Today we’d like to introduce you to Anita Douglas.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My story has been one of grit, passion, and strength. I was born into a Jamaican family. Yes, a bloodline that values hard work, family, and fun. Life shifted for me at 13 when I suddenly, without warning, went from a dual parent household to a single parent household. I watched my hardworking mother struggle to take care of three children and keep everything moving forward. She was creative and relentless as she worked to make sure our lives did not miss a beat. She taught us to value and pursue education no matter what and to go for our dreams despite circumstances. With my mother’s strength and encouragement and clearly hearing from God at a young age, that my life had a purpose, my entrepreneurial desires were ignited. At the age of 14, I began doing hair for family, friends and those in my community. Once I realized I could create streams of income and that I was blessed with business acumen, my passion for more education and bigger dreams was ignited. Even while earning my degree at Kennesaw State University, my journey continued to move forward. I knew that God wanted me to take my education, that Jamaican grit, my mother’s strength, and my desire for everyone to dream big – to create an amazing company. With God continuing to whisper in my ear, in 2016 I launched my lifestyle virtual assistance company – Crown Innovative Business Solutions(CIBS). I have always known that I had a gift of organization and vision in the midst of chaos. Assisting men and women who are dreaming big and making things happen has been incredibly fulfilling for me.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Fear can be a major obstacle for anyone dreaming big and on the road to success. Although I was aware of the vision and purpose that God had given to me, I struggled to believe that I had the resources and knowledge to walk in it. My head got in the way of my dreams and passion. But that Jamaican grit kicked in, along with encouragement from my mother.
I learned from my teenage years that being resourceful and tenacious are critical keys to success. I began watching Youtube videos of successful entrepreneurs and began my own “Anita Academy.” I devoured as much learning as possible as I slowly began to push the fear to the side and move toward my launch.
Never use a lack of knowledge or fear as an excuse. There are so many resources and people out here to offer insights and information. Create a wonderful tribe of people and a powerful library of information. The more you know and hear of the struggles of others, and trust in God, the more fear subsides.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Crown Innovative Business Solutions – what should we know?
The mission of CIBS is to allow seasoned and busy entrepreneurs and leaders the space to focus and execute their goals while we eliminate administrative frustrations and increase productivity. By serving as a trusted virtual extension of executives, we are able to fulfill my ultimate vision of helping people to dream bigger. We find that when people have a support system and/or a team they get more accomplished! All services are customized to meet the need of the client. We provide a combination of personal assistance and general administrative assistance. This can include but is not limited to: chasing business, follow up calls, online research, transcription, basic bookkeeping, database/CRM entries, data presentations, email campaigns, social tasks, travel research, scheduling, and industry knowledge prep. Based on your needs we have so much more to offer! We have an intimate team that forms relationships with our clients, to serve as an extension of their business. Aside from helping you save Time, we promote Going Green Strategies, and can also help you save on Hiring a Full-Time Employee as well as saving on Office Space.
There have been so many proud moments of my company, from the official launch to seeing clients take a sigh of relief at the completion of a project. Honestly, many of my proud moments have some of the small moments when encouraging a client to keep going and stay focused or praying with a client for direction. My business is truly my ministry. I am also very proud to have the most amazing team of virtual assistants to aide in carrying out this vision!
What sets my business apart from others is two-fold: 1.) It is a faith-based virtual assistance business. It is not uncommon for me to calm a client down and offer prayer before diving into the details of a project. I am led by God-given discernment and my gift of encouragement. I use these gifts often with my clients. 2.) I offer lifestyle assistance, as well. My business is not only about the administrative frustrations of the busy professional, but also those little details that may help them to step into the boardroom or the stage feeling their best with very little to worry about. This may mean helping with styling, locating the best beauty products or simply securing a baby sitter or schedule transportation for a relative so that you won’t have to. Our goal is to always help the professional shine and wear their CROWN proudly eliminating distractions and giving them their time back to focus on the most crucial elements of making their dreams come true!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
As I’ve mentioned, being resourceful and tenacious is important. However, one of the best lessons I have learned while doing my research and self-teaching was the importance of patience and timing. A quote I heard from a successful entrepreneur was: “One of the biggest mistakes l learned was being too patient with getting started and impatient with the growth of the business.”
Timing is everything in life and business. Knowing when to move forward, slow down, speed up or stop is critical. My God-given discernment and constant communication with God has helped in this area. I never make a move or even accept a new client without talking to God about it first. I want to make sure I am always in Divine timing and walking in patience. God is truly my Source and the real CEO of CIBS.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cibsglobal.com
- Phone: 470-333-2427
- Email: info@cibsglobal.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/CIBSassist/
Image Credit:
Jay Barnes, Bill Adler
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