We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anna McGraw. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anna below.

Anna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

One of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken was walking away from a career that I had spent decades building.

Education wasn’t just a job for me—it was part of my identity. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, a specialist degree in Administration, and eventually a doctorate in Adult Leadership. I worked my way from teacher to assistant principal and ultimately principal. I loved the work, the students, the staff, and the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. I was in education for 15 years.

At the same time, what started as a creative outlet on my kitchen table had quietly begun to grow. Inspired by YOU Jewelry and Boutique was born from my love of creating and connecting with people. In the beginning, it was simply a hobby. I would make jewelry and accessories after work, never imagining it could become a full-time business.

Then life changed.

My husband, Shaun, suffered a heart attack at just 36 years old. In an instant, everything that felt so certain suddenly felt fragile. Sitting in that hospital, I found myself reevaluating what mattered most. I realized that while I was helping lead a school and pouring into so many other families, I was often missing precious moments with my own.

As a principal, the demands were constant. Early mornings, late nights, evening events, weekend responsibilities—it was a role that required a tremendous amount of time and energy. Although I loved the work, I began asking myself difficult questions: If something happened to one of us tomorrow, would I be satisfied with how I had spent my time? Was I present enough for my husband and my boys? Was I building the life I truly wanted, or simply continuing down the path I had always planned?

Leaving education felt terrifying. I had invested years of schooling, countless hours of work, and a stable career with benefits. Entrepreneurship offered none of those guarantees. There was no certainty that our business would succeed. There was no promise of a steady paycheck. There was only faith, hard work, and a belief that maybe this little business could become something more.

So I took the leap.

I left my principal position and committed fully to Inspired by YOU Jewelry and Boutique. Shaun eventually joined me in the business as well. Together, we built not only a company, but a life that aligned with our values. Today, we serve thousands of women across the country, create products that help people celebrate their families, faith, and communities, and have built an incredible community of customers who feel more like friends than shoppers.

The greatest reward, however, isn’t the business success. It’s the life we’ve gained. I get to homeschool our boys. I get to have lunch with my family. I get to attend baseball games, be present for everyday moments, and work alongside my husband. Looking back, I’m so grateful I had the courage to take that leap. It gave us a life that is richer in time together, deeper in purpose, and more aligned with what matters most to our family.

Would I do it again? Without hesitation.

That leap taught me that sometimes the biggest risks lead to the greatest rewards—not because everything turns out perfectly, but because they move you closer to the life you were truly meant to live.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Anna, and I’m the owner of Inspired by YOU Jewelry and Boutique, an online boutique and creative brand that serves thousands of women across the country. Before becoming a full-time entrepreneur, I spent my career in education as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal. Education was my passion for many years, and I earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, a specialist degree in Administration, and a doctorate in Adult Leadership.

While I love education, creativity has always been part of who I am. What began as a hobby making jewelry and accessories quickly grew into something much bigger. Inspired by YOU was originally started as a creative outlet after long days in education, but over time it evolved into a thriving business and community.

Today, Inspired by YOU offers handmade jewelry, graphic apparel, custom spirit wear, and gift items designed to help women celebrate the things they love most—faith, family, friendships, hometown pride, sports, and life’s everyday moments. We create products that help people tell their stories and wear what matters most to them.

What truly sets us apart, however, isn’t the products. It’s the people.

Over the years, our business has grown into a community of more than 11,000 women who show up for one another in ways that go far beyond shopping. We celebrate milestones together, pray for one another through hardships, support each other through loss, and cheer each other on through life’s victories. Many of the women in our community have become genuine friends, and that sense of connection is at the heart of everything we do.

The turning point in my journey came when my husband, Shaun, suffered a heart attack. It was a moment that forced me to reevaluate my priorities and think deeply about how I was spending my time. I realized I wanted to be more present as a wife and mother and create a life that allowed me to prioritize my family while still pursuing meaningful work. Taking the leap from principal to full-time business owner was one of the biggest decisions of my life, but it ultimately gave our family the freedom and flexibility we were seeking.

Today, Shaun works alongside me in the business, and together we have built something that reflects our values. We homeschool our boys, work side by side every day, and have the privilege of serving an incredible community of customers who feel more like family than clients.

