Andrea Alvarado shared her story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Andrea, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Outside of work, I recently got married! Navigating what it truly means to be a wife has been an interesting journey so far. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning more about how to support and serve my husband.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
a seed of Poise planted on Purpose…
I didn’t know what that word meant…”poise”. Growing up, I heard it all the time from individuals older than myself. They were acknowledging how eloquent and wise before my years I was, and that I had an old soul. There are many encounters that I will never forget. I also didn’t realize how impactful my writing was for those around me. I would write poems and notes to classmates, friends, administrators, and loved ones, just to brighten their day. I believe that my writing and creativity serves a greater “purpose” than just a hobby or passion project. This is Poised with Purpose Co.
My name is Andrea Kirby, and I am the Founder of Poised with Purpose Co. I aspire to encourage and uplift people around the world with my writing, faith, and creativity. I adore all things vintage, pastel, and alluringly elegant. My faith is the center of my life, and it is implemented throughout the majority of the work I produce.
Our Mission:
~~Poised with Purpose Co. is a writing & poetry business with services intended to inspire, encourage, inform, and uplift others. On this platform, we hope to exude elegance and faith-based material through imagery, video content, and written word.~~
Products include: Journals, digital cards, greeting/encouragement cards, poems, prayer cards, and other stationery!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
The Word of God states in John 12:44-46, “And Jesus cried out and said, ‘Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in Him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees Him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.’ ”
Before really knowing Jesus, I did not even know myself. Born into a Christian family, I always believed in the Holy Trinity and tried my best to do what was right. For a while, I did not actually like or love myself. I was hiding away and living in darkness that not even those closest to me knew about. It was not until I experienced the deep and abiding loving-kindness of Jesus that I could finally look in the mirror and see myself – but not me, rather Christ in me (Galatians 2:20 and 2 Corinthians 5:17).
The darkness behind my sorrow-filled eyes brightened. The tension in my heavily burdened shoulders lifted. The trembling of my weary heart became tranquil. That’s the power that a relationship with Jesus has over your life! I can see who God calls me to be, (daughter), because I have received the wisdom and understanding of Jesus’ character, His life, His death, and what He did to save all of us.
No longer do I live my life to serve my own fleshly desires, and no longer do I reach unattainable heights to fill a void that only He can fill. My confidence comes from Christ, and in this, I see Christ in me!
When did you last change your mind about something important?
I used to put much importance into the industry I was once in. As someone who grew up performing and training for the Entertainment Industry, I reached a point where none of it mattered anymore. In 2024, I decided to retire from the modeling industry. I literally GREW UP modeling, and this was initially a difficult decision for me to make. There were a lot of people in my ear telling me that I was “too young to retire”, and that “I would miss it some day”, or how “I would regret my choices.” I haven’t looked back since. Do I miss it sometimes? Yes; but I know that my calling is for something of much more significance.
Prior to that, I decided to walk away from the Film Industry. I was accepted into Chapman University to pursue a Masters Degree in Production Design, but I no longer felt that as a calling on my life either. I knew God was pulling me away from the Entertainment Industry for a reason greater than anyone could personally comprehend.
So, what did I choose instead? Teaching.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Showing my love for Jesus by serving my students, colleagues, my husband, my family, and even strangers.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What will you regret not doing?
I don’t necessarily have many regrets because I now understand that God’s perfectly timed plan always works itself out. However, if I were to choose one regret, it would be starting my business “so late”.
Oh – but didn’t I just say God’s timing is perfect? Absolutely! I also believe that we a humans tend to ignore the nudges from the Holy Spirit, and I raise my hand to that! Looking back, I know that God was telling me to pursue Poised with Purpose Co. much earlier on in my life/career. I simply was not listening, and instead of focusing on what God was telling me to do, I was too concerned about everyone else’s endeavors.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/poisedwithpurposeco
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-alvarado
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@poisedwithpurposeco
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/@poisedladydiaries
Image Credits
Danasha Edgington, Neisha Holloway
