18 Years Later: Still Here, Still Creating, Still Listening

This July marks 18 years of Christina Kober Designs. Looking back, I’m amazed at how much has changed, my business, technology, social media, and most of all, myself.

When I started, I had no idea what I was doing. I built my business based on what I thought success should look like: selling to hundreds of stores, managing a team of 15 to 20 women, and hitting that million-dollar revenue mark.

But in chasing that dream, I learned something important: getting there wasn’t what I thought it would be. I was anxious, overwhelmed, and burned out. My business was running me, not the other way around. I knew it didn’t feel right, but stepping off the treadmill was terrifying.

In 2020, everything slowed down. And to be honest, it felt like a relief. But eventually, I got swept up again in the pursuit of more : more growth, more pressure, more everything.

Then this year, I experienced some major losses on my team. It broke my heart. If you’ve ever lost a team member in a small business, you know it can feel like a breakup. We hire people we believe in, people who share our values, who fill the gaps we can’t, and who become like family. When they leave, it’s devastating. It feels like starting over.

And I’ve been here before. My gut reaction was to immediately replace, to push forward. But this time, it didn’t feel right. In fact, things hadn’t felt right for a while. So I paused and asked myself: What’s really going on here?

The answer?

The problem was more. I don’t want more.

I started making jewelry because I love the process. I love the stories. I love the quiet power of a meaningful piece of jewelry. I wanted to create something small but impactful. Something that connects. What I truly want are relationships. I want to know you, your story, your why.

So, all this to say: I’m figuring out what the future of Christina Kober Designs looks like. What I do know is that I’m still here. I’m your contact moving forward. I want to hear from you - text me, call me, email me. Let’s do this together.