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Meet Cristina Birdsong of MyLyfe Productions in Downtown Dallas

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristina Birdsong.

Cristina, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Let’s start with the usual run down about me. Born in Los Angeles City, Philippines, but West Texas raised. I have always considered myself to have an outgoing personality. I love being an entrepreneur and an actual business owner, like a real one. I love music, movies. I am an activist. I am me! I love to help and educate others every chance I get. I’m not famous but I am blessed to work with people that have big responsibilities of that nature. Usually, this interview would be done for a client of mine (lol), so me being invited to do this interview was a complete shock!

I didn’t start in the industry I am known for. I am a real down to earth girl so back in the day you would find me under the hood of a car in my shop, a wrench, screwdriver or some tool in my hand, hair in a bun, dirt under my nails, grease and oil smudges everywhere, loving every minute. I was the proud owner and definitely was a part of the operations for thirteen years at the first Black Female Owned business in a male-dominated industry in a town that was not fond of diversity and inclusion in many ways. So I had to play the game and learn a lot along the way. Full-service detail shop, paint & bodywork, stereo installs, working on motors, and racing cars were my business and my daily life when I started then. The automotive industry has a different mind frame for women, another conversation.

I moved to Dallas in 2010. I would find my lane in the entertainment industry; of course, it’s Dallas. It took a while, weaving through the world of branding, marketing, promotions. It took a lot of building relationships with people and being in the right places at the right times. It was work every day, every weekend, every year for six years straight. I definitely spent more money than I made then. Honestly it wasn’t about making money, so you know it definitely didn’t happen overnight. It was about building. The ambition and drive to build another company that was highly sought after pushed me to do more than most would for their clients, showcasing my hidden skillsets in business operations and management, and having access to unique opportunities allowed me to brand myself and maintain multi-businesses, clients and ventures. You could hear about a deal from me before a lot of people at one point.

I was in the background master planning a lot of deals thanks to some people who really believed in me all because I worked hard on everything they sent my way, they gave me a chance. Not gonna lie and say every deal was a huge success, They come in all sizes big small and sometimes not at all. But they definitely come your way when you don’t compromise hard work for success. I got chewed out sometimes (lol) but they made sure I understood the process to success. From sports deals to tour deals, offers, contracts, I was on every platform doing something with some big celebrity. I really thank all of the people who believed in me and they definitely deserve credit for why I’ve made it this far.

For the last four-five years, I have since become one of the more well-known Business Consulting & Project Management, companies in several markets east to the west coast. I work with a diverse array of clients, including non-profit organizations. I am the CEO and Owner of MyLyfe Productions, which consists of a forward-moving staff based in 4 of the major markets, specializing in Project Management, Business Management Consulting & Special Events.

In 2019 I was named Vice President of Business & Brand Development for the upcoming business venture Strong Black Woman LLC. I was also named Production Manager for the Salute Her Awards Tour 2019 produced by Miles Ahead Entertainment and Cafe Mocha Radio, which supports Mocha Cares Foundation. More recently now, in 2020, I have been given the responsibility of managing The DeDe McGuire Foundation Special Projects.

After 24 years in multiple industries, I feel the change coming again. Now, I share my experiences and knowledge by mentoring and assisting others. My style is designed to empower others through my activism efforts. I have a unique story because of its mine. Everyone has a story but my view was exposed to a different truth that caused me to want to share it with those who seek to hear it.

Three degrees. A degree in Computer Business Systems, another in Business Management/Admin with a minor in Marketing & Accounting, another in Network System Administration with my most recent accomplishment of Master Series of Distinguished Leaders Program coupled with my several years of experience in business management, development, marketing & project management keeps me in business, not the clout or fame, just the hard work of it all.

“Nobody ever said the real hard work was easy.” – CristinaLady Birdsong

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?
Not at all. A lot of the struggle definitely came from being a woman in some of the most male-dominated industries honestly. Trying to establish yourself and to be taken serious is hard. For me, it was. I know I didn’t look like I was the type to be headstrong and authoritative. I really had been told that several times (lol.) They definitely weren’t expecting such a strong mentality and voice coming out of such a small frame. I would hear, “I mean really, she’s cute but really will she get the job done? She doesn’t want to be a secretary, assistant, model, or sing?” That’s all that ran through my head for a long time.

The stereotypes of women in a lot of industries do exist. They come from everywhere, especially when you are the new kid popping up everywhere, in meetings that not everyone could be at, handling high profile deals, or invited to very exclusive gatherings, etc. I went through a lot mentally in all of my businesses, just to steer clear of being a stereotype. It definitely was exciting seeing other females around me excelling quickly but you often heard things so it just made me stick to my own goals. I wanted to create my own lane. It was a double-edged sword, though. I had to work harder because I chose the road less traveled. A lot of times, some would push me hard to try to make me quit. Some would not want to work with me because of hidden agendas. Others pushed me harder to make me better. You will go through some challenges and many obstacles but don’t let that stop you. A lot of it is mental. If you want to be taken seriously and really want to advance, you have to be very serious about what you want your success to look like and how it comes to you.

MyLyfe Productions – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am the proud CEO/Founder of MyLyfe Productions. I originally started this company as a Public Relations and Brand Development company. Now we assist and advise you on your next move as a company or a brand by offering consulting in the areas of business & project management along with financial literacy consulting.

With over 24 years of experience in small business ownership/operations and management, I built a team of great thinkers and executors that helps our clients create a customized plan for their projects. I also make it a very key necessity to coordinate with their team to help with project management oversight and execution. A lot can go wrong if you do not plan well and execute on time.

For me, the journey to get here is what keeps me humble. I think that makes what I do differently than others in my lane. Building a business is not as easy as it seems. Its a lot of moving parts and I understand that. I take time educating clients in the areas of organizing small business needs and offering financial literacy/planning consulting for small businesses and individuals. This I do mostly with my mentees. I want to see them become just as successful as I have been blessed to be. I am proud to say I have over five mentees that are still reaching new levels of success.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment for me was being accepted into the Master Series of Distinguished Leaders Program in 2019 by The Skinner Leadership Institute. Realizing that I was in a room full of highly accomplished corporate executives and individuals in the public sector was very overwhelming, yet I was very proud of myself and humbled. You don’t get in that program because your name got selected out of a hat. You have to put in that hard work that gets you in the places to shine and be noticed by others because of your hard work to get in this program. Not everyone gets noticed. Not everyone gets the opportunity to really excel and grow to another level. It’s then you realize that you are accomplishing a lot. It’s then you realize that somebody has, in fact, been watching your career and how you carried yourself. I definitely earned my right of passage, graduated that program, and will never forget that whole experience. More important than anything, I gained a family that cannot ever be replaced.

Pricing:

  • Business Development & Project Management Consulting (Includes Assistance with LLC/Corporate Setup) – Starting at $5500 for 3 months
  • FINANCIAL LITERACY AND/OR CREDIT CONSULTATION – Starting at $188 then $89 monthly (45 – 90 business day results)

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Matt Sutton, Never Satisfied Photography
MyLyfe Productions

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