We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Crystal Kaufman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Crystal below.
Crystal, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Life has a way of testing our resilience when we least expect it – and then testing it again, just to make sure the lesson sticks. My journey isn’t just about surviving challenges; it’s about transforming them into catalysts for growth and healing. It’s about learning that every setback carries within it the seeds of an even greater comeback.
Growing up believing my biological father didn’t want children, shaped my early understanding of self-worth. This wasn’t just a story I was told; it was the foundation upon which I built my sense of self. At age seven, I was officially adopted by my stepfather, who had been monumental in my life since I was three months old. While this could have been a healing moment, our relationship was marked by constant conflict when I was a teenager. I felt the subtle yet unmistakable divide between myself and my three half-sisters, his biological daughters. This dynamic planted deep seeds of unworthiness that would take decades to uproot and transform.
The pattern of feeling unwanted and unworthy followed me into my adult relationships, manifesting most dramatically in my marriage to someone who struggled with addiction. What started as a hopeful union quickly descended into a nightmare of unpaid debts, property being pawned off, items constantly going missing or being stolen, and empty bank accounts. I found myself in situations I never imagined – being held at gunpoint during a home invasion for debts to be collected, watching valuable irreplaceable items disappearing along with my hard-earned money. I often turned to marijuana to numb myself from the pain of my reality.
When my son was nine months old, something profound shifted within me. Looking at this innocent child, I knew that both he and I deserved better. I quit all substances immediately, determined to be the mother he deserved, even though I still couldn’t bring myself to leave my husband. For the next several years, I worked multiple jobs, paid for everything, while watching my husband sink deeper into his addiction and lie about work, steal my car, and pawn off things like the video camera with our son’s birth on it. Overall, it took 14 years, but I finally found the strength to leave when I came home to my 4 year old son, alone and crying… the house gutted empty once again. I divorced my husband and started over while deeply in debt and having lost everything of value. I became a solo parent – but my son and I finally had the space to heal and build a new life.
As a single mother I felt I was finally finding my footing and had reached what I considered the pinnacle of success – a career in the corporate world. After years of pouring my heart into my career, I was discreetly summoned to an empty floor of my corporate office building, laid off, and asked to leave quietly down 11 flights of stairs in high heels – a final act of humiliation to ensure no one would see me leave. When I shed a tear, they called me “too emotional,” took away my car, and forced me to take a cab home. I wasn’t permitted to collect my belongings from my desk, just told they would be sent to me. This moment could have broken me, but instead, it became my launchpad.
With a young son depending on me and no support from my ex-husband, I swallowed my pride and took any job I could find. Cleaning toilets? I did it with grace. Building spreadsheets for minimum wage? I made them the best spreadsheets anyone had ever seen. I took any little job I could find. Because my son needed to eat, and I needed to prove to myself that no honest work was beneath me when you’re rebuilding your life.
A pivotal moment came when a personal development company offered me a position coordinating their courses. This role opened my eyes to a world where vulnerability becomes strength, where setbacks become setups for comebacks. I immersed myself in learning, not just about business but about personal growth and healing. Within a year, an entrepreneur sought me out to be her assistant, and I found myself managing multi-million dollar campaigns and mastering complex marketing technology.
When she later closed her business, I faced another crossroads. This time, instead of searching for another job, I chose to bet on myself. Drawing on everything I implemented what I learnt about digital marketing, business operations, and most importantly, resilience, and I launched my own marketing agency. Today, I help other entrepreneurs amplify their impact online, turning my hard-won lessons into stepping stones for others’ success.
But the universe wasn’t done teaching me about resilience. On my 40th birthday, after 25 years of asking for information about my biological father, I finally found him. What I discovered shook the foundation of my life story – he never knew I existed! All those years of feeling unwanted and rejected were based on a narrative that wasn’t even true. Instead of finding the rejection I’d feared, I discovered a man who welcomed me with open arms, heartbroken that he’d missed four decades of my life.
This revelation required a different kind of resilience – the strength to forgive, heal, and build new relationships while maintaining compassion for everyone involved, including myself. It meant rewriting my entire life story, understanding that sometimes the stories we tell ourselves about our wounds aren’t actually true. Through extensive personal development work, I’ve managed to build meaningful relationships with both my biological father and my stepfather, both of whom are great men. It was time to heal old wounds and create new, healthy bonds.
The work I’ve done on myself has transformed every area of my life. After many failed relationships rooted in codependency and people-pleasing, I finally recognized that the common denominator was me. I dove deep into healing work, finding my voice, my worth, my self-esteem. Today, I’m in an incredible relationship that proves change and love is possible when you commit to doing the inner work. It’s a partnership built on mutual respect, understanding, and genuine support – everything I never believed I deserved before.
Through my journey, I’ve learned that resilience isn’t just about bouncing back – it’s about bouncing forward with greater wisdom and self-awareness. Each challenge became an invitation to heal another layer, to grow stronger, to choose my son’s well being, to change myself over staying in comfortable old patterns. Most importantly, I’ve broken generational patterns of trauma and dysfunction, showing my son that it’s never too late to choose a different path.
Today, I continue to grow both personally and professionally. Not only is my marketing agency thriving, but I have also maintained my commitment to personal development and healing. I facilitate workshops and coaching sessions, helping others navigate their own journeys of transformation. Every setback, every challenge, every moment of pain, has been transformed into wisdom and resilience that I now share with others.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I bridge two worlds that rarely meet – the soulful realm of holistic healing and the innovative space of AI technology. As the founder of Step By Step Business Solutions, I help coaches, healers and holistic practitioners amplify their impact without losing their soul in the process.
Here’s what makes my approach unique: I’ve lived both sides of this story. After my own journey from corporate crash to spiritual awakening, I discovered that technology, when used mindfully, can actually create more space for authentic human connection. I transform the “tech overwhelm” that keeps many practitioners stuck behind their computers into streamlined systems that free them to focus on their true gifts – helping others heal.
What excites me most is watching the light return to a coach’s and practitioner’s eyes when they realize they don’t have to choose between being authentic and being successful. There’s this beautiful moment when they understand that AI, when used in a specific way that I teach, can handle the business stuff – the endless social media posts, the email replies, the content planning that keeps them up at night – while they focus on what they do best: connecting deeply with their clients. My approach combines practical tech solutions with deep understanding of the divine feminine way of doing business. It’s not just about implementing AI tools; it’s about creating a harmonious blend of technology and intuition that amplifies their authentic voice rather than replacing it.
Currently, I’m launching a new program called “Soul-Led Success: AI for the Divine Feminine Entrepreneur.” It’s designed specifically for holistic practitioners who want to grow their practice without compromising their values… or burning out! The program teaches them how to use AI as a powerful ally in their business while maintaining the sacred connection with their work.
What sets my work apart is that I don’t just teach the technical aspects – I guide practitioners through the mindset shifts needed to embrace technology and marketing without feeling like they’re selling their soul. Having overcome my own resistance, I understand the delicate balance between staying true to one’s healing gifts while building a sustainable business.
I also will be hosting monthly “Tech & Soul” workshops where practitioners can learn practical tech implementation skills and personal growth tips in a supportive, spiritually-aligned environment. These sessions combine marketing training with energy work and mindset coaching, creating a unique space where business growth and spiritual development go hand in hand.
My vision is to revolutionize how the healing community views and uses technology and markets themselves. I believe that when healers embrace the right technological tools the right way, they can exponentially increase their impact while actually becoming more present and connected with their clients. It’s about using AI not to replace the human touch, but to enhance it, so they can reach and help more people.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
RESILIENT ADAPTABILITY
The ability to not just bounce back, but to truly transform setbacks into opportunities has been foundational to my success. This wasn’t just about surviving challenges – it was about learning to thrive through them. When my corporate career ended abruptly, I adapted by taking any work available, which led me to discover my passion for digital marketing. With technology constantly evolving, I learned to embrace change rather than resist it.
Advice: Start viewing challenges as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles. When faced with setbacks, ask yourself: “What can I learn from this? How can this make me stronger?” Practice taking small risks regularly – each time you adapt to a new situation, you build this muscle.
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE & SELF-AWARENESS
Understanding my own patterns and emotional triggers has been crucial in both personal and professional growth. This awareness helped me recognize when I was making decisions from old wounds versus authentic power. It enabled me to build genuine connections with clients and create marketing strategies that resonate on a deeper level.
Advice: Start a regular practice of self-reflection. Notice your reactions to situations and get curious about them rather than judgmental. Work with a coach or therapist who can help you identify blind spots. Remember that understanding yourself is the foundation for the successful life you want and building authentic business relationships.
TECHNICAL INTUITION
I’ve developed what I call “technical intuition” – the ability to blend analytical thinking with intuitive understanding. This unique combination allows me to bridge the gap between complex technology and human connection. It’s about knowing when to leverage automation and when to prioritize the human touch.
Advice: Don’t shy away from technology, but don’t lose your humanity in it either. Start small – master one tool or platform at a time. Pay attention to how different technologies make you feel and affect your work. Learn to trust your gut about which tech solutions align with your values and goals.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
My biggest challenge right now is redefining my business identity and direction after experiencing not one, but two business partnership dissolutions. The most recent one led to a complete unraveling of what I thought my business path would be, forcing me to face some uncomfortable truths about partnership dynamics and my own tendency to lean on others rather than fully trust my capabilities.
The challenge isn’t just about rebuilding a business structure – it’s about rewiring my entrepreneurial mindset. For years, I believed I needed a business partner to be successful, someone to validate my decisions and share the load. This belief pattern led me to compromise my vision and sometimes diminish my own expertise in favour of maintaining harmony in partnerships.
What I’m doing to overcome this is multifaceted. First, I’m embracing the discomfort of standing alone in my business decisions. Instead of rushing to find another partnership, I’m taking time to clearly define my vision and values. I’m building a team, and structure, that supports my business without diluting my leadership – recognizing that having support staff is very different from needing a business partner.
Most importantly, I’m doing the inner work to strengthen my self-trust and decision-making confidence. Each small success as a solo entrepreneur helps reinforce that I am capable of running this business on my own terms. The relationships I’m building now are about complementary support and collaboration rather than codependent partnerships.
This challenge has become a powerful catalyst for growth. Through this experience, I’m learning that true collaboration doesn’t require shrinking myself, giving away my power or compromising my vision. I can maintain strong business relationships and build a supportive team while remaining firmly at the helm of my own ship.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stepbystepbusinesssolutions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stepbystepbusinesssolutions/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stepbystepbusinesssolutions/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-kaufman/
Image Credits
Christina Louise Branding
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