Meet Michelle: Texi Boots
Interviewing Michelle has been a privilege- she is Founder of Texi Boots and the true definition of putting action to her words. She is everything a female entrepreneur is made of and more- her mission to empower other female entrepreneurs is life-giving! In Michelle’s word, “Boots that support female entrepreneurs, because we were founded by one!”
Michelle doesn’t shy away from naming what’s hard and challenging about being a female entrepreneur- keep reading to get to know her “sole” behind the boots!
1. Tell us about who you are and your journey to where you are now!
I am the founder of The Original Pink Sole™ cowgirl boots and Pink and Associates, LLC - a CPG brokerage and consulting firm. But really at my core, I am just a dreamer and designer. I left corporate America one year ago to pursue passions that ignite my curiosity. The transition was anything other than what I expected it to be. While I worked my corporate job 60-80 hours a week, I was also building my companies on the side. This led to working 90-100+ hours a week. I thought when I left corporate America that passion that drove me to work until 2am on my side hustle would translate into weeks full of chasing what excited me most. But it actually led to depression. I realized I had built an identity in who I was and what I did in corporate America. I had to mourn the loss of being everything to everybody and find joy in showing up for myself in what seemed in small and insignificant ways. I realized the tasks I had passed off to an assistant were now mine to accomplish as a solo-preneur and it was time to celebrate small losses vs hundred thousand dollar corporate America wins. Where I lost myself, I truly found myself.
2. What is the mission of your brand? How does it empower women?
The Texi Boot brand gives back to female entrepreneurs through The Pink Sole, inc - a non-profit whose mission is to inspire women to live their life with a passion as bold as their "sole". Our first conference hosted over 200 women in Dallas, Texas in 2018, and since then women have broken off and launched their own brands and companies. I am not the center of that, their own passion as female founders is the center. Texi Boots is just a catalyst for women to find themselves at their core again.
3. How do you collaborate with women working towards a better world?
The 2020 Heart and Sole Conference will be held in Addison, Texas November 21, 2020 at the Addison Theater and Conference Center. This year we will host up to 400 women who know they were meant to do something bigger with their lives. Many girls that show up will already have that mission in mind, some just need a fresh spark, and others are seeking their own purpose. The conference is designed to inspire girls in every step of their entrepreneurial journey.
4. What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to press through as a female entrepreneur and what are the steps you’ve taken to overcome it?
My greatest challenge has been battling depression after I left corporate America. I never related to people who fought depression before. I thought it was just a wrong thought process, and I am realizing for myself it was. See, I found my value in corporate America as the "go-getter", the "go-to girl", the "she can get into any account girl", and had to learn to play for a crowd of one (myself). There is a time and season for everything, and it has been one year since I walked away from corporate, and I have had to learn that small wins are still major victories when you are fighting to build your own business and brand. I can't say that I have had true victory of this yet, as I am realizing now that it is a daily decision that sometimes must be made minute by minute. So for every female founder that feels lost, confused or lacking direction, I can honestly say now - I can relate. I have learned to pour more positive into my mind and heart than I allow negative to come in. I read, podcast and exercise daily. These are three things that are within my control and contribute to the positive input I believe is necessary for any female pursuing a mission greater than herself.
5. What advice would you give to a female entrepreneur in the beginning stages of launching her brand or business?
You will feel scared, nervous, "not-qualified", "not ready", and that is okay. I launched a fashion brand with no college degree, no background in fashion, and completely lacking the skill most fashion designers possess- the ability to draw. But I did have the ability to dream. God aligned the pieces when I was in pursuit. Confidence was found in taking action. And it was during the taking action when I was feeling not qualified, and scared that God lined up the pieces and I found people who possessed the qualities I lacked. Together we were able to accomplish beautiful boot designs. I think sometimes we feel like we have to be perfect-we don't. We just have to be willing.
6. What sets your brand apart from others?
The heart behind the “sole.” The mission of the Texi Boot brand is to give back to female entrepreneurs. I don't just talk it- I am in the trenches daily alongside so many other female entrepreneurs. I have hard days too, but we are capable of doing hard things.