Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlis Phillips
Hi Charlis, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born as a young, bright-eyed, inquisitive little girl in a small town- Columbia, Missouri. Life happened, and my light began to dim. I desperately wanted to find joy again. I started my journey as a writer using writing as a tool to heal myself. My 1st business, Ebony Gems LLC, was my way to help others start their own healing journey. My 2nd business, Defined Designs, is my way to help small businesses connect with their customers through their own stories.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This has been a difficult journey for me. I have suffered from anxiety most of my life. Everyone I know has moments of anxiety. It is just the body’s hightened response to stressful situations, and should be a temporary feeling. I have an anxiety disorder, which is a persistent feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness that is not temporary, and effects my every day life.
It makes it hard for me to celebrate successes, because my mind tells me it’s not good enough, or it isn’t real.
It makes it easy to focus on the failures, because anxiety puts those moments to the forefront of my mind at every turn.
This year I have been consistently going to therapy and getting tools to cope with my anxiety. It has been a game changer for me! I am feeling really good.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have always been known as a writer, but I have branched out into so much more. Within the last year, I have expanded my love for writing into UIUX design. Through my business, Defined Designs- I use my ability to tell stories to help small businesses express the story behind their brand, and get consumers to fall in love with their products. In doing so, I am able to get to the heart of why people do what they do, and help get customers get the experience they want too. I love making that connection. It makes me feel like I’ve served a greater purpose.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years I see UIUX design back on top and thriving. AI has recently caused a bit of a shake up in this field in tech, but we are beginning to see more and more, that although AI helps you get tasks done faster, you lose some of the humanity behind it. We are not a monolith. Our stories and lived experiences are what make who we are and what we do so special. I want to continue to translate that as a creator.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ebony-gems.square.site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebony_gemsbooks?igsh=M3h4dzAxbGI4bGZm
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlisw
