We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ja’Shanna Graves a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ja’Shanna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?
Thank you for the opportunity and I am excited to share. I would add 2 new courses for Middle\ High school students that are mandatory and require hands-on training. I would bring one project back to school systems that I haven’t heard of or seen in a long time. I can’t give you too many details because I am working on them but I will share the benefits of the programs.
One course is cultivated with each person in mind to gain control of emotions, improve their mental health, and enhance communication skills. Acknowledging self-worth and love individually. (Centered around Mental Health and Personal Development). The other course demonstrates customer service skills that develop thick skin, problem-solving abilities, active listening, and more. Bringing back a particular project to 8th and 9th graders I feel would be suitable. I never took the class but I used to hear many stories that shifted many people’s thinking about being parents at an early age.
Some may take for granted and simply be unaware of the many skills we develop during the challenging and stressful times in school and life. If we can handle it better at an early age. We can endure the longevity of the pressure of life a little better.
I learned all of this in high school through many obstacles. I didn’t have the tools and resources. I will share more in “The Shine Collection” series. I have written for many to embark on their healing journey. I worked in the Hospitality & Food Industry for over 10 years and managed restaurants. I have been working with kids since I was a teenager and engaging with customers since my senior year in High school. Now having my businesses, I will continue to enhance my knowledge. You can never escape the skills these courses will display.
Ja’Shanna, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m from Warrenton, GA. I attended college as a full-time student after high school and worked tirelessly at two jobs to support my family. Throughout my life, I have dealt with many battles as a kid that followed into adulthood. I dared to take a leap of faith after graduating college and relocated from a small town to the bustling city of Atlanta to pursue my aspirations in August 2015. Despite facing personal struggles and life’s complexities, I refused to let my circumstances define me and pressed.
Even when I found myself homeless I took that time to heal from my past trauma and relocate mentally. Shanna Shine was Born and created “The Shine Collection” which includes workbooks: Walking into Uncertainty, It Starts with Me, You Have Permission, and 2 personalized Decree and Declare journals for all individuals. Thanks to God and my support system I stand tall as a transformed and empowered individual, fully committed to inspiring others to believe in themselves, chase their dreams relentlessly, and never settle for anything less than they deserve.
I advocate for bringing awareness to Mental Health, Personal Development, Suicide Awareness, and normalizing healthy conversation for effective communication by sharing my story and wisdom. While being known for many talents and having a heart for others. I started my speaking journey a few years ago in my community, on social media. That is part of how the podcast produced by my lovely business partner Jahnique was established “Girl, You Guess’d It” Media. I have since collaborated with social media influencers, interview appearances, and was featured in BoldJourney Magazine. Life and Book Coaching is available (limited space).
Now I am delighted to launch my store “Shine In Your IDENTITY”. Where you create your world by what you see, speak, think, and hear. Join the Shine family and start taking action and purchasing your products to transform your life starting from the Inside out.
Ecommerce: Do you sell on your site or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc? Tell us about your choice and the pros and cons in your view.
I self-publish my books through Lulu Self-Publishing and sell my products on my website and in person. I advocate building meaningful relationships, connections, and conversations. The platform is simple to navigate. I love my freedom on projects, setting my prices, and hassle-free inventory and shipping. Marketing and promoting are something you have to engage in.
I was selling using 3rd parties such as Amazon and many others but I needed to be notified of the customer contact information. Plus the sale price and profit were not what I previously set it to. As of now the reviews of my books are still available. Feel free to check them out.
We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.
I self-publish my books through Lulu Self-Publishing and sell my products on my website and in person. I advocate building meaningful relationships, connections, and conversations. LuLu platform is simple to navigate. I love my freedom on projects, setting my prices, and hassle-free inventory and shipping. Marketing and promoting are something you have to engage in.
I was selling using 3rd parties such as Amazon and many others but I wasn’t being notified of the customer contact information. Plus the sale price and profit were not what I previously set it to. As of now the reviews of my books are still available. Feel free to check them out.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Wow… there is so much I can say about this plus I share in the “Shine Collection” books on my website. Get your copy off my site. All these answers plus so much more are in there. The short answer is My whole life and because of many barriers at that time.
3 answers I want others to investigate in their life.
1. I had to create and nurture my relationship with Christ. Instead of going by what I was told or saw from others. It has been supernaturally mind-blowing.
2. Learn my identity and worth. When you don’t know who you are and how you should be treated you will allow others to come in and tell you how you should be treated. Self-love, healing, and setting boundaries are all crucial to you.
3. Live in my expectation. Cleaning out my heart, forgiving others, and most importantly myself, removing other’s expectations and words from my mind. I did the hard work to reset my life starting with my mind, heart, and, words. Be resilient and positive. Empower yourself. Take a stand and be what you need to see in the world. That takes fearlessness and faith but you can do it. Believe in yourself!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/shannashine
- Instagram: _Shanna Shine
- Facebook: Shanna Shine
- Linkedin: Shanna Shine
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiowpnQA-z1nrGis2MCvr_g
- Other: Visit https://linktr.ee/girlyouguessdit for all media and podcast needs. Available on Spotify and other listening platforms.
Image Credits
IG: yungkingproductionsllc & IG: emanuellovett