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Meet Christina M. Johnson Publisher & Visionary Of Testimony Publishers, LLC
At what point did you decide you wanted to become an entrepreneur and are you a full-time or part-time entrepreneur? If part-time, how do you envision becoming full-time?
A: I remember asking my mother if I could go to summer camp when I was in elementary school. She said, “No,” because we didn’t have the money at the time. Growing up in Baltimore City, Maryland was a constant struggle for my family (and my father’s addiction added to our rough times). But, the entrepreneur within me decided to ask my mother if I could work to earn my admission to summer camp. She agreed and, before my father could spend any money from his paycheck that week, I begged him to front me $50.00 for snacks. I planned to sell snacks (M&Ms, Snickers, Huggie juices, Utz chips & bubble gum) to the children at the local playground and those who were on their way to the same summer camp I wanted to attend. To make a long story short, I earned my father’s $50.00 back (with interest) within 48 hours and went back to the store for more snacks. By the time the first week of summer camp was over, I no longer wanted to be a camper…I just wanted to sell candy to the campers! As a part-time entrepreneur for most of my life (and, now, full-time for almost 2 decades), God has placed a vision for entrepreneurship and legacy-building in my heart for as long as I can remember.
What systems/programs do you use to help with time management and organization to better your business success?
A: As an entrepreneur, managing your time and staying organized are keys to a successful operation. I’ve been blessed to discovered a great all-in-one platform, Kartra, that assists me with everything from my websites, sales pages, funnels, membership areas, emails, surveys, quizzes, video hosting, my calendars, help desks, affiliates, integrations, API, so much more! Having everything I need in one place makes my life so much simpler.
You are the visionary of Testimony Publishers, LLC. where you help coaches, consultants, service-providers and authors get published. Can you share what inspired you to become a publishing company despite self-publishing being very popular; and I welcome you to share any exciting projects you are currently working on or coming down the pipeline with your authors?
A: It’s fascinating you’ve asked this because there’s so much depth to your question. First, it seems everyone knows the benefits of writing and publishing a book (especially for their business): 1. It positions you as a thought-leader in your industry and can increase your authority, 2. It increases your credibility, 3. It can serve as a great lead generation resource, 4. It can add an additional stream of income to your household or business, and 5. It can leave a lasting legacy that will be around for generations to come.
With that said, these benefits have increased the popularity of self-publishing. But most of my clients, and many individuals who self-publish, find it extremely difficult to earn consistent income from their book. You’ll hear a lot of people say they’re a published author, and that they just wanted to publish their book. But these individuals are often dissatisfied with little to no sales of their book (and they often harbor feelings of disappointment and depression). This is what sets Testimony Publishers, LLC. apart from 99.9% of Indie Publishing Companies and Self-Publishers because I do NOT publish authors books!
I provide the expertise, resources, and tools for my clients to establish their own self-publishing company (so they can reap 100% of profits), monetize their manuscript (so they can be profitable before they publish), and never pay a dime out-of-pocket to publish their beloved masterpiece. My clients leave my mastermind and program knowing they are not authors; they are Authorpreneurs! When you adjust your mindset to know that YOU are a business (and so is your book), you are willing to invest in an expert who is willing to share trade secrets so your book will be a success. You are willing to invest in a professional editor, graphic designer, and PR rep to further your success. I attract clients who are not concerned with doing everything themselves so they can save money. My clients, like many of your readers, want to get it right the first time so they don’t have to play “catch-up” and miss out on thousands of dollars in their pockets. My mastermind, “Write To $6Figures,” is by invite-only and my programs are extremely exclusive. But because God has called me to serve, I have a private community for entrepreneurs and business owners (https://beyond6figures.com) that assists members with the strategies and framework to be successful business owners (whether their business is a book, blog, or brand product/service). Membership is free for anyone who desires to start, launch, or scale an online business and want to throw away the traditional ways of thinking to accept new opportunities that will quantum leap their success.
What is a typical day like for you? How many hours do you spend on your business? Please breakdown by hours (7:00 am, 8:00 am etc.)
