Meet Crystal-Marie Mitchell | Owner of The Diva Media Agency, LLC & Author of The Diva Diaries® Series

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

Hi Crystal-Marie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
There was no in-depth thought process when I started my business, IsrylDesigns™, in 2009. I officially launched it because I had a client project worth about $3K and wanted to establish the proper business structure before taking on that project. Going into business without a thorough plan is not something I recommend. This path is more challenging than it needs to be. I strongly advise that people take time to consider their business goals beyond just creating a product or acquiring clients.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Getting here wasn’t easy. Now, I’m comfortable with my work because I am comfortable with myself. Entrepreneurship is an artistry—one that you have to fall in love with over and over again. After 20 years of living creatively, serving clients, and enjoying the journey, here’s what I’ve learned:
1. Failure Is Part of the Process
You will fail more than once. That is why it is critical to analyze your business processes frequently. Many small businesses fail simply because they lack documented, repeatable systems. That’s exactly why I offer process writing as a service. Clear, written processes—for finances, client onboarding, design workflows, and more—close the gaps that lead to unnecessary mistakes. They help you fail less and grow more.
2. Believe in Your Talent Relentlessly
If you don’t believe in your talent, service, or product, who will? Leave self-doubt in the streets. It has no place in you or your business. Treat your business like your baby—nurture it, feed it, and fiercely believe in its potential. Be relentless in believing in your talent and business.
3. Communicate Value, Don’t Just Sell Talent
Don’t just pitch your skills—convey the value behind them. If you do this well, you will attract clients who respect your work and your pricing!
4. Create for Yourself, Not Just for Clients
Make time to create for yourself. This is something I constantly have to remind myself to do. I recently participated in a poster project for Pick Progress, where my work was displayed in a gallery. It was the first time in years that I showcased something purely personal, and it reignited my passion for design.
5. Hire Help When Needed
As a small business owner or solopreneur, it’s easy to overthink the hiring process. But the right people, at the right price, can help you grow faster than you imagined. Whether it’s bringing on contractors or employees, investing in the right team members is investing in your vision.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When I lived in the Bay Area, I loved to take friends on a day-long tourist trip through San Francisco. We would start at the Piers and travel through Ghirardelli Square, Chinatown, and downtown. I enjoyed when friends would come because it gave me time to play tourist too. In each place, we would eat the richly cultural foods, acquire the best souvenirs, explore hidden gems like the “Fortune Cookie Lady” in Chinatown. Depending on the friend, I would take them to Japantown where my favorite bookstore, Kinokuniya, is located.

Now, in the Atlanta area, there is a Kinokuniya bookstore. That is the first place I would take someone visiting the area. I could stay in that bookstore for hours. There are many international creative books, tech, and notebooks. It is a candy store for serious creatives!

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?
Many people have come into my life, sent by God, to support my business. However, this shout-out goes to God Himself. As a young entrepreneur starting my design firm, I felt completely clueless. I struggled with a plethora of self-doubt, navigating new waters both personally and professionally, yet something kept me moving forward. Now that I’ve matured, I realize that was God. He blessed me with talent and ideas, and He wanted me to keep using them. Even now, in my moments of doubt, God inspires me with new ideas or sends someone with words of encouragement. He supports me when no one else is around.

Website: http://www.isryldesigns.com

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/TheDivaDiaries

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalmarie

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@TheDivaDiaries