Hidden Gems: Meet Angela Stephens of RE-FOCUS THE CREATIVE OFFICE

Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Stephens. They and their team shared their story with us below:

Angela Stephens founded and created a 30-year Executive Search Firm in the Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Consumer & Nutritional Industries: www.astephensandassociates.com. As a single mother to her son for ten years, she noticed he struggled in school and social situations in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. Her son’s Pediatrician suggested that he be tested for ADHD; in fact, he was diagnosed with a high level of ADHD. Her son was diagnosed in the 5th grade, and Angela was diagnosed at age 45. Angela knew she had to start thinking differently, literally walking thru his life and steps from morning to evening. She then started creating products that did not exist to help him be more organized and focused. Years later, she created the company RE-FOCUS THE CREATIVE OFFICE www.time2refocus.com. The company has over 36 products that help you focus. All of their products are created “through the eyes of a child with ADHD; the company creates products that help you Focus & RE-FOCUS. That child is the son of Angela Stephens, the Company’s CEO. Her son’s grades improved dramatically, and he could handle situations with less stress and anxiety. Today, he is in college. He was diagnosed in the 5th grade, and Angela was diagnosed at 45. “We create products for all individuals to help them focus whether they have ADHD or not; the products are designed to help all individuals with new ideas on how to focus better.”

RE-FOCUS THE CREATIVE OFFICE was founded and created by Angela Stephens, CEO of Springfield, MO, in 2019. The woman-owned business is certified as a woman-owned business with WBENC, WOSB, SBA & Disability: IN (DOBE). The products today can be found online at www.time2refocus.com or Amazon, Walmart, Wayfair, Staples.com, Newegg, and eBay, and they are in over 200+ Staples stores nationwide. In addition, they are also in many college bookstores. Customers have found that their products even help with memory issues, for instance: forgetting passwords and dates. They have maintained a continuous 4.9 rating for 4 years on Amazon based on the product rating and customer experience. Amazon has now featured the company in 3 articles to date. The company has over 11 Password Books styles, including large, small, left-handed, camouflage, and a new Executive Faux Leather Password Book. Academic and Annual Calendars are unique and different from other calendars. They have a matching To-Do List legal pad that matches the Calendars inside each month. They also have College/University Scholarship Timeline sheets, 2 Guided Anxiety Journals, one for Adults and one for Young Adults.

Anxiety journals have been very popular, especially with the young adult market. They also have a 7-day Pill Box Organizer with encouraging messages. Angela Stephens has over 30 yrs. of Exec Search & Career Coaching; she had experience interviewing executives daily; our Podcast was a natural path of progression. The company created its First Podcast now with over 140 Episodes: “The ADHD RE-FOCUS with Angela Stephens” www.refocuswithangela.com, where Angela interviews Execs on how they focus and re-focus when they face adversity. The 2nd Podcast is “RE-Focusing on your new Career” www.refocuscareers.com/podcast “As a businesswoman and mother, I felt a strong obligation to showcase different types of careers to the younger market. They are going through anxiety and focus issues that many in my age group did not have to endure. It is exciting to showcase different careers to them. Our company’s mission is clear: Once a person is focused, organized, and finds their “calm,” they can be brilliant! We want to convey that message to anyone struggling with anxiety or focus issues.”

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Owning a business is very exciting, but it has its challenges. I was raised by two amazing parents who had their businesses. I knew when business was great and when it wasn’t great. How I was raised has so much to do with our success. In 2019 we were involved in an email phishing scam in Hong Kong. We lost $25,000, and it was devastating as this was money that we desperately needed. However, I looked at our team and said, “It’s $25,000, not 25 million; we keep going and move onward” That experience even led to Amazon writing the following article: https://sell.amazon.com/blog/seller-stories/amazon-sellers-conquer-challenges.

During the Pandemic, we received an email stating that our products were not essential; therefore, overnight, we had to ship out our products to our customers. We had been working with Fulfilled by Amazon, so this was a major bump in the road. We did not know shipping rates, FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL, Packaging, etc. However, “you turn the bad into good” We created our shipping station and are working with a warehouse, and now we can drop ship our products directly to customers, which gives us a huge advantage. This was not easy at all, but the team that works with us is great at research. “We learn, read, connect with others, and make it work.”

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check?
Favorite app? No question, CardStar – it holds all of my loyalty cards and numbers. It is a lifesaver, especially when you are juggling 3 businesses. Products that help me focus? Password book, I would be lost without it. Many say it is unsafe, but Last Pass was hacked last year, so taking control of my security is valuable. Here is a hint: When you write your passwords down in our password books: If your Password is Laughter21 – put Lau; it will trigger your memory to know the password while keeping your information safe and with you.

Pricing:

• 20% off new customer order: www.time2refocus.com Promo Code: NC20

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.time2refocus.com and Michaels.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/time2refocus
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/time2refocus
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelaastephens/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/time2refocusnow
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com@time2refocus
• Other: Focus Podcast: The ADHD RE-FOCUS with Angela Stephens” www.refocuswithangela.com
  Career Podcast: www.refocuscareers.com/podcast