Today we’d like to introduce you to Amelia Avery-Bradley.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Amelia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Well, my story is every evolving as many are for business owners. I have always had a passion for business and wanted to have my own. As a kid, my cousin and I covered shoeboxes with contact paper and decorated them and sold them for about $5 or $10 depending on the size of the box, these were some of the first “memory boxes” before they became hot. I have always had big ideas and wanted to find a way to put that to work for me. I also had great examples as I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My aunt is a salon owner and stylist, a family-owned nursing homes and funeral home, even a local newspaper called the Texas Times was owned and managed by my uncle. But life had some twist and turns for me having a child at 18 years old, I felt that my dreams had to be put on hold to be a responsible mother and I made a commitment to my daughter. I was the girl that always had a hustle I went to nail school so I offered pedicures to my friends on my mother’s porch and did nails in our apartment. I braided hair on the side and was a kitchen beautician for my friends.
In about 2009, I decided that I wanted to put some of my ideas and talents into action and Inspired Vision Group was birthed. But it was birthed as an event management company. I paid a friend to design my first logo got business cards and I was off. My first client was the launch of an art show. This event in my eyes was a failure, it didn’t yield the turn out that I had hoped for but I learned a lot. The next major project was a marketing and branding launch for a hair company and this was big from creative design on a photoshoot to events and a full marketing plan that was created by me, the girl with not much formal marketing education but a God-given passion. I was still working W2 jobs in philanthropy while trying to build my business. I really loved working with people and knowing that my work was bringing something positive to someone else’s life. Then, the question popped up, ” how can I do more”? Well, at this point, I was working for a Fortune 500 corporation helping to restructure their philanthropic initiatives taking my expertise in working in non-profit for a number of years and corporate philanthropy I.V.G. has taken on another arm and my main focus for the business in Corporate Social Responsibility Program Management. This is my baby and I am so excited about working with companies to create sustainable social impact. My journey had been full of stops and starts, ups and downs. It has taken me about ten years to fully realize where my value is best utilized also I still take on some of the side projects for fun. I guess that is just the hustle in me or need for variety.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No this has not been a smooth road. I have been discouraged so much unsure if I am taking the right steps. Not sure what steps to take. I didn’t have a mentor to really help me so I had to do a lot of research on my own even with just setting up my business. Learning how to create contracts and websites and writing content and doing a host of marketing for my self and still battling what we know now as Imposter syndrome. Then, making changes to the company causerie the original path or goal was not calling me. Those are just some of the people not to mention the challenge of trying to get clients and I am not good at cold calling.
Please tell us about Inspired Vision Group.
We create strategies, programs, and events that set apart brands, deliver social impact and inspire people to change. We meet you where you are – whether you are just getting started or taking your work to the next level. IVG views each client relationship as a collaborative effort in that we venerate and preserve your vision and business values as the principal focus. With our consulting and program management focus on Corporate Social Responsibility, we are dedicated to being a catalyst for social change. We specialize in creating… creating initiatives, collaborations, strategies and opportunities for companies and individuals to a catalyst for social change. I am most proud of the authenticity that my company embodies and infusion of love in the work that we do. Love and work are taboo and not mentioned together very often but I think that love is the source to all greatness and you have to love and be passionate about what you’re doing and the value that you are adding to this world. What sets me apart is my varied background with marketing, communication, non-profit and for-profit that I combine to evaluate the best opportunities and solutions for my clients.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
If I had to start over, I probably would have only had more consistency. All of the changes or setbacks are part of the journey in defining you and your business. I would have also enlisted more help and maybe collaborated with other startups or new business owners that are trying to their business off the ground. You have to look to those next to you to help build, we are not designed to do this alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.inspiredvisiongrp.com
- Phone: 214-494-9621
- Email: amelia@inspiredvisiongrp.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivgconsulting/
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