Meet: Vanessa Johnson!

What inspired you to become a CEO?
Besides the fact that I wanted to leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren, the story unfolds as such: As my children and I were leaving a strip mall to go home, a strange woman walked up to me and asked me if I could watch her child because she had to go to prison. Awkwardly enough, I had this woman to sit down with me and share her story of what was going on in her life. As time went on and it was getting late, I winded up driving this woman and her daughter to their home with an understanding that I would have to speak with my husband and thereafter we would pray about the situation. She understood and agreed. After about a week, God gave us the answers and instructions of what we needed to do. The woman had given us the contact person name and telephone number for us to reach out to for more information. We received the information and then went through classes to become a foster parent. There was no pay involved and we were okay with that. We were not doing it for the money but to give the teenager the love of a family while her mom went to settle a debt to society. The daughter was about fourteen years old and had gone through so many traumatic experiences before she had come to live with us. She blended well with the family. As I was going to the foster care meetings, my perception of what was really going on outweighed what was being shown. As I listened to the youth as well as the adults, I understood that there was a major gap of love and a host of other things missing. As youth aged out, I was hearing of the homelessness and lack of life skills that needed to be provided to them. As a foster parent, I took on many other youth (which just showed up at my house) to share the love of a family. As our family grew and my concern for the other youth increased, I began to ask God to help me develop a program where I can provide such services to the youth aging out foster care. This Program would later become profound in the community for not only the aged out foster youth but the community youth as well. Thereafter I started my business to provide housing services and life skills management to youth aging out foster care; that was over seventeen years ago.
 
If you could share business advice with yourself 10 years ago, what would you say? 
The business advice I would share with myself 10 years ago would be, get a team of individuals to assist you in the vision that has been given to you. You cannot fulfill the vision alone.
 
With this being the month of love, how do you feel self-love affects our entrepreneur journey? 
Self-love affects our entrepreneur journey in that we must take time out for ourselves so that we have the well-balanced ingredients of focus, stamina, creative innovations, strength, wisdom, integrity, clarity and clear vision to what has been given to us. If we don't take care of ourselves, we cannot properly take care of our business. Also, self-love is unique to each individual person therefore being aware of what you as the individual need is very important because only you ultimately can influence your actions.
 
What are you looking forward to most in 2020? 
I am looking forward to most in 2020 is my VIP 3-Day Intensive Quarterly Weekender Coaching in San Antonio, Texas in May 2020; Jacksonville, Florida in June 2020 and West Virginia, Virginia in July 2020 where as we get together (and develop all documents) with likeminded individuals who are ready to move forward in Opening, Managing and Sustaining their own Transitional Facility.  I am also looking forward to launching my monthly Live Camouflage Housing Webinar in February 2020 where I teach others how to Open and Manage their own Transitional Facility and offer the opportunity for the VIP 3-Day Intensive Quarterly Weekender Coaching.
 
How can readers support your efforts and connect with you? 
Readers can support my efforts and connect with me by following me on Facebook via Vanessa Johnson, Facebook Page: Vanessa Johnson - Life of Victory Strategist; Follow me on instragram: the_fight_is_fixed.
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You may also email me @ vanessajohnson@lifeofvictorystrategist.com or visit either websites at www.lifeofvictorystrategist.com or www.dunamishodi.org