Community Highlights: Meet Mary Lane of Perfected Everything

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Lane.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story did not happen as with a grand career plan, but with a sudden walk to a mall in my late twenties. “My decision to join the Army just happened on that walk to the mall. For nine years, the U.S. Army became her world.

Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training demanded a complete shift in mindset, a challenge I had to meet head-on. This period proved foundational, refining my leadership skills and unshakeable courage.

Mary Lane: The Power of Purpose
The stage lights hit her face, illuminating a quiet confidence that belied the whirlwind of her life. Mary Lane, a woman who has worn the uniform of a soldier, commanded classrooms as an educator, navigated the complexities of real estate, and now graces both stage and screen, stood poised.

Her nonlinear journey showcases the outset of her purpose, her resilience, and her deep conviction in the strength of knowledge and human connection.

To truly understand Mary, one must appreciate the multitude of decisions that have shaped her, each step a deliberate, yet sometimes spontaneous, stride toward an impactful life.

During my military service I learned so much about myself. “It showed me that I had the stamina and courage to pursue my goals, dreams and taught me that I can take on challenges and win at them with confidence. The transition from military to civilian life, surprisingly, wasn’t to complicated to adjust to. My daughter was born in Germany, and returning to the US was a new beginning.
Seeking a job that offered the flexibility to be present for my daughter, is when I stepped into the world of education. My military leadership experience made the shift seamless, and I quickly found myself leading classrooms across Georgia.
My teaching philosophy, rooted in the belief is that “knowledge is power”. Empowering young minds was so rewarding to students as well as myself.

For over two decades, I sold real estate within the Atlanta area. In the first four years I went to real estate broker school and received my brokers license. My success, stemmed from a simple yet profound principle: “It is important to treat your clients with dignity and respect; this goes a long way in how they remember your service.” This commitment to service extended beyond transactions; it meant continuous learning, staying “abreast of contracts and market changes,” and keenly observing client body language to understand their true needs and decision-makers.
Over the years negotiation and interaction, became invaluable in entrepreneurial pursuits.

In 2015, I started my company Perfected Everything as an entrepreneur. The company was deeply personal and the encouraging words of my mother, a business owner herself, who was battling health challenges. “Just do it, you know you can,” mother would say.

What began as a venture creating custom empowerment T-shirts for extra income soon evolved. While seeking a name for my business, a passage from Psalm 138:8 resonated deeply: “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.” From this spiritual grounding, “Perfected Everything” was born.The name, to me, signifies faith and divine timing. “I believe that God perfects everything that concerns me no matter what it is.

I transitioned Perfected Everything into a business coaching and consulting brand. As a Business Etiquette Coach, I passionately advocate for professionalism and purpose. “You have to first start with your WHY, research and who you want your audience to be, this is the advise to my clients. My core principle is unwavering: “If you can’t respect people in general, how are you going to turn customers into clients?”

I see every challenge as an opportunity for growth, learning from the inevitable hurdles of entrepreneurship, whether it’s balancing time, securing funding, finding clients, or even losing money.

My proudest entrepreneurial moment was the evolution from a simple vendor to a dedicated coach, proof to my vision. Looking ahead, I see Perfected Everything expanding to major platforms, including the exciting prospect of writing another published book. The first one is titled, “The Echo Of Decisions: My Military Path to Who I Am
Choosing the Uniform, Life Altering Decisions in the Army.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was a “roller-coaster ride,” especially during the initial rigorous Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training. The military demanded a complete shift in mindset to accomplish the sometimes overwhelming, daunting and intimidating task required of me. Fostering the physical strength which I didn’t know was in me, but a challenge I had to meet head-on. This period proved foundational, refining my leadership skills and imbuing me with an unshakeable courage, the lessons that still resonate with me. The Army also solidified my commitment to education, a value carried forward into subsequent endeavors.
After my military service ended I stayed with my then husband, now ex husband, as a quote “military wife”. It was during a tour to Europe that my daughter was born. The transition from the military was good because I was married and it was like still being in the military without the uniform. Unfortunately or fortunately our marriage took a much different turn when we returned back to the United States. Here I won’t go into details about our marriage but it ended in divorce. The really hard part was becoming a single parent with no home for my daughter and I of our own. With no home for my daughter and I to call our own and no job, after the divorce, as far as stability and a permanent job. These were very trying times for me, having to live with relatives or whoever would take me and my baby into their home. These circumstances were the reasons I had to find jobs that would allow me to be available for my daughter’s needs, whether it be school activities or just spending time with her. With all the trials of life she completed college with a double major from the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs) and her career is going well. In addition, I am a senior at Georgia State University majoring in Criminal Justice. Despite the trials/test we went through, some destined to happen and some things forced upon us, either way we have made accomplishments and are happy.

As you know, we’re big fans of Perfected Everything. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My business Perfected Everything which is the umbrella for my other businesses, and my brand, which includes specializing in business etiquette coaching for adults and children. I teach people about etiquette as a business owner. I believe in order to stand out you have to do things that your competitors are not doing to gain clients. My hope is to teach business etiquette on major platforms
I also am the founder of Silver Sisters Society and Silver Dappers Society that encourages men and women to embrace the evolving beauty of their gray, white or silver hair/beards. We are servant leaders who serve our communities through feeding the less fortunate, clothing and coat giveaways, toy giveaways for Christmas, and we have went to nursing homes to provide clothing which some people don’t understand that this is a need at these facilities. We have some wonderful people and organizations who bless us with products or monetary donations.
I am most proud of knowing that we are helping the disparities in our communities by our acts of love and caring, however we don’t do anything for show we do it because this is our purpose. At the end of the day it’s good to know that we have helped someone have a better day and it is a blessing to be able to bless others.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Yes when you are starting out remember to discipline yourself, consistency is a key factor when starting a business, even when you don’t feel like it still get up and work on your craft. If you practice all these things you can be very successful. I remember when I first started my business I thought I had done enough research, but I only researched a couple of times, but that’s just not enough. Also, research everything that involves that business: such as profit trajectory, target groups, would mail orders benefit the business, start up cost and what type of marketing you will need and be sure to brand your business, these are just a few things to look at that are very important. Work hard but smart because there’s so many tools you can use to help train yourself right on your laptop or phone from home. Dedication and courage takes you further than you could imagine, never give up on you, never stop dreaming, love yourself and love people. But step out on faith, invest in yourself, you have to start somewhere.

Pricing:

• My book is on Amazon for $16.99 please grab a copy.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: IG: _perfectedeverything

Image Credits
self