Meet Kristin Pridgen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Pridgen.

Hi Kristin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I like to say that my first love was a good story. I remember being this big-eyed little girl who longed to hear family memories and to read as many books as possible.

My love for storytelling and creative writing followed me throughout my childhood and into my professional career in public health. I always found a way to infuse storytelling into my work, whether creating the state health department’s newsletter or using narratives to share public health trends. I loved seeing how stories connected people.

After working in public health for a few years, I went into entrepreneurship and started a holistic skincare company called Earth-Kissed Beauty. I enjoyed making jars of fluffy body butter but adored connecting with people and learning their stories.

The pandemic hit, and like so many others, my business suffered. But more than that, I was burned out from trying every method to keep the business going. I had lost the luster I once felt and didn’t know what to do.

I went into a period of introspection and deep prayer to seek guidance on where I was heading next. And God showed me what was there from the start–my love for connecting with people through a good story. He showed me how to use my passion for storytelling in my work, and I decided to act in faith and go all in.

Last March, I launched my copywriting business, Harper Kea Storytelling, and my podcast, Wholē Temple.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Heck no! Entrepreneurship–well, life in general–is a rollercoaster with so many loops, dips, and turns. You’ve got to hold on, roll with the turns, and anticipate the moment where it all levels out.

I believe my main struggle has been navigating a healthy work-life balance. When I was running Earth-Kissed Beauty, I worked every day and handled almost every piece of my business operations. I made the products, shipped them, sold them at markets, and did the admin work.

There was no work-life balance for me then; I was an over-worked, sleep-deprived mama and entrepreneur trying to grow my business. I spent four years living like this. And I wonder why I became so burned out, ha!

Now, I make it a habit not to work on the weekends, and I aim to have a true Sabbath, where I chill and spend time with my family. Some weekends are better than others, but I mostly stick to it. Having a few days to rest has been so helpful to prevent that work exhaustion from creeping in.

The other piece of that struggle is the issue of handling all the operations yourself. I’m learning the importance of working within your zone of genius and getting help for the remaining areas. I want to work in my business, not for it!

I’m starting to grow my community by outsourcing some business tasks that aren’t in my flow zone and asking for help when needed.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At Harper Kea Storytelling, I give creatives and wellness brands words to describe their work with personality and purpose. My main offerings are website copy, sales page copy, and emails. I also offer content services like blogs and social media captions.

I build out a brand’s message with a storytelling approach and do all the writing for them. My clients even receive a guidebook with key phrases and helpful tips for future messaging. By strategically telling a brand’s story, customers see how that company will solve their problems and transform their lives.

My copywriting business is a year old, but I’m so pleased and grateful for the impact it has made so far. One of my clients was rebranding and wanted their website copy to better align with their values. We did a deep dive into the personality and purpose of their business and created their unique brand voice.

After I completed the website copy and they launched, the client booked two 5-figure projects within the first month. And they doubled their annual revenue in 4 months. I was blown away by the results and bubbling with excitement over the impact of working hard and telling your story.

My creative project is the Wholē Temple Podcast. It’s an opportunity to marry my love for holistic living and storytelling. I share holistic wellness tips on the podcast and chat with people about their journey towards loving their whole selves. Some previous episodes were about managing anxiety, perfectionism, financial wellness, and holistic nutrition.

I’ve loved reading the podcast reviews and chatting with listeners about how the episodes resonate with them. One episode, in particular, was about navigating the grieving process as a couple. Someone shared with me that they were dealing with a loss, and this episode reminded them that they weren’t alone in their struggle. That’s what I love: how a story can connect people.

It’s powerful.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I have two pieces of advice: Stay true to yourself and find your community.

It’s so easy to get lost in this world by the comparison trap or wanting to appease everybody. Remember who you are and stick to your vision. No one has the same skills and life experience as you. Own that, and trust in God to lead the way.

And find your people! They’re out there and are eager to connect with you. Community is everything. So don’t go on this life journey alone; find the folks who can support you and challenge you to grow.

Contact Info:

• Email: kristin@harperkea.com
• Website: www.harperkea.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harperkeastorytelling/
• Other: https://kristinpridgen.com/

Image Credits

Heather Ison Photography