Meet Atleana Murrell | Founder & CEO of The Ambitious Lifestyle

We had the good fortune of connecting with Atleana Murrell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Atleana, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
As a full-time student, varsity athlete, school leader, and entrepreneur, finding a work-life balance has been a challenge. The accumulation of deadlines, pressing tasks, and extracurricular commitments could seem beyond intimidating. I learned that even with a demanding schedule and responsibilities, I could not put my best foot forward without taking care of myself first. Whether this looks prayer, journaling, spending time with friends and family, or setting aside time to do something I love, I cherish every moment of self-care.

I was once the type of person to try to ‘do it all’ and always ended up with burn out. Through this, the biggest lesson I’ve learned is the importance of leaning on your community and delegating certain responsibilities to the team around you. I see this as pouring into yourself, so that you can pour back into others.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am honored to share more about my brand! The Ambitious Lifestyle is a faith-based clothing brand centered around providing a unique space for fashion-lovers to expand their relationship with God. I started my entrepreneurial journey in 2020, right before the brink of the COVID-19 pandemic. Navigating this journey as a young entrepreneur was demanding, but I think that those challenges along the way made my brand what it is today.

I have always loved fashion, but as I got older, I found even more joy in expressing myself through clothing. This sparked my interest in creating my own pieces. Deepening this interest, I developed my graphic design skills, which I used to create unique designs for items such as hoodies, tote bags, and t-shirts. With each image, my goal was to evoke a seed of positivity and reflection within my customers.

Often, I find myself reflecting on where my brand has been, and looking forward to where it is going. My favorite designs to date are the “Faith of a Mustard Seed” and “Walk in Love” collections. Each of these collections are a reflection of my own personal journey in faith, and embody the path down which God has lead me in each season. I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to create a space for like-minded individuals to express themselves and their walk with God through something as simple as a hoodie. I look forward to expanding The Ambitious Lifestyle through new products, branding, and community initiatives.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Memphis has countless amazing places to hang out, eat, and more! I would definitely recommend visiting Downtown Memphis, as I think it holds true to a lot of the city’s culture. For a great spot to eat, I would take them to Blues City Cafe on Beale Street. It’s open for any late night cravings, along with one of my favorite spots, Insomnia Cookies.

Another one of my favorite aspects of Downtown Memphis is Tom Lee Park. Personally, I find a lot of peace in nature and I think Tom Lee Park is the perfect place to take in the scenery of Memphis, especially since it’s located along the river. Overall, it’s a great spot to enjoy the weather and spend time with friends and family.

Lastly, I would direct them to one of my favorite places to work, study, and hang out: Crosstown Concourse. This multi-purposed space is home to art galleries, a plethora of restaurants, office spaces, events, and more! I love the vibrant atmosphere of Crosstown Concourse, and I think it’s a unique spot to check out.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My inspiration for starting my business stems from my entrepreneurial-driven family. My parents have each run their own businesses for as long as I can remember. Some of my greatest memories date back to the weekends my sister and I would tag along with our parents as they set up their businesses, along with other vendors, for a local pop-up shop. With each interaction, my mom and dad exuded confidence and true hard work.

I believe that this natural drive within my parents to impact those around them with their businesses has been imprinted in me. So at the young age of 12, it seemed extremely fitting for me to start my own brand, encompassing my love for fashion. When I took on this mountain of a goal, the desire was to create something that was true to me, which birthed The Ambitious Lifestyle.

Website: https://ambitiousstudios.myshopify.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theambitiouslifestyle_

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@fromlewithluv