Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheena Johnson.
It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. How did you get to where you are today?
It’s an honor to be speaking with you and sharing my story. I’ve been a licensed cosmetologist going on 10 years now. I’ve been a business owner for 9 years. I started by working in a salon and spa as a cosmetologist. While there, I also performed services outside of hairstyling. I did facial services as well. There is where I was exposed to the many services I could perform with my license. From there I opened my own salon boutique and officially became a business owner. I then opened a spa in a separate location where I had a staff of up to 8 people at a time. That was a stressful time so I decided to open a business where I could offer a lot of beauty services at one location with me as the primary service provider. So that’s how Beauty Therapy Studio was formed! Throughout the years I launched a hair and skin care line and just recently, a feminine care line. My experience with working with clients and different product lines led me to wanting to provide my very own product line.
I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?
It has not been easy, but it’s been worth it I must say! I’ve faced numerous challenges. I’ve faced challenges being solo in my business as well as having employees. Financial challenges are top on the list. Learning to budget the money I made correctly. And not making enough money to even budget! In the beginning I had a vision of how I wanted my salon to look and feel. But that didn’t bring clients in the door. So being able to see the bigger picture ahead and not what’s happening in the moment was imperative to keep me going. Then once revenue started rolling in, I didn’t manage it well. So you definitely have to be mentally prepared and focused when operating a business to avoid a lot of challenges you will face. There were challenges in managing employees as well. Not everyone will have the same vision or drive, so I found myself working harder than some of the people I hired. That was challenging AND stressful. The good thing is I overcame those challenges to become the woman I am now and to have the success in my business I have today . I’m ready to face any new challenges with confidence.
Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition?
As a cosmetologist I offer services in hair care, skin care, body treatments and body waxing. I also sell products in most of those areas. I provide quality in everything I do and my priority is making sure all of my clients and customers feel beautiful and confident inside and out.
My specialty is hair styling from pressing naturally curly hair to silky straight to maintaining healthy hair that grows! However I have something for everyone! My work ethic is top tier. My genuine spirit and obsession with caring for others are unmatched. Any of my clients will tell you that! I pour my heart into every single service and product I provide. As a result, my clients walk around with their heads a little higher. That’s what sets me apart from my competition.
What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?
My advice would be to be honest with yourself first. What does success really mean to you? Success is different for everyone. Don’t let the appearance of success in someone else’s life motivate you to try and do what they do. It may work for them, but it may not bring fulfillment to your life. If you feel like you’re failing, look within. See what YOU did to cause you to fail. Be honest. Then fix it!
I often tell people to write down your short term goals that will lead to your more bigger, long term goal. And check each short term goal off your list as you complete them. You will see the results of your work and get closer to that bigger goal. Often times people skip over the smaller parts of the plan to get to the big prize and end up stumbling every time. When I started writing the the goals I needed to accomplish before I could get to the bigger goal, I felt like I was actually doing something and going in the right direction. That’s what I need to keep pushing.
Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?
Success means that I wake up every morning grateful for life and all the people and things in it. I was in a dark place early on in my entrepreneurial journey. And I can remember waking up dreading the day ahead. With that mindset, anything that could go wrong, did! When I started appreciating all the good things in my life, the things that were going right, it’s like I became successful in everything I did. I held myself accountable and starting changing what I could control. I believe everything I do in the future will be a success because if this mindset.
What’s next for you?
Whew! A lot (laughs). Right now I’m focusing on building my 6 figure empire to a 7 figure empire! My main focus right now is my feminine care business, Shee Beauty Bar. I’m formulating recipes and making products by hand for women’s intimate area. I just launched it in September, so I’m working on promoting that business, processing orders and creating new products for that. That’s what’s taking up a lot of my time when I’m not working at my salon. I’m always working on something!
Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more?
I’m on Instagram and Facebook.
IG: @sheebrandbeauty
FB: Shee Beauty Bar
They can check out my work on my salon pages:
IG: @beautytherapybr
FB: Beauty Therapy Studio
website: www.sheebeautybar.com
website: www.sheebrandbeauty.com