The Confident Entrepreneur With Jennifer Ann Johnson
Jennifer is a multifaceted entrepreneur while also actively involved in her community. She owns True Fashionistas (Florida’s largest lifestyle resale store), CooiesCookies, Pink Farmhouse (online store), and Confident Entrepreneur, which encompasses her podcast, blog, motivational speaking, and coaching business for women entrepreneurs. Jennifer is an inspiration to other women business owners - showing it's possible to be successful in business while also making a difference and giving back to her community. Jennifer lives in Naples FL with her husband and twins.
The Confident Entrepreneur With Jennifer Ann Johnson
Navigating Mindset Traps for Authentic Success with Tasheekia Harris
Unlock the secrets of authentic success with our insightful guest, Tasheekia Harris, as we navigate common mindset traps in business conversations. Ever wondered why some connections thrive while others falter? Tashika shares her wisdom on identifying the right audience and forming meaningful relationships that prioritize quality over superficiality. This episode promises to enlighten you on the importance of maintaining a growth mindset amidst societal pressures and the relentless pursuit of external validation. Together, we dissect the nuances of staying true to intrinsic values for genuine, lasting fulfillment in your professional journey.
Prepare to be inspired by the resilience and purpose-centric approach that Tashika champions. Learn how understanding your "why" serves as a powerful motivator during challenging times while strategic planning and collaboration become your guiding lights through chaos. Discover how flexibility and adaptation can keep your purpose-driven work intact when it's time to shift gears. As Tashika discusses her unwavering commitment to empowering others, we explore the notion that there's ample space for everyone who follows their calling, even in a crowded market. Don't miss this deep dive into purpose, resilience, and the art of overcoming setbacks with accountability and grace.
Visit us at jenniferannjohnson.com and learn how Jennifer can help you build the life you dream of with her online academy, blog, one-on-one coaching, and a variety of other resources!
Today we welcome back into the studio Tasheekia Harris Welcome back.
Tasheekia Harris:It is a pleasure and honor to sit with you again and have an amazing conversation.
Jennifer Johnson:And we always have an amazing conversation.
Tasheekia Harris:We do.
Jennifer Johnson:You. I've told our listeners this before but you are a ray of light. You just have this warmth surrounding you and I think people can probably hear that in your voice, surrounding you, and I think people can probably hear that in your voice.
Tasheekia Harris:You know it is a genuine care for what happens to others, and if you're not genuine, there's no power. If there's not an authentic sense of what you're doing, why are we here?
Jennifer Johnson:otherwise, right, the point right. So we're talking about mindset today and I know I went into this with mindset and business and we'll kind of keep that. You know we're going to keep that on the table too. But I know that business and life, when we're talking mindset or really anything, intertwines, right, Absolutely it's always going to weave into each other and everything. But what are some speaking on business, some common business mindset trips that we fall into, and I don't know if they want to call them trips, but traps maybe.
Tasheekia Harris:I will call them traps, because they will entrap you into a box and you will never. Traps, because they will entrap you into a box and you will never pursue what it is that needs to be pursued. And I'm not talking about obtaining a superficial success, but an internal success. There are many business owners who are not satisfied because they are trapped. They are trapped in what they think, what they will think, who's going to support me, who's not going to support me? And, to be honest with you, those are the things that trap our mindsets and we no longer experience growth mindsets, meeting new people, connecting with new individuals. We obtain a fixed mindset. I'm to this, I'm to that, I am to the terrible twos happens beyond the age two.
Jennifer Johnson:You know you also. You said something at the beginning and I don't I'm not going to phrase it right, but about success.
Tasheekia Harris:Absolutely Okay.
Jennifer Johnson:And we're talking about not the money in your bank account, but the, the. What do we want to call it in your soul, that intrinsic value?
Tasheekia Harris:Yes, that intrinsic value is beyond how many items you sell. It is beyond how many people you connect with in a room. Internal is lasting. External is limited. Lasting External is limited and we trap ourselves by connecting ourselves to what is limited versus what is lasting.
Jennifer Johnson:We don't have our eye on the right prize, essentially right. Oh, I love it.
Tasheekia Harris:We don't have our eye on the right prize, because what is popular is what most people what is popular is what most people is driven by, and so it takes an authentic soul to be able to say but that's not important to me, that may be important for you, but that's not what drives me. And if you don't know what drives you, you will be driven by what's popular.
Jennifer Johnson:Yeah, and you better figure it out.
Tasheekia Harris:You better figure it out.
