Have you ever heard of Maxie James? She has become one of the top celebrity stylist for big star names like Blac Chyna, Letoya Luckett, Erica Mena and India Love. How did she start? Well, Maxie has always had big dreams and although she has started her business only three years ago, she has grown into so much fame and popularity, that she frequently holds part of New Works Fashion Week and has the only boutique in LA’s exclusive melrose avenue owned by an African American.

What makes Maxie so different from other entrepreneurs is the strength in her personality and vision. After her first year of making a six figure profit, she did not sit bak and relax but instead was determined to work harder. When he has an online feud with another celebrity designer, instead of stepping back and hiding, she was strong about her opinion and used this as a platform to grow her brand.

Maxie accepts that at the beginning, she did not know how to start her empire. It wasn’t until she one day came across a Steve Harvey motivational video that she started to decide on taking this passion of hers seriously. Today, she enjoys waking up at 5:30 am and says: “ When I was working an office job before, I felt miserable and like I had no sense of direction. Now, no matter the struggles I face, I feel grateful to be doing what I love.”

Her main advice for young people who are going through what she was once living is to be sure to know yourself more than anyone else. She says that in her case, her family expected her to become a lawyer or doctor, but she knew on the inside that she was not destined to do those kind of jobs. Instead, she trusted her instinct and worked for what she loved because in her words: “ People think starting a business is hard, but keeping it going is even harder” Also, as she has demonstrated with her past actions, she insist on the importance of thinking positive and surrounding yourself with positive people.