Meet Nicola Maxwell-Johnson | Nicola Maxwell-Johnson a Winning Woman

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

Hi Nicola, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
Ever since I was a child I have seen my mother do several jobs just to make ends meet. This observation has always instilled in me the notion of multiple streams of income. Hence, I have always been keen on finding ways of making extra money. As a trained Spanish teacher, it was difficult to make ends meet on just one monthly salary, especially when I was single. So, from my early years in teaching I would offer tutoring services on the weekends and some evening. Later on, I added different services as people would reach out to me for help. From this came the start of ‘Visas by Nicola’, a visa application service that I offer. Later came “Bibles ‘n Nice Tings’, an online business that supplied bibles, prayer shawls, clothing (mainly for females) among other items. I also own a 360 Photo booth which is rented for any type of event. Also, I design and print t-shirts and other heat press items on a small scale for now.

I am the founder of Women of Power Improving Nicely (W.I.N), which is caters to the wholistic development of women primarily through virtual weekly empowerment sessions. Though not a business per say, W.I.N still requires the tenacity and grit that is needed to keep a business afloat.

All these ventures are solution-oriented. Simply put, if I see a gap/need around me and it is something I am interested in and passionate about, then I am going to pursue it and best believe, a business will come from that pursuit.

Social impact: how does your business help the community or the world?

Having satisfied customers/clients is my number one priority. Whether its pairing a beautiful woman with a lovely dress, or helping someone to obtain a visa, or bringing life to an event with the photo booth, or being a source of inspiration to women through the ministry of WIN, I take great pride on delivering quality to those that I serve. Like I mentioned prior, my businesses offer solutions. My businesses enhances lives, even if its in small ways, even so, its tiny droplets that forms into showers. I am humbled to be able to help those around me in one way or another.

How do you think about risk, what role has taking risks played in your life/career?

I am not a huge risk taker, but I do acknowledge the fact that in order to get ahead in life we have to take risks one way or another. I like to make well thought out ‘choices’. and see how things go and then I move again based on the results. Taking risks in life is a great way for us to learn lessons. We have to be brave and bold and just make some moves all while trusting God throughout the process. I often say that ‘opportunities come to those who are ready’. For me this simply means that we have to prepare ourselves for what is to come and very often we are not 100% sure of what that even is. But by faith and through some amount of risk-taking we have to do certain things whether its making an investment, upgrading our academic credentials or even moving to a whole new geographic location. There can be no improvements to our lives without taking risks. Pray about it, think about it, pray about it some more then take the risk that you feel most compelled to. Chances are you will win and gain big, but if you lose, take the lessons and move on.

If you are a parent, what do you think is the most important thing you’ve done as a parent in terms of the impact on your children?

I am the mother of a beautiful and smart daughter who is almost 10 years old. The most impactful thing that I have done or ever will do as a mother is to ‘Live before her”. What I mean by this is that I am very cognizant of the way that I live because I know that I am setting an example for my daughter. Nothing that I can ever say to her can speak as loud as the example that I set and the choices that I make. So, I will continue to try my best to be a good example while I nurture her mind so that she can make sound moral decisions that will help her through life. My intention is that she will be inspired by what she sees coming from me and will want to emulate it. Also, I constantly pray for her.

What is the most important factor behind your success / the success of your brand?

I would say consistency. While characteristics such as brilliance and creativity are great, these without consistency will amount to nothing much. So I try my best to be consistent in everything that I do because consistency with constant reflections and additions will lead to even greater success.

How to know whether to keep going or to give up?

As a Christian, I have a firm belief in God and that’s where I place all my trust. I depend on God to lead me in every and anything. So, I would first rely on Him and also gain wise counsel from those who I trust and then make my decisions from there whether to keep going or to give up.

Work life balance: how has your balance changed over time? How do you think about the balance?

