Overcomer – Samantha Johnston

What do you do?

I help women build stellar brands infused with personality and style. From foundation to creation and into implementation, we make their visions and dreams a reality.

Growing up, did you always dream that you would be doing what you’re doing now?

Not at all. I used to dream about being a lawyer. I never dreamed about being my own boss and always just assumed I’d make my way up the corporate ladders and dreamt of having a corner office with a view (think Working Girl). It wasn’t until my early 20’s that entrepreneurship even became a thought.

What made you decide to “go for it” in terms of your career goals/ambitions?

I always enjoyed helping friends and family with their websites or design things. My mom has a background in photography, design and RTVF (Radio, TV & Film) so it always came naturally to me. My hobby started to grow and then I realized that I could do this and make money so I started with small projects and a few clients. A couple years in and I found my 9-5 job was really draining and came home crying one day. My husband looked at me said, let’s jump. I put in my 2 weeks and I’ve never looked back. That was 4 years ago.

Did you face adversity? How did you overcome that?

So much. 2 weeks after I left my 9-5, I found out I was pregnant with my second child. 9 months later (March 2014) I had a rough delivery (he was born blue, limp and unresponsive – luckily he was revived quickly and he’s a healthy & happy 3 year old). Three weeks after my son was born, my husband had an emergency appendectomy and they told him that the CT scan showed a growth on his kidney. After speaking with doctors and specialists his surgery was scheduled for late June. In Early June, we put our condo up for sale. Within a couple weeks it sold and entered escrow. Late-June came, my husband had his surgery and all seemed fine. About a week went by and we were told that it was cancerous but that they got it all. He would only need to go for routine scans every 6 months. 10 days after his surgery, he was in excruciating pain and had to be rushed to the ER. We would later learn that he had almost bled out internally. He spent 6 days in ICU and had a blood transfusion. While he was in ICU, I received notice that escrow had closed and we had to move out within 7 days. I spent that week packing up our condo with the help of our friends and visiting my husband in the ICU with the help of the nurses who watched my babies (my daughter was 4.5, my son only a few months old) and the day my husband was released from the hospital was the day the movers came for our things. We spent a few months with my mom as we searched for a new house and in October of that year, we were finally settled and things were starting to return to normal. My business suffered a little but it’s bounced back stronger and I know that surviving that first year and a half of business showed me that I can do this, I will do this and there isn’t much that can stop me.

A lot of women have these big goals & big ideas that they’d like to bring to life, what advice would you give them in terms of how they can make that happen?

Don’t listen to the naysayers. Dream big, dream often and always let your conscience be your guide. Break down those big dreams and take it one step at a time. You’ve got this. You can do it. You WILL do it.

What’s the biggest regret you have when it comes to your blog/shop/business?

Overthinking, over analyzing and waiting for perfection. So many things could have happened sooner if I hadn’t held myself back.

What’s been your proudest moment so far?

As a business owner – helping a client quadruple her income.

As a mom – being there for my kiddos and never having to worry about getting a day off or calling in sick. I’m always there.

As a wife – being able to support my husband in what he loves because doing what I love affords me the flexibility to let him live his dreams too.

As Samantha – going after my dreams and knowing that I’m doing this would make my dad proud.

And, just because we like our coffee around here, how do you take yours?

Triple Venti, 7 pump, White Mocha with Whip. 🙂

I believe in the story of the overcomer. That has been my story and I believe that is your story too. We want your journey here on the blog to help encourage others just like you and me. If you’d like to share that with us, please come over and share your story with us!