Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron and Mikaela Patterson.
Hi Aaron and Mikaela, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
We both came from troubled pasts where there were a lot of cycles that needed to be broken. Our different paths led us both to the Atlanta School of Ministry, where we both attended school and became best friends. Our strong friendship led to a relationship which then led to marriage. In our first year of marriage, we started our own brand and clothing line called Break The Cycle Gear.
What birthed this idea was looking around and seeing so many in both mental and physical chains. It’s our heart’s desire to see everybody set free and be who they were created to be. Your mind can either be your biggest weapon or the thing that holds you back from your purpose and calling.
By the grace of God, in the middle of a global pandemic, we have made over five figures in less than a year in organic sales with no Facebook ad marketing. We know that this is only the beginning and we are excited to see how many lives our brand’s message will continue to impact and reach.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road at all. Being a first-time entrepreneur comes with a lot of learning curves, struggles and losses. When you put yourself out there in this manner, you start to realize who’s really for you and in your corner. People you’ve known for years won’t support you, but then complete strangers will send you love and affirmation and believe so strongly in you and in what your brand stands for. This has probably been one of the hardest parts for us.
Many early mornings and long nights, lots of hours on YouTube trying to gain knowledge about something no ones ever taught you. Sacrificing time with each other, the stress of not knowing how much money we’ll have at the end of the week, giving up the comfort of guaranteed income. All because we believe in this vision the Lord gave us. It hasn’t been easy, but we haven’t gone without. It might not always look like what we expected or want it to look like, but there’s always been food in our fridge and our baby has everything he needs. Constantly seeing the hundreds of messages, comments and testimonials of what our brand means to people makes it all worth it.
As you know, we’re big fans of Break The Cycle Gear. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Break The Cycle Gear is more than a clothing line. It’s a movement. Our goals for the future are to partner with public schools, rehab centers, and counseling offices and any organizations committed to bringing hope, healing, and change. A long-term goal of ours is to travel and speak at conferences, churches, and anywhere that will have us. We are known for helping people become aware of the cycles in their own lives and encouraging them that there’s power in their stories, and healing is found in speaking and sharing our stories with others.
We are most proud of our messaging, a lot of brands only sell clothes, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but when you wear our merchandise, we want it to give you confidence and a whole new perspective on life and your purpose. We want you to feel seen and loved. We are also incredibly humbled by and thankful for the connection we have with our customers. They are never just another name in the system or another order number. We get to hear from them, pray with them, have personal conversations, and truly be there for them when they need us. We’ve had people message us or walk up to us crying and expressing how much our brand has impacted them, and that is why we do what we do. We hope that, if nothing else, our customers feel empowered. Empowered to break the cycles in their lives and empowered to talk about their struggles and triumphs along the way. We want them to know they are so loved and created for so much more and that there is purpose in their pain.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Some of Aaron’s favorite books are Kindom Man by Tony Evans. The Power of Broke by Daymond John. But most importantly, the Bible. The only podcast he listens to 24/7 is the Social Proof Podcast by David Shands.
Contact Info:
- Email: Breakthecyclegear@gmail.com
- Website: http://breakthecyclegear.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/breakthecyclegear?utm_medium=copy_link
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/breakthecyclegear/?ref=bookmarks
- Other: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMR1q7ddr/