This is a big one! I have always been a strong proponent of having good work life balance. As a teacher, it is easy to become overwhelmed with work, however I try to maximize on things. So I will use technology to my advantage to make my work load more manageable. I rarely, if ever, take work home because I see this as not only infringing on my family’s time but also a disservice to myself. While my job is very important, it is just one part of who I am and what I have to do, so if I overpower everything else with ‘work’ then everything else will get shortchanged and this is not fair. Over the past two years I have been even more deliberate about keeping those boundaries in tact because I cherish my family time as well as my personal time for self care and to replenish. Because I wear the hat of a mother, wife, pastor, teacher, entrepreneur, motivator, friend, sister, philanthropist, among other things I have to be very deliberate about striking a balance.

What makes you happy? Why?

The simple things in life makes me happy. I especially enjoy spending time with my husband Michael Johnson and our daughter Joelle. I love to travel and explore different countries. So far, I have been to more than 15 countries and my intention is to keep adding. The world is such a beautiful place. I can find joy into something as simple as watching tv with my family with a nice scented candle on. Trying an exotic dish is in a foreign country can also be very satisfying. Being at the beach or visiting the river in Jamaica my homeland also brings happiness. But, superior to all of these, I find happiness in God’s presence brings me the greatest happiness because this is where I gain strength and clarity for this journey called life.

How do you define success?

I’ve always found this to be an interesting question. In my view, success is not a thing, nor even an event but it is a continuous journey with measurable wins along the way. Success is ongoing. I also see success as completion. Being able to complete a task well is success. Because we are all unique beings, success will look like different things to different people. Success can look like health, peace of mind, a safe and loving home, a loving family, a supportive community etc. Success is satisfying, it gives a sense of accomplishment. While the term may be difficult to define, success is not comparison, nor is it equal to having great wealth and possessions to show.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a trained Spanish teacher. I started my career in 2006 and I absolutely love it! I love to make a positive impact on the students who have been entrusted to me. I pride myself on being that no nonsense but fun teacher. I know that creating a good rapport while maintaining order and discipline in the learning environment are very important if learning is to take place. An integral element of being a teacher is the ability to connect with students. I am especially proud of the lasting relationships that I form with my students. In fact, I am still in connection with students who I taught over a decade ago. I have had students who have excelled in various examinations that I have helped them to prepare for. Additionally, I have been blessed to have inspired students who have since become Spanish teachers.

No doubt, I am a great teacher, this is is reflected in the results that my students produced. I have invested time and money into improving my skills so that I can better serve my students. My academic credentials include a Teaching Diploma, a Bachelor of Education in Modern Foreign Language and a Masters degree in Teacher Education and Professional Development. I also hold certificates in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language from Universities in Colombia and Chile. I also spend time traveling to Hispanic countries so that I can be immersed in the language and learn more about the culture so that I can pass on this information to my students.

My journey has not been short of its own challenges but my resilient nature and determination to win have always fueled me to overcome the obstacles as they come. I grew up in poverty, however; I did not allow that to deter me. I always know that education would be the vehicle that would transport me to a greater destination and so I have remained focused as I pursue each academic goal.

Life’s journey has taught me so much. I have learned the importance of believing in myself and the necessity to push on even in the midst of adversity. I have recognized that while life is not easy it is so very worth it and that if I keep on pressing, it will get better. My faith in God has been my anchor and it has kept me through some turbulent times.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I can be somewhat of a homebody but when I do go out, any place with good food is a great place to be. I have come to appreciate the beach and I love seafood so anywhere by the beach that offers good food is okay for me. I think of places like Pelican Bar and Sharkies Restaurant in Jamaica. I also discovered this lovely open air authentic food court in Panama where I got some amazing food. I also appreciate visiting historical sites/places and renowned attractions in whichever area that I happen to be visiting.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mother has been a great inspiration on my life because of her I am the woman that I am today. My sisters – Nora, Shirley Ann and Tanya have been awesome role models too. My husband Michael has been the perfect fit for me, thank you for being such a great support. My extended family, friends, colleagues (past and present), my Bishops and church family, my WIN family!

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