Jennifer Johnson:Or you're going to continue on the same path that you've what's popular, yeah, and you better figure it out, you better figure it out. Or you're going to continue on the same path that you've always continued on.
Tasheekia Harris:Absolutely, and that will get you where you always have been Absolutely, and that's what leads to an overwhelming sense of I can't breathe. I'm feeling conquered. I'm feeling overwhelmed because we've allowed ourselves to be boxed in versus taking that courage and applying it to what really matters.
Jennifer Johnson:Right, we get into the trap of going oh well, she has that, she has that, but I don't have that, yeah, and then all of have that. So, hmm, yeah, and then all of a sudden we feel less than.
Tasheekia Harris:All of a sudden we feel less than, but not only that. All of a sudden we compete in an unhealthy sense. So now I am no longer collaborating with you. If I'm looking at you as if you have this and you have that, I want it. It may not even belong to me. That success that you have may not be my success, it may not be something that God has intended for me. So now I am going to connect with you so that I can compete with you, so that I can conquer you.
Jennifer Johnson:So all the wrong reasons.
Tasheekia Harris:All the wrong reasons.
Jennifer Johnson:It's diabolical Right, absolutely so that's one.
Tasheekia Harris:Others. The trap I also believe that many business owners they are trapped into is who is going to support them? Instead of coming up with their targeted audience, my audience would be girls and women. That doesn't mean every girl in my family is going to support me. That doesn't mean every woman in my family is going to support me. I have to find the individuals who see the value in what I am doing and I can't get stuck on who does not. That makes sense.
Tasheekia Harris:It makes sense, because it derails you, I would imagine, right it derails you, and you will find yourself trying to convince individuals who's not for you. Right, you're wasting time.
Jennifer Johnson:You are You're treading water.
Tasheekia Harris:You're wasting time and you're setting yourself up for disappointment. That's what happens when we go after who's not for us. We waste time and then we set ourselves up for disappointment because that person may connect for a day, but that connection isn't lasting because it's not genuine.
Jennifer Johnson:Which makes sense, why, in a personal area, you're making friends with people and you may have all these acquaintances, but you don't really have a lot of really good friends.
Tasheekia Harris:Absolutely, absolutely, because you see the quantity over the quality and that is a trap, the trap of quantity. The more friends I have on social media, the more friends I'm clicked up with and I'm going to all of these different causes versus quality. I have that one or two people that I can confide in and I'm going to get results. Now I'm talking to five different people. Now I'm confused. Right, quality over quantity Mm-hmm.
Jennifer Johnson:It makes complete sense, Absolutely. But yet we still, we still we're human.
Tasheekia Harris:We're human, but at some point, if you want to be successful, you have to understand those traps, identify those traps, and you're going to have to create a plan so that you shift your patterns to more productive for more productive outcomes. And would you say intentional, you have to be intentional and authentically intentional about the right thing, because a rob, a robber, is very intentional. They will wait until you leave. They will, you know, stake out your home.
Jennifer Johnson:They're intentional right, home alone right you know, stake out your home.
Tasheekia Harris:They're intentional, right Home alone right. So you have to be intentional from the sense of productivity, genuine, as well as character and integrity.
Jennifer Johnson:Because that does drive everything.
Tasheekia Harris:It does. You know, I know many people who are intentional on social media. They will inbox you, they will comment on your post and then, when you meet them, something is off.
Jennifer Johnson:Yes, I have had that happen so many times. They're not who they are in person, like they show up online.
Tasheekia Harris:Absolutely. But if you do not have that discernment, you will find yourself driven to quantity over quality.
Jennifer Johnson:So it's funny that you say that, because this has actually happened to me, like I'll connect with somebody and I just assume the best intent of everyone Okay, that's just me, right and then I'll meet them and I'll be like something's off, but I don't know what. And then somebody else I know comes into my ear and they're like, well, you know that they're, you know whatever it is. Then you connect the dots and you're like, oh my gosh, what? Yeah, because apparently I don't have that. I don't have whatever that is right, that radar, yeah. So see that all the time, because I like to always assume that everyone has your best interest in mind.
Tasheekia Harris:And you know, what taught me was connecting with individuals, because this is a trap too right, assuming that people are like you.
