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

Hi Nicole, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started my first business out of a need to be more available for my family. We were involved in a house fire Palm Sunday 2002. My daughter and I received minor burns. She was released the same day and stayed with family. I was hospitalized for a week and released to the nearest Ronald McDonald House. My son, who was 3 at the time, ended up in the NICU of the Loyola Burn Center. It was a scary time. I was off work for several weeks but eventually I had to return to work.

Upon my return to work, my desk was covered with cards and notes from my co-workers and a note from the owners of the company. I worked for a privately owned collection agency, at the time. I went to the owner’s office and the secretary hugged me like a momma bear and we had a good gratitude cry. Then she told me that I would have to come back in 2 weeks to see the owners because they were on vacation in Hawaii.

The walk back to my desk was very emotional. I’m walking across this warehouse floor, listening to collectors take payments for the company which is making money for the owners, who are at the beach; and all I want to do is be at the hospital with my son. Talk about an “ah ha” moment. I got real upset. Not with the owners; I got upset with myself because I had not positioned myself to generate income so that I could be available for my family when they need me.

When I formed my financial services business, my thought process was to help women be in a better financial position to deal with their life happenings. One thing I have learned and told women over and over is this: “these jobs ain’t loyal”! And our life happenings hit differently when our finances are in order.

What should our readers know about your business?
The Nicole Johnson has developed over the years after trial, shift, trial and more shifts. I have had several platforms over the years that involved multilevel marketing platforms. utility platforms (landline and cellular), independent contractor’s work, work from home and finally coaching.

What I am most proud of is my platform to help women become homeowner. From 2010 to 2017, I helped over 200 women become homeowners when they didn’t think they could do it. It has been rewarding when they text you and say…thank you Nicole! I couldn’t have done this without you. Or when your friend calls to say I need to facetime you so you can walk in this house with me!

This was not an easy journey. When I started teaching women how to create and maintain their budget to in order to buy a home, I was teaching and sharing…FOR FREE! I was spending countless hours talking to women, reviewing forms, hosting webinars and more. Until a fellow entrepreneur tapped me on the shoulder to ask me how much I was charging for the work I was doing. I told her I wasn’t and she pulled me into a meeting room and handed me a full discussion on mindset and pure business economics Till this day, I am so thankful and grateful for that meeting.

As a result of that meeting, I created B & B Financial Services, LLC. I shifted my mindset. I finally understood that my knowledge was valuable and that I was a business owner who deserved to charge for my services. My community didn’t take the shift well. Someone even asked “why do we have to pay for this when you have been doing it for free?” Oh no you didn’t ask me that! LOLL I also had to learn, as a business owner, that everyone is not my customer. I also learned to network with other business owners because the mindset of an entrepreneur is different from the mindset of an employee and without that network and support, the life of an entrepreneur can be very lonely.

Today, B & B Financial Services has expanded into B & B Business Services to incorporate additional services such as teaching women how to work from home by becoming independent contractors. And now, B & B Business Services is now expanding and branching into The Nicole Johnson, LLC. & TNJ, Services. What’s new? The Nicole Johnson is now a Dave Ramsey Master Financial Coach and we are to help women create a new relationship with their money to reach their financial goals. We have offerings coming up that will help them level up in their mindset to gain and keep control of their finances.

TNJ, Services, a division of The Nicole Johnson, is under development and we invite you to stay connected to celebrate our expansion.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Being from Chicago, I have to have my food spots which include Garrett’s popcorn (n the mall) and Harold’s Chicken at 349 Edgewood Ave. as it is absolutely delicious.

Now, with Slutty Vegan is up the street at 476 Edgewood Ave…whewwww chileee!! LOLLl

I love to be outside so any park is good for me and my travel buddies.

But we have to get the Atlanta City pass and take the street trolley tour.

The 2.5 hour history and food tour of Atlanta has been popular with my travel partners, too.

We also have to do the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. history walking tour.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh that list is long!

Vaneese Johnson, The Boldness Coach. She was my very first business coach.

Kat the Course Builder, The Course Creator. She taught me how to create my first online course.

Dee Edwards, I became a best selling author as a part of an anthology.

LaKeysha Hayes, Stacey Kimber, Twanna Gill, Tcherlindra Tarrance, my 2022 Savings Challengers, My Achiever’s Becoming Homeowners community, Kokisha Warren, Kimberly Heard, Michelle Slaughter and Muriel Weatherly.

My prayer partners in Syngery Group and Michelle Evans.

Website: www.thenicolejohnson.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenicolejohnsn

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenicolejohnson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenicoleyjohnson/

Image Credits
Picture in the beige, photo credit to Aija Face, photographer.

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