From Teacher to Entrepreneur: The Rise of Inspired By U with Corrie Leister

Summary: In this episode of the Bearded Finisher podcast, Zach Shrum interviews Corrie Leister from Inspired By You. They discuss how Corrie got started in the business, her journey from teaching to entrepreneurship, and the growth of her company. They also talk about the trends in kitchen cabinet refinishing and the importance of finding the right people for each role in the business. In this conversation, Corrie Leister and Zach Shrum discuss the importance of investing in oneself and creating a positive and memorable experience for customers and employees. They emphasize the value of continuous learning and the need for training in the painting industry. Corrie shares her passion for coaching volleyball and building leaders in the next generation. They also mention upcoming classes and resources available through Inspired by You. Keywords: Bearded Finisher podcast, Corrie Leister, Inspired By You, entrepreneurship, teaching, kitchen cabinet refinishing, trends, finding the right people, investing in oneself, creating a positive experience, continuous learning, training, coaching, building leaders Takeaways: Corrie Leister started her business, Inspired By You, after leaving her teaching job and discovering her passion for painting and art. She started with kitchen cabinet painting and expanded into other areas of furniture art and home decor. Corrie created a Facebook group, Kitchen Cabinet Painting Experts, which grew into a community of professionals sharing knowledge and elevating the trade. Inspired By You now has 20 employees, including part-time moms, and operates with different teams for prep, spray, installation, and coordination. The trend in kitchen cabinet refinishing is moving away from yellow and orange tones and towards neutral colors like greens and beige. Corrie emphasizes the importance of finding the right people for each role in the business and creating a positive and supportive culture. Investing in oneself is crucial for personal and professional growth. Creating a positive and memorable experience for customers and employees is essential for business success. Continuous learning and training are necessary in the painting industry to stay competitive. Coaching and building leaders in the next generation is a fulfilling endeavor. Inspired by You offers classes and resources to help painters improve their skills and grow their businesses. Titles: The Growth of Inspired By You: From Garage to Shop The Power of Community: Kitchen Cabinet Painting Experts The Value of Continuous Learning and Training Inspired by You: Classes and Resources for Painters Sound Bites: "I love being covered in paint. It just comes with the territory." "I was like, sure, how hard could it be? You know, like, I'll figure it out. I can't be that hard." "Through this journey, I started Inspired By You and now we're spraying industrial coatings from a state-of-the-art spray booth." "Do stuff that's going to bring value to you, not because you need business." "The best investment you could ever make is the investment in yourself." "People need to feel appreciated." Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Weather Talk 01:21 Corrie's Journey from Teaching to Entrepreneurship 03:36 Starting Inspired By You and the Birth of a Facebook Group 08:03 The Growth of Inspired By You and the Creation of Teams 13:28 Trends in Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing 18:00 Creating a Positive and Supportive Culture at Inspired By You 24:40 Entrepreneurship and Mindset 30:51 Investing in Yourself and Creating a Positive Experience 32:21 The Value of Continuous Learning and Training 35:02 Coaching and Building Leaders in the Next Generation 45:14 Inspired by You: Classes and Resources for Painters