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
The Power of Your Business Circle
Why do some entrepreneurs soar while others stall, even with the same skills and opportunities? It often comes down to one powerful factor: their business circle. In this episode, I dive into how the people around you shape your mindset, fuel your growth, and influence your success. You'll learn who to surround yourself with—from mentors and peers to visionaries and challengers—and how to build a network that elevates you. Ready to evaluate your circle and make the shift that could change everything? Let’s get into it.
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're diving into a topic that can make or break your business journey the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. You've probably heard the saying you're the average of the five people you spend the most time with In business. This concept is not just a catchy phrase. It's a fundamental principle that can really impact your success, your growth and overall well-being as an entrepreneur or business leader. So let's start by exploring why the people that you surround yourself with in business are so crucial. There's many, many reasons. First and foremost is influence on your mindset. The people around you shape your thinking, your attitudes and your beliefs about what's possible in business, and your network can be a valuable source of diverse expertise and experiences. So you're going to meet people from all walks of life, and you have to be open to that, and that's why your business circle matters. It also brings opportunities and connections. The right circle can open doors to new partnerships, clients, resources and then the support and motivation. Entrepreneurship can be challenging. You can certainly at times, feel like you're alone, and having the right support system is an invaluable thing to have. It also offers accountability. The right people can keep you focused and committed to your goals, and another kind of one that wasn't the top of my mind until recently was innovation and creativity. When you bring in diverse perspectives, it can help you spark new ideas and approaches to problem-solving, because sometimes we're in our own world, we're in our own lane and we only see it one way. Somebody comes in from outside your industry and gives you pointers, or you see into their world, and it can help you make really big changes in your business. And then company culture For business leaders, the people you surround yourself with, will set the tone for your entire organization.
Jennifer Johnson:So now let's discuss the types of people you should aim to have in your business circle. That's kind of what I call. It is my business circle. First would be mentors. We've talked about mentors before. They're experienced individuals who can provide guidance, share wisdom and help you navigate challenges. I have a mentor that literally I probably talk to at least once a week for something. I actually have several mentors that I do that with. It's a very healthy thing to have, and a healthy thing to make sure that you surround yourself with Peers, so we're talking fellow entrepreneurs or professionals similar in their stage of their journey as you are, who can relate to what you're going through and offer you mutual support, then everybody should have a visionary, big picture thinkers who can inspire you and push you to think beyond what you're currently doing. And then we all have to have a specialist, somebody who is an expert in different fields, who can provide specific knowledge or skills. I have somebody that I contact regularly that's in my business circle, that's an HR expert. That's important. The other one that is really really important is connectors. They're people with extensive networks who can introduce you to valuable contacts and opportunities. I am blessed enough in my life to have more than one connector in my life and that has been instrumental in the growth of my business.
Jennifer Johnson:We also need to have a cheerleader, someone who's going to be positive and supportive, who believe in you and your vision. Even when the times get tough and ugly, they're there for you. A devil's advocate yes, we all need to have that constructive criticism that challenge our ideas and help us refine them, and there's a fine line, but definitely need a devil's advocate. And then executors action-oriented people who could help turn those ideas into realities. So how do you know if you're in good company right now? I've got a few signs that I'm going to share with you. You feel energized and motivated after spending time with them. They challenge you to grow and improve, and they're honest with you, even when it's hard. They celebrate your successes, they offer help and resources. You trust them with confidential information and they have a positive, solution-oriented mindset. So those are all ways to know that you are surrounded by the right people.
Jennifer Johnson:But how do you know when you may not be? What are the warning signs there? Well, they're always negative or pessimistic. They discourage you from pursuing your goals. They're overly competitive or threatened. I think we probably all have one of those. They drain your energy, they're not trustworthy or reliable, they're not open to new ideas, they don't respect your time or your boundaries. Those are all red flags. Run, run, run. Or at least take a look at the situation or the person and question that in your head.
Jennifer Johnson:So now that we understand the importance of surrounding ourselves with the right people, let's talk about how we cultivate that network. Be intentional, actively seek out those relationships with those people who align with your values and goals. Attend industry events like seminars and conferences they're great places to meet people like that. Join professional organizations. Leverage social media, especially something like LinkedIn. One that often gets overlooked is to offer value. Build relationships first by considering how you can help them before start asking for help. Create your own mastermind group. Gather a group of peers who you know all are going through the same kind of things and have conversations with them and then reassess as you grow. Your needs may change, so continue assessing that. Building that circle is just the first step. You need to make sure that, in order to maintain and strengthen this, that you're reliable, you stay in touch with them, not just when you need something, and you also need to be vulnerable, share your challenges as well as your successes, because that's going to build a stronger connection and then, like I said, provide that value for them.
Jennifer Johnson:Surrounding yourself with people that are right for you, or the right people, doesn't just feel good. It can have tangible impacts on your business and your personal development, like accelerated learning You're going to learn things much quicker because it's right from the source. Increased resilience it can help you bounce back from setbacks much quicker. More creativity, because you're getting different perspectives. Better decision-making, because sometimes you get different answers from different people and you can help. That helps you kind of refine what you're thinking. Greater accountability. Expanded opportunities with your network. And then personal fulfillment. I want to emphasize that the people you surround yourself with in business are not again just nice to have. They're critical. They're very critical to your business. So take a minute to reflect on your current business circle. Are these the people who are going to challenge you, support you and help you grow? If not, what steps can you take to start building your network that you need? Remember, cultivating the right business circle is an ongoing process. It requires attention, intention, effort and sometimes those really difficult decisions.
