Attorney Stephanie P. Graham Shares What She Walked Away From, What She Wears On Her Right Hip, & How She Is Helping Women & Families Avoid Probate
Interviewed By Maryan Aiken
“It took 6 months for me to acknowledge my experience and I still don’t really talk about it.”
Stephanie P. Graham, Attorney at Law
Wills, Trusts, Probate & Litigation, Graham Estate Planning
1-(888) 41WILLS | 1-888-419-4557
By Appointment: 6075 Barfield Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30328
Instagram @spgraham Facebook @Stephanie P. Graham
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About Graham Estate Planning
Stephanie P. Graham, LLC, is prepared to help you plan for tomorrow and prepare for the future. Graham Estate Planning specializes in all Estate Planning matters, from an initial Last Will and Testament to Administration to Probate and Litigation of an Estate.
Q: As a leader, it is important to maintain connections with role models and mentors. Who do you look up to for inspiration or mentorship?
I have a cousin who is a self-made millionaire with extensive training honing emotional IQ, managing people and creating business strategies, a dear friend who is a serial entrepreneur who helps me see the missteps I can’t see in my business as quickly as she does, an incredible estate planning attorney mentor who supports me unconditionally in developing my practice structure. I have worked with two amazing 7 figure coaches who are available to me when I need guidance or a quick business tweak and a personal counselor for when I second guess my people decisions and to ensure I block toxic people and toxic circumstances in my business relationships, connections, or personal relationships. I call them my personal board of directors. Everyone should have one.
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Q: As we grow and evolve, what is one decision you wish you didn’t make and why?
I Wish I Had Not Waited So Long To Hire An Assistant Or To Start My Practice. It is very difficult to train a new hire when you are so busy, you actually need three staff members.
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Q: What are the most important attributes of successful leaders today?
The most important attributes of a successful leader are 1. to inspire you, not break you, 2. to listen and guide you, 3. to support contributions to the team and 4. to recognize when your team member needs more responsibility and 5. not be intimidated because there is no real competition against you except you.
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Q: What is something you wish someone had told you during your career journey?
I wish someone had told me that developing business relationships is so much more important than what you know or working 12-hour workdays. I wish someone had taught me how important it was to have mentors and a support network when I was younger.
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Q: What one thing makes you most proud?
I walked away from a picture-perfect life 18 years ago. Materially, financially, I had everything I wanted including an inground pool and I walked away with nothing. 18 months later, I was an unemployed, brand new single mom and my divorce took two years. I didn't know if I was coming or going. I was in survival mode and famine for 14 years trying to recover and find myself. When I was married, I shared with my husband at the time that I wanted to be home with my kids when we had them and work for myself. He said that was the dumbest thing he ever heard because I had a law degree. Today, I have a daughter whom I've been home with for 9 of her 16 years and I have never missed any of her performances, activities, or awards. And I work for myself. I am doing exactly what I believe God called me to do and I didn't even know I wanted it. I am running a business while staying home with my daughter and making a difference in other people’s lives.
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Q: What’s the most important risk you took and why?
The most important risk I took was walking off a job after 5.5 years with a 9-year-old child to support without having a job lined up. I prayed and concluded that my sound mental health was more important than a being stuck in a toxic job with a lousy paycheck. I was sexually harassed on a regular basis and forced to work under the supervision of the most deranged woman I have ever met. Sadly, she still works in the office mentoring new lawyers.
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Q: How do you continue to grow and develop as a leader?
I pray and script daily, meet new people I have nothing in common with, read and study everything about myself as an ENJZ, a business owner, a mom and I take classes to hone my practice on a regular basis as well as participate as a member with a few boards.
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Q: How do you align your organization with your vision and mission?
Your Legacy. Our Mission. We believe estate planning is more than just wills or trusts. It is an act of love taken by those who care deeply about their families and desire to leave a legacy for them. Our mission is to help our clients plan for and protect the two most important things in their lives: the people they love and the assets they worked hard for. If your goal is to wreak havoc rather than harmony, we will not engage and will be happy to return your retainer. In doing so, we provide top quality holistic estate planning and related services delivered with personalized care.
I align my organization with my vision and my mission by educating, working with and supporting people and businesses who care about other people and businesses. I don't do what I do for the money. I do it because it's my purpose and it feels good.
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graham estate planning
Plan for Tomorrow, Prepare for the Future, Protect Your Legacy. Attorney Stephanie Graham is helping women & families avoid probate. Reach out to her today to see how she can help you.
Q: How do you generate great ideas in your organization?
My ideas are generated by my clients and their unbelievable stories.
Q: What three books can you recommend on leadership and why?
Books I recommend on Leadership are Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Women, 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins (Women leaders have a habit of second guessing themselves. Mel teaches you to make your decisions based on the first thought you have within 5 seconds because it is usually the right decision, the best decision), Brene Brown Dare to Lead addresses how to not remain in fight or flight mode every time something out of our control happens, Jesus Calling Devotional, Secrets of the Vine, Discovering an Abundant Life and No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs (because it helps you eliminate the mundane like emails and phone calls).
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Q: What are the leadership qualities you are continuing to work on?
I am still working on patience and managing being overwhelm.
Q: How do you make room for continuing to learn while leading?
It isn’t hard since I love to learn. I am currently reading 6 different books. I read a chapter a day. I also take every class I can find on estate planning and leadership, and I volunteer with people who are smarter than me.
Q: What is unique about your company and its services?
I started my business after my own grandmother passed away without a will. I have first-hand knowledge on how failing to plan for your loved ones affects your family. I also don’t ignore the client’s calls after services have been rendered. People who have retained other estate planning attorneys for probate end up calling my office to ask for guidance because the attorney they paid to handle probate stops answering their calls once the client is sworn in as the fiduciary. I also don’t require my clients to go through a receptionist to speak with me as long as they schedule a call-in advance.
Q: How do you find new connections and business prospects to grow your company?
I am always on the lookout for professionals who can support my growing clientele, i.e., business owners. I network quite a bit; I make cold calls to other professionals who can support my clients’ development and post consistently on social media with entertaining estate planning stories.
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Q: What was your first job ever?
For my first job, I volunteered with the Summer Youth Employment Council in NY. My first paid job was with Corn Dog on a Stick in Charles Town Mall, Charleston, SC when I was in high school.
Q: Three things that we should absolutely know about you?
I walked away from a car accident that should have killed me. I have a medical pin in my right hip as a result. I saw the first plane hit the towers in 2001 on my way to the Centre Avenue criminal court on Sept. 11. It took 6 months for me to acknowledge my experience and I still don’t really talk about it. I had planned to take the subway to the station that ended up caving in, but I decided to drive at the last minute and made it out just in time for the ashes to crumble on top of my car. I visited the observatory memorial for the first time this past March 2021. I love all things Marvel comics, I am extremely silly, and I clown all the time. I talk and sing to the dog regularly.
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