Where the Mess Began
(or: How a High School Dropout Became a Strategy Nerd with a Side Hustle in Chaos Management)
Wisconsin-Built. Life-Tested. Laugh-Fortified.
Hey, I’m Krystal—a strategist by trade, a mom by default, and a firm believer that chaos builds character (and occasionally careers).
Let’s rewind.
I switched schools every single year from kindergarten to 12th grade. Yes. Every. Single. Year.
The upside? I can walk into any room, read the energy in 12 seconds flat, and make awkward small talk sound charming.
The Rollercoaster of Youth
The Early Years: Three Dads, Five Stepdads, and a Whole Lotta Chaos
Let’s just say, “split custody” doesn’t quite cover it. I’m one of three sisters—each with a different dad. We also each have siblings of our own who aren’t siblings to each other.
Add in a few rotating stepbrothers (thanks to five marriages), and you’ve got a family tree that’s more like a ‘choose-your-own-adventure.’
My mom? Fierce, flawed, and fighting demons—including a drug addiction that led to an arrest when I was in kindergarten after she drove under a semi.
The Wake Up Calls
The Teen Years: Independence or Implosion? Why Not Both.
By 16, I was out on my own, trying to make rent and microwave dinners at the same time. The teen years were wild: bad decisions, worse company, and a crash course in surviving before I even had a high school diploma. But every wrong turn taught me something—and I wouldn’t trade the grit it gave me.
The Rock Bottom That Rebuilt Me
There was the arrest. The loss. The moment at 19 weeks that changed everything. I don’t glamorize it—but I’ll never pretend it didn’t shape who I am now. That heartbreak cracked something open. And out of it came something wild and unexpected: ambition.
Rediscovering Purpose
From Chaos to Campaigns
I went back to school and discovered marketing. And it clicked. Suddenly, I had a language for connecting with people, understanding behavior, and building something real. What started as a way out became a career I genuinely love.
A Life in Progress
Today: Still Writing the Story
I’m a mom to a teenager who keeps me humble. A strategist who loves the messy middle just as much as the final deliverable. A work-in-progress with a soft spot for underdogs, understatements, and untangling digital chaos.
Not everything’s “Krystal Klear,” but hey—that’s kind of the point.
The Continuing Saga
Sure, there are days I feel like I'm fumbling in the dark. But that's the essence of 'Not So Krystal Klear,' right? Real, raw, unfiltered life – with a side of humor and a sprinkle of chaos.
Wanna know how this beautiful mess turned into a career?
Check out Krystal’s Kinda-Klear Career to see what I’ve built from the mess.
Join Me on This Wild Ride
So here I am, sharing my unscripted, uncensored story. Not for applause but to show that change is possible, that there's power in the mess, and that every day is a chance to rewrite your narrative.
Stick around, explore, and let's navigate this beautifully hazy journey together!