CuterThanMost1

Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/CuterThanMostAccessories