Tasheekia Harris:And this is why so many individuals distrust and do not want to connect, because they assumed too many times that individuals were like them, instead of using that inner discernment that God gives us. When something is off and you are a fair person, you're not a jealous person, right? You want to help everyone when something is off. Something is off and you have to believe it. It doesn't mean you have to mistreat or undermine that individual, but you have to protect yourself. And so I thought about when I cook greens. When I cook greens, that steam is rising and if I use a little tablespoon and dip and turn those greens, I am going to get burnt by the steam. But if I use a long handle, steel spoon, I can stick that spoon and I can turn and I can dance and I can do whatever I'm not getting burnt. So we have to choose our spoons that we feed individuals.
Jennifer Johnson:I love that you have such great analogies for our listeners to go. Oh, I get it now. I didn't know where you were going with it at first, but I get. It Makes complete sense. We have to do it Makes complete sense. Is your closet overflowing? Or maybe your kids' closets are as well, or maybe you just want to redecorate your house. If you're wondering what to do with all that stuff that you've accumulated, bring it all to True Fashionistas or even ship it to them for free. They'll sell your unwanted items for you. Take away all the hassle by doing all the work, and all you have to do is sit back and collect your money. You can reach out to them online at truefashionistascom. Come into the store or check them out online or on Facebook or on Instagram, and that's truefashionistascom. Welcome back, friends. We are in studio with Tasheekia Harris and we are talking about business mindset.
Tasheekia Harris:It is you cannot escape it, you can't, you cannot.
Jennifer Johnson:You can't escape chocolate. You can't escape.
Tasheekia Harris:Well, I don't know I can't, but I can't either. You can escape. Well, I don't know I can't, but I can't either. I love chocolate. I try to escape, I hide it from myself, but you can't escape mindset. Mindset is in you. It is what produces your choices and who you connect with and how you go about life and how you go about life.
Jennifer Johnson:So, with that said, when we have setbacks, like I mentioned earlier how I assumed that this person was someone that they were not and then I found out from someone that they were not what I thought they were, then you get like the spoon analogy that you had right. How do you recover from that? How do you start trusting again? How do you carry on and not be cynical about every single person that you meet you have?
Tasheekia Harris:to, I would say resilience is so beautiful. When I see a resilient woman, I am so inspired, because they did not allow the situation to keep them with a fixed mindset. They continue to use the experience to grow and to learn, and so when you experience that type of setback, you have to now evaluate what happened. You have to own it, you have to take accountability. That's part of it.
Jennifer Johnson:Right.
Tasheekia Harris:That is part of it. You know, I hear a lot of women, even in relationships, they won't take accountability for their heart being broken. You saw red flag after red flag after red flag. Is that person wrong for using you, lying to you, you know, disappointing you? Yes, but you have to own your part. When you own your part now, you do something different the next time. You just shifted your mindset and your perspective. Right? It's not all men are dogs or all women are catty. It's now I know which spoon to feed that man, that woman, that idea that makes complete sense when you don't own it. You are now saying it was all of them and none of me, and you're going to go into that situation with the same mindset and you're going to have the same results.
Jennifer Johnson:Because you start playing the blame game. Then right, and it's not, it's with everything, it's oh well, this happened to me because, oh, we've heard all the excuses, we've probably used some of them. Right, absolutely, and blame gets you nowhere.
Tasheekia Harris:No.
Jennifer Johnson:But accountability takes you to the next step and, like you said, makes you not make the same mistake over and over again. Oh, you will not.
Tasheekia Harris:You will not and you have to detach yourself from the situation. That situation will never define who you are. The situation, that situation will never define who you are. And when we attach ourselves to the hurt, the disappointment or whatever happened, when we say this is who I am because of that or because of them, we've just placed ourselves in the trap box. We've just placed ourselves under the power of a situation versus under the power of who we really are, and we become that.
Jennifer Johnson:Do you think that comes with practice? It comes with practice.
Tasheekia Harris:You have to make mistake over mistake and then all of a sudden you're like you know I I my grandmother used to always tell me is that you can be a lesson or a blessing. My grandmother used to always tell me is that you can be a lesson or a blessing, and I would rather be a blessing. I would rather people see my flow of living and my choices as light and salt, as the Bible says right, and not so many lessons that I've had to learn through trial and error. We can be a lesson or a blessing if we listen to other people's experiences. We can be a lesson or a blessing if we listen to other people's experiences, If we place ourselves in the midst of people who may have had to learn certain lessons, so that we can now do something different. And that comes with not isolating yourself, not thinking that you are a one man show. That is a business trap mindset. I want to learn from you. I want you to learn from me so that we equally not make the devastating mistakes that so many people do.
Jennifer Johnson:I love that. I think that's awesome. So, as we're building our successful businesses, what are some of the most important things to keep in mind? Top of mind, top of mind Purpose. Mm-hmm.
