Meet Sami Johnson | Social Media Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sami Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sami, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
“You either work for ‘The Man’, or you be ‘The Man’.”

I was told that at a young age, and I really wish I could remember who told me that to thank them. It is something that I always kept with me through first working retail to then transitioning into doing hair to now social media. I was at a point in my hair career that it just monetarily made sense for me to leave a salon as a commissioned stylist to booth renting. Transitioning into owning my own business happened naturally with years of putting in my time behind the chair. I wish I could say I had a strategic thought process on how I wanted to get there, it happened organically and I am thankful for that. There was no pressure or stress or major decisions, like i said it came down to financially me being able to earn more money for what I was already doing. After that transition to being an independent contractor, I realized I never wanted to ask for permission to go to the doctor, ask for permission to take a personal day, ask for permission to help take care of my grandmother who is 90 now, to go on vacation, I could go on. I knew it would be hard work and longer days with more tasks added to my plate, but I would do anything and will continue to do everything to remain a Female Small Business Owner. As I have pivoted from hair full time to social media, that foundation was crucial and I would not be where I am in my social media career without it. Even though I did not have a set plan going into the workforce as a 17 year old to be a business owner, I will always be thankful the choices I made and the steps I took that got me to where I am now.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I personally view my life as my biggest piece of art. My life is my content and what I share with this world. Colorful and vibrant, forever evolving, creating my masterpiece and writing my own story. What sets me apart from others is my fearlessness. I am a risk taker, I never want to live in “what if” and would rather learn a lesson than miss an opportunity at something that could unlock new doors for me. Those risks have came with losses. When I thought opening an entire salon was something I wanted to do, I learned that my passion was behind the chair, not being behind a desk working on schedules, orders, etc. Ive lost thousands of dollars over the years with those risks but I would not change those chapters and lessons for anything. Having someone ask you how did you get to where you are today will really make you sit back and reflect on life. In a weird way it was easy but it was not all at the same time. I think my passion, drive, excitement and genuine love for what I have done in my life and business is what made it easy. The challenges were in my own head. Fighting my intuition when I should not have and not trusting my gut when I needed to step away from things or when things felt off, the self doubt that creeps in when you let outside chatter in your brain. That was very hard to overcome since it was all internal. Those were things, like this question, I had to take time to sit back and think hard on to process it and understand those emotions. Everyone and everything is put into your life for love or a lesson. That is the biggest lesson I have learned. To see life in a different perspective and not let anyone or anything stop you from chasing your dreams. 8 months ago I was suddenly let go from a position on a real estate team I was helping on with no clarity, just a looming fear of what do I do now. I never quit doing hair so I had that few hundred dollars a month and a whole lot of prayers. I told myself there is no other time than now to bet on yourself fully and chase my dreams to be a content creator. I said in 6 months if you I do not see enough results, this may not be for me. Since this past November to now, putting 10+ hours a day to content creating, filming and editing, live streaming, social media posts, I can say my dreams are coming true and it is exactly like that saying Kate Hudson said in Almost Famous, “It’s all happening.” I have got brand partenerships with companies I used to dream about hopefully working with. My analytics on all my platforms are growing and so are the people who support me online. I really would not get to do this job without them. To sitting here getting emotional over answering these interview questions, still in shock I was chosen for this. If one thing I want people to know about my story is to never give up on yourself or your dreams. No matter the situation and no matter how much the odds are stacked against you. Life changes in an instant and it is how you pivot.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First stop is The Vortex, fried pickle spears and a Moscow Mule for starters. They have some of the oddest and coolest items on their menu. a burger with a doughnut bun… say less. Then we are headed to The World of Coca-Cola. That place never gets old and is super cool, filled with so much history, and soda flavors from each continent. Then finish the afternoon at Skyview. Seeing the sunset over GA at the top looking over the city is beautiful.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First my Mom, she is one of the strongest women I know, She has faced so many challenges and had to overcome things mentally no one ever should. She had me at 27, when she mentally was at the start of what would be a downhill spiral. Even now me being 31, I am not sure if I could even handle having a child and a career, on top of doing it alone. My childhood was not ideal but it was not until my adult life and fully knowing what my mom went through, it made sense as to why. She had every reason to want to give up, but she never did. I watched her work countless hours to be able to provide for me and now know sacrifices and decisions she made to protect me. I will always be thankful my mom is MY MOM.

My grandparents played a huge part in my life helping raise me. I credit my sass and attitude to my grandmother, even at 90 she is still handing it out like candy! Ill credit my grandfather for stepping up and being the male role model I needed and teaching me hard work and patience the short time I did have with him.

Id like to thank Jennifer Youngblood, my summer camp councilor turned high school marketing teacher (she basically taught me anything and everything I know about branding and marketing) and also turned into a second mom to me. Theresa Bowles, my cosmetology school director who believed in me and told me she knew I would go far with whatever I did in my life and always challenged me in a positive way. Lastly, Maegan Craft and Meagen Flowers, my best friends. They were there cheering me on every step of the way and continue to do so. From practicing haircuts and hair color to being unpaid extras in my social media videos haha, I do not know what I would do without them.

Instagram: @samijohnsonvlogs

Facebook: Samijohnsonvlogs

Youtube: samijohnsonvlogs

Other: Tiktok: @samijohnsonvlogs