What I’m most proud of isn’t the sales, the growth, or even the products we’ve created. I’m most proud of the community we’ve built and the impact we’ve had on the women we serve. Inspired by YOU has always been about helping people feel seen, valued, and connected. If there’s one thing I want people to know about our brand, it’s that behind every product is a real family, a real story, and a genuine desire to make people feel loved and appreciated.

At the end of the day, we’re not just selling jewelry or t-shirts. We’re creating connection, celebrating life’s moments, and reminding people that they matter.

How did you build your audience on social media?

One of the questions I get asked most often is how we’ve grown such a large and engaged audience on social media. The answer is actually pretty simple: we showed up consistently, and we showed up as ourselves.

During COVID, people were craving connection. Everyone was isolated, worried, and looking for something positive to look forward to. At the time, we started going live on Facebook one to two times every week. What began as a way to showcase jewelry and products quickly became so much more.

People came to shop, but they stayed for the relationships.

Week after week, women would log in, chat with one another, share stories about their families, celebrate milestones, and support each other through difficult seasons. Those live sales became a place where people could connect when much of the world felt disconnected.

As our community grew, so did our business.

Today, we still host a live sale almost every Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. While we certainly showcase new products, our audience knows they’re getting much more than a sales presentation. They’re getting a real family.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that people don’t connect with perfect businesses. They connect with real people.

We share our lives openly. We talk about homeschooling our boys, baseball games, family adventures, business struggles, and life’s unexpected challenges. Sometimes we laugh until we cry. Sometimes we actually cry. Sometimes things don’t go according to plan and everyone gets a front-row seat. Through it all, we’ve learned that authenticity creates connection.

I often tell other business owners that you can’t be afraid to go live and let people see what makes you unique. So many people worry about saying the wrong thing, looking imperfect, or not having a polished presentation. But perfection isn’t what builds relationships.

What makes small businesses different from Amazon isn’t convenience or pricing. It’s connection.

Our customers know our family. They know our story. They’ve watched our children grow up. They’ve celebrated our victories and prayed for us during difficult times. In return, we’ve celebrated and supported them as well. That’s something no large corporation can replicate.

The most powerful marketing strategy we’ve ever used wasn’t a paid advertisement or a complicated social media formula. It was simply showing up consistently, being ourselves, and creating a place where people felt welcomed, valued, and connected.

At the end of the day, people may come for the products, but they stay because they feel like they belong.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

One of the most unique things about our growth is that it has been driven almost entirely by relationships and word-of-mouth referrals.

We don’t rely heavily on traditional advertising. Instead, our customers become our biggest advocates.

Every week, women purchase shirts, jewelry, and gifts not only for themselves, but for the people they love. They’ll send a pair of earrings to a friend who’s had a difficult week. They’ll order a t-shirt for a sister who needs encouragement. They’ll ship a gift directly to someone who’s grieving, celebrating a milestone, fighting an illness, or simply needs a reminder that someone cares.

Those gifts create a ripple effect.

Someone receives a package and asks, “Where did this come from?” The answer is often Inspired by YOU. They join our Facebook group, attend a live sale, and become part of our community. Over and over again, we’ve watched one thoughtful gift turn into a lasting relationship.

Our customers also play a huge role in helping us grow by sharing our business with others. We regularly encourage our community to invite friends to our Facebook group, share our website, tag friends in posts, and tell others about their favorite products. The women in our group genuinely want to support small businesses, and many have become incredible ambassadors for our brand.

What makes this especially meaningful is that people aren’t sharing us because they’re being paid to. They’re sharing us because they’ve experienced the community firsthand and want others to experience it too.

For us, growth has never been about chasing numbers. It’s been about serving people well enough that they naturally want to tell others about us.

When someone feels seen, appreciated, and cared for, they remember that. They tell their friends. They share their experience. And that’s how our business has continued to grow year after year.

At Inspired by YOU, every new customer usually starts with a relationship—a gift, a recommendation, a shared post, or a friend saying, “You have to check out this group.” That’s the kind of growth we’re most proud of because it’s built on trust, connection, and genuine human relationships.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.inspiredbyyoujewelry.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anna_inspiredbyyoujewelry
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/InspiredbyYOUJewelry

Image Credits

I took the photos.