This week’s featured interview – Get to know beauty entrepreneur & influencer Kendall T. Johnson, author of I AM NOT MY CIRCUMSTANCE
Kendall T Johnson is the best-selling author of I AM NOT MY CIRCUMSTANCE, a beauty entrepreneur and social media influencer, and an award winning International Master Hairstylist with 22 years of experience.
Her success was not handed to her, and neither was a clear path in life – but this did not stop her drive. Kendall went from being nearly homeless to creating a 6-figure beauty business and best-selling author in 8 months.
Her entrepreneurial success also translated into becoming a social media influencer, where she shares her hair and business tips. Her partnerships as an influencer include nationally-known brands such as Matrix and Booksy.
In July 2021, Kendall launched her consulting business that helps entrepreneurs from all industries level up in mindset by helping them change their paradigm to create the life they want to live generating over 5 figures in 42 days. Kendall now travels globally teaching success principles to hairstylists and women, as well as training others how to take charge of their life and create exponential growth in their business.
She openly shares her growth within each of her best-selling books, I AM NOT MY CIRCUMSTANCE and I AM SUCCESS JOURNAL.
Her inspirational stories and work have been featured across Channel 2 WESH Orlando, CW 18, COX MEDIA RADIO, WOKB CHRISTIAN radio, and Afrotainment TV talk show LIVE with Candice and Kris.
This is her interview
How did you get your idea or concept for the business?
My concept for business came after relocating to Florida from Texas. The way I did business back home was nothing like here in Orlando. After moving here, I was able to niche down my business to service women who only want to wear short hair cuts and hair color.
When and why did you start your business?
I started my beauty business to provide a better life for my baby at the time. I was a teen mom and needed to make a decision quickly due to the job sector being so limited in my hometown. I knew what they were paying was not going to be enough to provide a healthy lifestyle for my daughter and I. Also, I have a host of hairstylists and barbers throughout my family, so I had a natural gift to style hair at an early age before I went to beauty school.
To what do you attribute your success?
Success is identifying the person you want to be, and then becoming that person. It has nothing to do with financial status or job titles. It’s about purpose and knowing who you are.
What is unique about your business?
What makes my business unique is the experience every client gets when they visit my salon. It’s not only about a pretty hairstyle, it’s about how I empower women through servicing their hair. You never know what someone may be going through at the time they come into the salon for hair services. It is my duty to make sure they get a piece of hope, feeling like everything will be okay while being in my presence. I’m also time sensitive. We have a work system that does not keep clients waiting. We try to have the in and out of the salon in sufficient time. I also service high functioning powerful women in the marketplace. That’s my target audience. I realized everyone is not my client. I created an ideal client, and that’s who I target.
What made you choose this type of business/career?
What made you choose this type of business/career? When I found out I was pregnant at 15, my mom told me college was no longer an option. So I returned to my natural gift of styling hair. Once I realized I could make more money at home doing hair for family and friends than a regular 9-5 job, it was a no-brainer to me.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
Learning how to market my services on instagram.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
There are no such things as failures. You only learn lessons and each failed plan is a stepping stone to get you to your next level!
What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Perfect does not exist. Start where you are. Give yourself grace and never give up until your dream becomes a reality.
What’s been the best advice you received as a business owner?
The best advice I’ve received was to stop overthinking things and to persist until I succeed.
Learn more about and connect with Kendall on her social media:
