Lisa Johnson, CEO, Lisa Johnson Coaching
Lisa Johnson is the Founder and CEO of Lisa Johnson Coaching, a business that helps people create passive and semi-passive income streams. Lisa talks to The Industry Leaders about how she went from working in law and banking to creating a seven-figure business that enables her to travel the world while she works.
How did you end up sitting where you are today?
After a tough childhood growing up in a low-income single-parent household and suffering bullying as a result, I climbed the corporate ladder. I started as an office junior and eventually got into law and investment banking. I then had my twin sons and began to re-write my whole story as that working environment was never going to happen with twins!
I got a much lower paid job as a PA working near my house to see the twins and, while there, started my first business as a wedding planner. After growing that business successfully and organically, I began to receive inquiries about business growth, so I set up my own consultancy business four years ago. That snowballed to the multi seven-figure company I own now.
What kind of work does your role involve?
I help people make passive and semi-passive income online from income streams such as courses and memberships. I work about 30 hours a month and have a lot of freedom to spend time with my family. I'm usually found teaching a class to hundreds of people online or speaking at an event, and much of my day-to-day is done whilst travelling the world (when a pandemic isn't getting in my way!).
It's such a great job because there's so much variety to it and you really can design the life you really want around it. In my first year of business, I was so burnt out and exhausted and finding the passive income model changed everything!
What gets you excited about your industry?
Seeing the changes that it can make to someone's whole life. It's never just about the money - it's about time that people get back. We only get one life, and I strongly feel that people should not spend most of it working!
I'm also loving seeing things change in the online world from the sleazy unethical behaviours we're used to. There's definitely change coming with a new class of entrepreneurs that care just as much about integrity as income, which is brilliant.
What's the best advice anyone ever gave you?
To work out the life you want before working out the business. I did not do this with my first business! If you'd have asked me what I wanted my life to look like I'd have said lots of travel with my family. Instead, I grew a business where I worked all summer every weekend on weddings! I was much smarter in my second business to design the business model around the life I wanted.
What, or who inspires you?
My kids inspire me every day. They are now 9 and fearless. They simply don't care what opinions others have about them or how they want to live their lives. One of my sons likes to wear tutus and is very much into glitter and unicorns. When I worry about him being bullied, he laughs and tells me he loves being different. I wish I'd been more like him and not worried about strangers' views which can stop us from starting anything or prevent us from being ourselves.
How do you keep up to speed with what's happening in your industry?
I'm continually investing in myself. I now choose coaches and courses based on the skills I need at the time, whether it's sales or writing a book.
I'm also part of a high-end mastermind with some great people. I always want to be the small fish in a bigger pond as that's when I learn the most from others who have already been where I want to go.
What was the most challenging project or situation you've overcome?
When I was in my first year of business, I was badly bullied online by some competitors who were threatened by how well I was doing so quickly. It was awful and took me right back to how I'd felt as a child in the playground. I nearly quit but then realised that I'd been through worse and instead I'd use the adversity to fuel my success. After that my business went from low 6 figures to multi 7 very quickly. I'm giving a TEDx talk in October about how negativity can help you rather than hinder you.
You finish work today and step outside the office to find a lottery ticket that ends up winning $10 million. What would you do?
Start an anti-bullying foundation to help others. It's on the cards!
How do you switch off after a day at work?
I play with the kids - You can't help but switch off if you're making a giant lego tower! And I'm a big film lover, so I escape by watching classics. My husband also built a pub in our garden during lockdown, so you might find me in there playing darts!
If you had one wish for the future of your industry, what would it be?
That there's a ripple effect on the integrity side. There's such a lot of unethical practices like pyramid selling, pushy selling, and not delivering on ridiculous guarantees. It needs to change, or the industry will gain such a bad reputation that it will kill itself. I see it happening but far too slowly.
We did a $2m launch in October whilst actively telling people not to buy if it means getting into debt. I want to show people you can have integrity and a really successful business because too many people believe it's a choice.
What book or podcast should everyone know about?
I really enjoy Spender Lodge's podcast. He doesn't just interview businesspeople but all sorts of inspiring people from all walks of life. Definitely worth a listen.
How should people connect with you?
Well, if you want to see if you're ready to make passive income, you can take my quiz at www.thecashcalculator.com or for a natter come to Instagram @lisajohnsoncoaching
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