Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna McGraw.
Hi Anna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Inspired by YOU began 5 years ago after I spent 15 years in public education as a teacher, assistant principal, and elementary school principal in several local school districts. I loved my career in education and I gave 110% to each position where I served. I genuinely thought I would never leave education.
In fact, I had just accepted a new position as an elementary school principal in the community where I lived when I received news that completely stopped me in my tracks. It was my first day on the job and I was in a meeting with my new superintendent. Midway through the meeting, I looked down at my phone and realized I had numerous missed calls and text messages. I excused myself from the meeting to call my husband, Shaun, to see what was happening. When I heard his voice, I knew something terrible had happened. He told me that he was having a heart attack and to meet him at the hospital.
Everything was in slow motion from that point forward. At 36 years old and with a young child at home, this wasn’t supposed to happen. As I sat in the emergency room waiting for answers, so many questions filled my mind as I tried to reason with God. I just wanted my husband to be okay. Thank God, Shaun was okay. He had no heart damage and the doctor found no reason for why the heart attack happened. When we left the hospital, however, we were completely changed.
With such an eye-opening experience, I made a promise the day Shaun was released to make significant changes in my life. I no longer wanted to work 50-60 hour work weeks. I didn’t want to give my “best” to my job, and then come home with very little left to give to those I loved the most. I always say that “Inspired by YOU” was born in the hospital the day Shaun was admitted. I have always been inspired by the strength and courage he shows in life. When he wants to try something new, he just goes for it. He often says, “What do you have to lose? Try it!”
For years, I came home from my career in education and I would craft in the evenings to settle my mind from the long, sometimes emotional days. I would create wreaths, stamped jewelry, paintings, and earrings. As fast as I would make new things, they would sell in my Facebook Group. Pretty soon, my group grew from 1,000 to 3,000 to 5,000 to almost 11,000 people across the country. This platform afforded me the opportunity to share my passion with my new friends, and they seemed to enjoy what I was making. We would laugh together. We would cry together. Most of all, we would just do life together. I never would’ve guessed my hobby would replace my full-time income. Relatively quickly, I was in a position where I could resign from my principalship and go “all in” with Inspired by YOU.
Just within the last year, our small business has grown big enough that Shaun now works full-time with Inspired by YOU as well. We have an online store (inspiredbyyoujewelry.net) and we have live sales once a week in our Facebook Group (http://www.facebook.com/groups/inspiredbyyoujewelry). We absolutely love the nudges God provided us to get us to where we are today. Inspired by YOU just hit our 5 year birthday, and I get emotional just saying that. Sometimes the path we are on isn’t at ALL where we are supposed to be.
I am so glad I was obedient and followed that urge to make a change. I had every reason to be scared to make such a big change, but we would have never been where we are now if we wouldn’t have followed this calling. Inspired by YOU is a blessing, not only to Shaun, our family, and me but also to every person who follows us on our journey. We have grown a nationwide family that inspires US each and every day. We are so incredibly grateful for this small business.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As with any path you may be on, there are always times you have to be ready to pivot to stay exciting and relevant. Flexibility is key to any successful career or business. We grew our business online over the last five years, so we’ve tried many new technologies and products as they’ve become available to us. We are always evaluating what is working and what doesn’t seem to be working for Inspired by YOU and our community.
For example, when businesses were struggling with algorithms on social media, we tried to find ways to lessen those challenges with text lists, emails, apps, etc. Also, when our community was craving personal connection, we added weekly Facebook live sales so we could virtually “hang out”. We are always on our toes, ready to make that pivot/shift. That internal pressure to be better each and every day is what keeps us growing.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Inspired by YOU is known for our handmade, leather earrings.
Each pair of earrings is made, by hand, right here in our home! Leather earrings have grown so much in popularity because of their versatility and how lightweight they are in your ears. So many of our girls say that they forget they are even wearing earrings when they have them in their ears. Also, because of our unique design and high-quality earring finishings, many of our customers can ONLY wear Inspired by YOU earrings.
So many of our customers have said that they’ve tried to wear earrings for years, but due to allergies, they’ve never been able to. Inspired by YOU earrings are the only earrings they CAN wear. We offer leather, vegan options, glitter, personalization, and 50+ different shapes. We are known for having the biggest selection around.
Our earrings have been a part of engagements, weddings, births, parties, birthdays, concerts, memorials, vacations, sporting events, school spirit days, family photos, and so many other monumental occasions. Seeing these photos NEVER gets old. We love being a part of special days and helping our Inspired by YOU family feel beautiful and confident.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I find myself listening to motivational, “you can do it” playlists. Listening to those, and other small business owners is a really great way to grow your mindset and gather new ideas.
Of course, a good dose of my daily devotional always gets my mind right as well.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.inspiredbyyoujewelry.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anna_inspiredbyyoujewelry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/inspiredbyyoujewelry
Image Credits
Stephanie Photo