Tasheekia Harris:Purpose is so important because when you fail, when you have trials and tribulations, when people come into your life and you think they are who they say they are and they are not, purpose will remind you to keep it moving. Purpose will remind you to stay in the game, the reason why you started. That's why that is the first initiative. The first initiative is why am I doing this? From a clothing store to a makeup artistry empowerment program? Why am I doing it? And when I face obstacles, my why has to be bigger than the situation I face, because it'll bring you through it. It will bring you through it. You will fight through it. When you think about I'm getting to and I'm jumping in this water because I got to save my child, my child is drowning. The in-between stuff does not matter. I'm jumping in. I'm getting hair wet, shoes wet because I have to go get my child. My child is my end game, right? I'm jumping in. I'm getting hair wet, shoes wet, because I have to go get my child.
Tasheekia Harris:My child is my end game I'm jumping in and that's the mindset we have to keep. So your, why your? Why your purpose? Your purpose is very important. Your planning, your strategic planning, is important. You cannot be in a room planning by yourself. The people that you connect with, the partners that you connect with. They do not have to be your client, they do not have to be your customers, but they can be your conscience, they can be your guide and we need that. Proper planning produces proper results. Poor planning produces results you do not want to deal with. You need a roadmap, right, right, yeah, you need a roadmap. And you know I've had to be flexible. I've had to be flexible with having an empowerment program when everything shut down. If I said I need a microphone and a stage or a classroom, I would not have Crowning Daughters for Success enrichment program today. So I had to be flexible enough not to be before people to still empower people. That meant I had to transition to technology, but that went back to your purpose. It went back to my purpose.
Jennifer Johnson:You knew that you had to do it. There was no choice. Absolutely that was what you're here. That's why you started your company.
Tasheekia Harris:That's why I started my company, so that meant I had to navigate through certain things that were uncomfortable for me.
Jennifer Johnson:I had to learn technology, and that's important.
Tasheekia Harris:And, last but not least, your value system, because without a clear value system, you will win them all and you will not be mentally well after everyone else is happy. Amen.
Jennifer Johnson:I agree, because it all comes down to your core values.
Tasheekia Harris:It all comes down to your core. I don't try to win them all. There are certain people who are not my assignment, and that's family.
Tasheekia Harris:Not your assignment, not my assignment, not my assignment. They're not going to hear me. They're going to be offended if I tell them something. You are not my assignment. It doesn't mean I don't love you. It doesn't mean I'm not going to be there for you. But I'm not going to invest my purpose, my business quality, in you. You're not my assignment. You may not fit a size six. All I have is a size six. You fit a size 10. You have to go somewhere where who can provide you a size 10. You're so good with those analogies, I love it. I do get that from my dad. My dad is the analogy king.
Jennifer Johnson:It's just. It helps people understand it.
Tasheekia Harris:Yeah.
Jennifer Johnson:You know, we may have different words for things, but when you put it in commonalities, then we can all go oh, I get that.
Tasheekia Harris:Yeah, I'm a visual. I have to see it.
Jennifer Johnson:I agree. I have to hear it and see it and then it's ingrained in my brain, absolutely Right. So, with all of these challenges and everything, what keeps you moving in your business? Is it your purpose? What is it?
Tasheekia Harris:I know what I'm called to. I will not be distracted. I know that I am called to girls and women and people in general. I know this and so everything that I do, it has to be tailor-made for what it is that I am called to do. And so when you talk about challenges, people normally think, oh my gosh, but your field is overly saturated. Everyone is an empowerment speaker. Everyone wants to keynote what I know, what I am called to, and I know that I serve a God that is going to put me right where I need to be. My mom has a beauty salon and it's like 10 beauty salons on that same street, right, but guess what? There are many people who are called to her. They will not open another door unless it's a touch of elegance. Beauty salon Wow, you got to know that. Yeah, it's enough for us all.
Jennifer Johnson:You're very right, you're very right. Oh, that's beautiful. That's beautiful. I have so thoroughly enjoyed our time together and I could sit here for another hour. I must come back. You must, you must. If our listeners would love to get ahold of you, how can they do so?
Tasheekia Harris:They can get a hold of me by clicking our website link wwwcdfs2006.com.
Jennifer Johnson:Fabulous. Thank you so much, Tasheekia, for being with me today.
Tasheekia Harris:Thank you for such a valuable, needed conversation. It was definitely needed, for sure.
Jennifer Johnson:Thank you.
