Life and Work with Riane N. Sharp

Today we’d like to introduce you to Riane N. Sharp.

Riane, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today?
In 2017, as a new law school graduate, I had a temporary job that I really did not like. The environment was a little toxic and I would listen to sermons and gospel music throughout the day to make it through with my same joy and energy. I found myself writing notes on my phone of inspirational words and messages that spoke to me, and subsequently sharing them on Instagram. I was really just sharing them for me or whatever reason people post things. However, I found that the messages I would share resonated with some of those who followed me. People would reach out thanking me for sharing and telling me how the posts really spoke to their situation. I continued to do this, eventually starting a separate Instagram page (@rianeinspires) solely dedicated to sharing and spreading joy, encouragement, and confidence, which is now part of RianeInspires’ mission, as well as began creating some original content. Now, I continue to work on new ways to inspire my tribe to confidently live joy-filled lives.

Has it been a smooth road? What advice do you have for other young women starting their entrepreneurship journey?
Umm, no? The hesitation is because I think RianeInspires had a lot of natural momentum when it was a hobby with low to no expectations, but now that I am working to transform it into a profitable business it has been more challenging. One struggle I’ve had is how to actually define, develop, package and promote my ideas. I learned from David Shands that good ideas are able to withstand excitement, evolve, engage others, resist critique or opposition and ultimately be committed to. What he calls the lifecycle of a good idea is not a smooth or straight path.

My advice to women beginning their entrepreneurship journey is to do what you love and absorb the support and affirmation that flows from it and tune out the negativity. As with anything, there will be some people who don’t see the vision, and that’s ok. But if they have anything constructive to say, use it, and let everything else flow out your ears and know that you must be on to something if they even take the time to critique it.

I would also want them to be prepared for the journey. I don’t think there are really “overnight successes”. It appears that way to those looking from the outside in because they are not aware of all the time, hard work and sacrifice that went into creating something great. As my favorite artist India.Arie sings, “life is a journey, not a destination”.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with RianeInspires– tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
RianeInspires helps our tribe amplify their joy by sharing and spreading messages of joy, encouragement and confidence designed to empower women to have confidence in what God can do through them, eliminate fear and remind them that they are already victorious. Right now, I primarily use Instagram, Facebook and my website (a new website is coming soon), however, I have plans to expand offerings in the future. My goal is to inspire women to live joy-filled lives no matter the circumstances. I know there is a difference between joy and happiness, the latter being based on external circumstances. Joy is a benefit of faith in Jesus that we can always have. All of us no matter our differences in  background will need encouragement to help achieve the tasks at hand as well as our goals for the future. RianeInspires is here to be a constant source of motivation pushing others to be a better version of themselves.

I am most proud of the fact that this brand is authentic to me as a person. I am naturally a bubbly, positive person, so RianeInspires aligns with that. It developed out of my own need for inspirational reminders and I now know that other people need these same reminders too. RianeInspires strives to fill a need.

What sets me apart from others is my story (which includes my experiences, my nature, and my nurture). There is not one person exactly like me on this Earth and as a result, the execution of my purpose through RianeInspires is one of a kind.

Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
Yes, I grew up knowing God loved and cared for me from a very young age. I learned that Jesus gives me a joy “that the world did not give and the world cannot take away” and this is the lens that I view almost everything from. There are many times when people around me are distressed by circumstances that have an equal impact on me, but my ultimate perspective is different because of my faith. (Don’t get it twisted, I am human and experience the full spectrum of human emotion (just ask my mom, lol)). But I know Jesus is huge reason for my success thus far and will be a continuous reason for my success in the future.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://rianeinspires.com
• Email: riane@rianeinspires.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rianeinspires
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/rianeinspires/

Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.