I am always grateful when others are generous in sharing their stories for the purpose of positively impacting lives. We are kicking off the month of May with a profile of Shakedra Jenerette, a change-maker in her community. Shakedra Jenerette’s story of preserving her family’s legacy by disrupting detrimental cycles and using her experiences as impetus for valuable community work via her mentoring organization, I Am Enough, is admirable and an inspiration.  Read on and get to know speaker, author, and philanthropist, Shakedra Jenerette and her organization, I Am Enough.  

About Shakedra Jenerette 
Shakedra Jenerette, a native of Loris, SC, has a master’s degree in human services and is the executive director of I Am Enough, a mentoring organization established in 2015.  Shakedra is a retired veteran, philanthropist, author, spoken word artist and motivational speaker. Shakedra’s experiences as a soldier and single mother are the foundation of her platform geared toward enhancing the lives of others. Shakedra holds the belief that if you change your logic, you will change your life. She believes that, no matter what you have done- good, bad or indifferent-you were then, you are now, and you will always be ENOUGH!

TCL: What inspired you to launch your organization, I Am Enough?
 
SJ: I woke up one morning, a single mother of five children from four men, feeling like I had no value, no substance no real purpose on this Earth. I was cleaning my apartment and crying the entire day trying to figure out where I had lost my way. There was a cartoon on called Teletubbies. I always hated that cartoon because you could never understand anything that they were saying, but that day the message was clear. As I was cleaning I heard them say, “If you have lost something and you want to find it you have to go back to the last place you remember having it. I thought "that is not what the cartoon said" and then they repeated it, ”If you lost something and you want to find it you have to go back to the last place you remember having it”. This was the beginning of my self-discovery journey. The process was long, it was scary, it was extremely painful but it was necessary. At the end of the journey I found someone who I could trust, someone who was worthy and deserving. I found me! 

TCL: What are some unique qualities of your organization’s platform?
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SJ: My brand is unique because it is authentically me. I am very transparent with all of the things that I have experienced no matter how embarrassing they are. I am a relatable person who is not difficult to reach and strangers find it easy to be open and honest with me.

TCL: What has been your greatest accomplishment so far?

SJ: My greatest accomplishment has been breaking the patterns that the women in my family have repeated for generations.

TCL: What are some of the services offered by I Am Enough?

SJ: My services range from one-on-one consultations to speaking engagements for conferences, retreats, and similar engagements. I am also an author. My books If You Only Knew My Story and I Am Enough are currently available for purchase on Amazon.  

TCL: What's up next for I Am Enough?

SJ: Soon we will have a private venue to host our conferences and retreats. We are in the end stages of developing our I Am Enough curriculum that can be used in in group or individual sessions by other organizations.

Thank you, Shakedra, for sharing your story. Friends, join me in sending lots of love and well wishes of great success to Shakedra Jenerette and I Am Enough. Drop a positive word or two (or many) in the comments section.  

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​Scott’s Design Photography, based in South Carolina, offers a wide range of photography services from portraits to event photography. The company’s owner, Lo Scott, tells us what prompted him to bring the Photography and Model Meet Up to Columbia, SC.

​Jeff Amberg was gracious enough to extend his spacious and eclectic photography studio as the venue for the event.  Jeff launched his photography career in 1980 as a photojournalist. He imparted a great deal of photography knowledge during the meet up and commanded everyone’s full attention during his impromptu lesson on posing techniques.  

​Several photography stations were set up throughout the studio with a variety of props. Models arrived with their choice of wardrobe. The creative energy could be felt throughout the venue. I’ve attended a number of events similar in nature, but what set this meet up apart is that participants showed a genuine interest in learning and were enthusiastic about sharing tips with one another. Half-way through the event, Lo gathered all attendees and they discussed their experiences during the first half of the day and everyone brainstormed ideas that could be put to use during the remaining photoshoots of the day.  It was very evident that Lo intended for the event to be, not only a networking event, but a learning experience for all involved.

We all know that a great shot is a team effort. The models who participated in the Meet Up came ready to give it all for the camera. We spoke to a few of them...

We would like to extend a huge thanks to Scott's Design Photography and Jeff Amberg Photography for allowing us to cover this great event. Be sure to connect with both photography companies and stay tuned for future events. Congratulations to Scott's Design Photography for putting on a wonderful meet up!

Check out more interviews from the event on YouTube. Enjoy a few of the behind the scenes photos that we were able to capture...

​It’s an exciting time for budding entrepreneurs! A great number of business owners are wearing multiple hats as they juggle the responsibilities of working full-time and running a business. Now, more than ever, women are taking major steps toward becoming their own bosses. For many, full-time entrepreneurship is the ultimate goal. Penelope Simon, owner of Penelope’s Kids Stop, was able to say goodbye to the 9 to 5 grind in January 2019 when she retired from her job at Blue Cross Blue Shield and became the full-time proprietor of her mobile children’s apparel boutique, Penelope’s Kids Stop. Read on to learn more about this inspiring business owner and the evolution of Penelope’s Kids Stop. 

TC: Tell us a little about yourself.
PS: I am Penelope Simon, the mother of 3 grown daughters. I have been married for 29 years.  I reside in Lamar, SC.  In January of this year, I retired from my job at BCBS (Blue Cross Blue Shield) to operate my business full time.

TC: How did you decide on starting a business in the fashion apparel industry?
PS: I initially started selling hair bundles after hearing the opportunity advertised on the radio. My hair business did okay, but I felt that I needed to add something else. I added hair bows and then children’s clothing. I opened my mobile children’s boutique about 4 years ago. I am the sole owner of my business, but my husband and youngest daughter make a great support team. 
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TC: What is the shopping experience like at Penelope’s Kids Stop?
PS: I sell clothing and accessories for boys and girls sizes 0-20. I offer a variety of items in addition to clothing, including hair bows, book bags, hats, gloves, and jewelry. I am always adding new inventory for customers to choose from. Customers can order from my website at penelopeskidsstopllc.com or by calling (843)687-5241 to shop in person. You can also find me vending at community events, so stay tuned to my social media pages for these announcements. 

TC: What has been your greatest accomplishment so far?
PS: My greatest accomplishment has been retiring from my full-time job and gaining the opportunity to operate my business full-time. Being a mobile store did take away the fear of sitting in a store, waiting for customers to come in, but it still takes money to reach customers who are interested in buying from you.
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TC: What is your advice to someone who is genuinely interested in starting a business similar to yours?
PS: I would tell them to prepare my making a list of items that they want to sell, get quotes on everything, and prepare a budget. Do not expect everything to happen overnight. 

​It’s always exciting to share stories of women who are making power moves, whether it be in their corporate careers or as business owners. During a time in which there are many boutique options for adults, Penelope has carved her own lane as a mobile boutique catering to the fashion needs of our little ones. Congratulations to Penelope for taking the steps toward becoming her own boss! Friends, be sure to check out the boutique online or contact Penelope’s Kids Stop to schedule a visit with the mobile boutique. 
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Visit Penelope's Kids Stop online at PenelopesKidsStopLLC.com 
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