A big part of making decisions is determining what our actions and choices have been inspired by. So we asked decision makers from the community to tell us about what they are inspired by.

Shawne Jacobs | President and Creative Director of Anne Barge

Being an extremely visual person, I love to surround myself with art. Whether this is in the form of photographs, architecture, nature, or even an everyday object, I am constantly inspired by the world around me. Based on these artistic inspirations, each season I begin to gather a selection of color swatches, fabrics, and beading that I am most drawn to. These samples are the first steps in creating my mood board for the new collection. Although I am a designer, I feel that it is always important to always have a business mindset. I constantly communicate with my sales and design team. This helps to put in perspective what styles and pieces do well for our brand, what the market might be missing, and where we can push the envelope creatively for upcoming collections. Read more>>

Tracy Bosworth Page | Editorial Portrait Photographer

Everything around me inspires me. There are moments when I look around that cause me to see the world differently suddenly. I keep lists and journals to remind me of the inspirations. One moment it might be the way light hits the trees during my drive and other moments it might be an expression someone has made or the way they are holding their bodies. I get inspired by pieces in museums and galleries and by books and biographies of artists before me. I might be inspired by the lighting used during a movie. And in some cases I wake up during sleep with the inkling of an idea inspired by a dream, leave the bedroom and head to a closet where I can record the thoughts without waking up my spouse. I am literally inspired by everything. The trick is to be open to the inspiration. Read more>>

Cydney Rhines | Photographer, Creative Writer & Illustrator

My inspiration comes from many places and honestly, I find myself looking at it in different forms everyday. However, I am most inspired by the women around me. I was raised up by a group of strong women who knew how to speak up and follow their dreams, by ALL means necessary. I watched my grandmothers do it, my mom and her sisters and a host of aunts and cousins. Now for myself, speaking up was never easy, but I think that’s the beauty of being inspired, I have the opportunity to be encouraged to learn how to do things I’ve never done before and try it until I am comfortable with the idea. Being a woman – a Black woman – is such a gift where I consistently find reflections of myself in the women in my circle and from those who have gone ahead of me. Read more>>

Diane Bloodworth | CEO

I am inspired by the underdog. The underdog succeeds because they have so much passion for their purpose. They may not have the resources, but they do not let that stop them. The underdogs chart new territory because they believe in themselves and their mission. This fall, I am pulling for the high school football players who are finding creative ways to get recruited. I also find myself cheering for Coastal Carolina football! Read more>>