We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Annette Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Annette, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you wish you had started sooner?

I truly believe my start in the creative world happened at just the right time, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Honestly, I never saw myself as a creative person. Growing up, I never dreamed of designing anything—if anything, I avoided it. Even something as simple as putting together outfits for school or work was a challenge for me. I kept things simple and never ventured far out of the box. I didn’t think I was “built” for a creative or crafty life. The closest I came was as a little girl when my brother and I once tried to build an airplane out of drywall in our backyard—we were about seven or eight years old, and you can imagine how that turned out!

My dream career was to be an attorney. I loved speeches, drama, and debates—everything I thought would make me the next Perry Mason or Ben Matlock. And while I didn’t become an attorney, I did spend over 30 years working in human services, specifically in child support enforcement. I moved up through the ranks, worked alongside the judicial system, and truly enjoyed my career.

Then life threw me an unexpected curveball. In 2010, I was diagnosed with lupus. And then just three years later, in 2013, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. That double blow forced me to retire early, right at the height of my career. At 54, I hung up my professional shingle, cried, prayed, and wondered what could possibly be next for me. Creativity was still nowhere on my radar.

It wasn’t until I began hosting small events and couldn’t afford to hire a decorator that I decided to try decorating myself. At first, it wasn’t the prettiest, but something in me shifted. I discovered a new part of my brain sparking to life—and I liked it. It felt like my mind was being rewired in the most unexpected way.

Looking back, I know that my creative journey began at exactly the right moment. It came out of a season of pain, but it brought me healing and a renewed sense of purpose. If I had started earlier, I might not have appreciated it the same way. If I’d started later, I might never have discovered it at all. So, no—I wouldn’t change a thing about when or how it happened. It was perfectly timed.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m the founder and owner of *Yoo’Nek Designs by AJ, LLC*, a boutique creative studio that specializes in event styling, custom décor, and personalized gifts. I also lead *Iron Sharpens Iron Transformational Inner Circle, LLC*, a women’s mentorship and personal development community. Together, these two entities form a hybrid social enterprise: Yoo’Nek Designs generates revenue to help sustain and expand the transformative work of Iron Sharpens Iron.

My journey here was anything but planned. For over 30 years, I worked as a human services professional, advancing through leadership roles in child support enforcement. I loved that work, and I thought I’d retire in that field. But life shifted drastically when I was diagnosed with lupus in 2010 and breast cancer in 2013. That season forced me to retire early—something I hadn’t anticipated—and left me wondering what my next chapter would look like.

Creativity found me in the most unexpected way. As I began hosting events for friends and community groups, I couldn’t afford to hire a decorator, so I started styling and decorating myself. To my surprise, I loved it—and others noticed and started asking me to design for their events. I realized I had discovered a hidden creative gift, one that gave me joy and brought others happiness. That’s how Yoo’Nek Designs was born: from a place of resilience, reinvention, and a desire to make life’s special moments beautiful.

At Yoo’Nek Designs, I offer a range of creative services: event design and styling for weddings, showers, milestone parties, and corporate events; custom gift boxes like the *Sista2Sista Care Box* for women’s empowerment and encouragement; and unique, handcrafted décor pieces that tell your story in a way that’s meaningful and memorable. My focus is on creating one-of-a-kind experiences and products that feel personal, intentional, and inspiring.

What sets me apart is the heart behind the work. Every design or product I create carries a message of hope, healing, and connection—because that’s what this journey gave back to me. Yoo’Nek Designs isn’t just about making things look good; it’s about making people feel seen and celebrated.

I’m also deeply proud of *Iron Sharpens Iron Transformational Inner Circle*. This is a space where women can build authentic friendships, grow spiritually and personally, and feel supported in every stage of life. Through workshops, devotionals, mentorship circles, and community events, we help women overcome isolation and discover the power of sisterhood.

I’d say the thing I’m most proud of is how both of my brands reflect my own story of resilience and transformation—and how they’re impacting others. For potential clients and followers, I’d want you to know this: when you work with Yoo’Nek Designs or engage with Iron Sharpens Iron, you’re not just buying a service or joining a program. You’re partnering with someone who truly cares about your experience, your growth, and your story.

My mission is simple: to create spaces, products, and experiences that leave people better than I found them—more inspired, more connected, and more hopeful. That’s what drives me every single day.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn is that creativity has *no* expiration date. For most of my life, I didn’t see myself as creative at all—and I definitely didn’t think it was something you could discover later in life. I believed creativity was something you either had as a child, or you didn’t. I kept my life practical and professional, working in human services and climbing the career ladder.

But after lupus and breast cancer forced me to retire early, I found myself in an unfamiliar, quiet space—one that gave room for something new to bloom. I started decorating events because I couldn’t afford to hire anyone, and that’s when I discovered this creative spark that had been buried all along. It was humbling, but also freeing, to realize that creativity can awaken at any age, at any stage of life. You just have to be open to it. That lesson has become part of the message I now share through Iron Sharpens Iron: no matter your season or circumstance, you can still grow, still create, still become.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist and creative is that every new idea opens up a new stage and a new season. With every event I design, every workshop I lead, and every devotional I write, I feel like I get to experience another layer of who I am—and help others do the same. Creativity keeps me in a posture of learning and discovery, and it allows me to see possibility everywhere.

Through Yoo’Nek Designs, I get to make people’s milestones memorable and beautiful, and through Iron Sharpens Iron, I get to help women rediscover their own spark. Both are deeply rewarding because they’re not just about the end product—they’re about transformation, connection, and leaving people better than I found them.

Contact Info:

• Other: Working on developing website for both Yoo’Nek Designs by AJ, LLC and Irons Sharpens Iron Transformational Inner Circle, LLC.