A: Now I have to warn you and your readers, my day is 1-part vacation and 2-parts circus! My husband and I have 8 children at home between the ages of 5 and 15 years old who are best-selling authors (www.hiphophairbook.com) AND we have multi-businesses (a publishing company and a logistics & transportation company). We also homeschool so I’m usually awake by 9:30AM EST (I’m usually last to wake up) and my older children (or my husband) have already started breakfast. As soon as my husband leaves for the day, we clean up from breakfast and prepare for class. Around noon, we take a break…snack time, free time, and I communicate with my assistant to see if I need to update her Trello board or follow-up with a client later in the day.
School is back on at 1:30PM, the older children work until they are finished for the day, and I field calls from my husband (if necessary). I end the younger children’s school day with a learning video, virtual or hands-on activity. By 3PM EST, the house is a mess, everyone’s hungry (AGAIN!) and I need to get ready to go to work! Around 4:30PM EST, I am preparing for my client session via Zoom, interviews or presentations, and trainings in my private community. While I’m on calls or working, my children have tasks to complete for their clothing brand, packing books, playing on the computer, and chilling on their cell phones (for some of them). Between calls, I cook dinner around 7PM EST (or order out if we can all agree on 1 vegan restaurant and a restaurant for my meat-eaters). We clean up from dinner, dance or play together while I get ready for my last call for the day (or I may not have a call and decide to use some time to plan or create content). I’m still working on “bedtime” for everyone (y’all pray for me!)! By now it’s 10PM EST (and after baths, storytime, free time, “leave Mama alone for 5-minutes” time), I go back to my computer (or phone) to write, review my day, or finally relax. My children are finished with their school…chores and it’s officially bedtime…goodnight!😊With that said, there are some days when my husband and I choose to take the entire day off…and we seem to cherish those days the most! One of my clients who has one child was so fascinated by my ability to balance being a wife, mother, multi-business owner and everything else. I simply stated, “This isn’t a balancing act, it’s a “following-God-act!” I could never do it all on my own (whether I had 1 child or 20 children). If you’re reading this, feel free to reach out in my private community because I have resources available to make things simple…and “simple” will save you time and money!
Being a woman of color in the publishing industry and digital market, do you find there is a lot of competition and how do you handle it?
A: This is such a great question! Because of my faith, I do not believe in “competition” in the traditional sense of the word. What God has for me is for me (and that goes for my clients and customers as well). As a spiritual being who is having a human experience (and who happens to be a business owner), I do my due diligence within my business and with my clients. From market research, to customer avatars, and “competitor” analysis, Testimony Publishers, LLC. goes in depth with this “informative” data. At the same time, I’m anointed to assist my clients in crafting their unique story; one that no other person in today’s market has. My signature framework is structured around you having 2 fingerprints…one is on the tips of your fingers and the other is your story! Both are unique to you and no one else has them! So, being a Black American woman in the publishing industry and digital market, my “competition” is me because my definition of success may be totally different from the next person in the publishing industry. If you are reading this and you believe your market is saturated or your “competition” is too great, I’ll speak to you as if you were my client. You are the BEST you that anyone can be! YOU are fearfully and wonderfully made! You are enough and worthy of your idea of success! God knows you want to help others…God knows you want to provide for yourself and your loved ones…God knows you want to use your talents and gift to build a Queendom that brings glory to the Most-High! You are loved and God will never leave you or forsake you! Your best is yet to come and everything you touch will be blessed! Now go do what you’d do if you knew you couldn’t fail!
Being in the publishing industry where new writers can be a bit intimidated by publishers; do you find it hard to attract serious clients and how do you settle their mindset?
A: Intimidation is fueled by the unknown. Whether you’re a new writer, new publisher, or a new business owner, the unknown can be intimidating. My clients have often shared their thoughts with me about how pleased they are about my ability to communicate with them before, during, and after working with them. I’ve invested well over a hundred thousand dollars in mentorship and education so I could lessen the learning curve and shorten the time I’d have to put into learning everything on my own. When attracting clients, 2 things are often true – 1. You attract who you are and 2. You attract who God wants you to learn from. Every level you reach, you will need to elevate your mindset so you can attract your ideal clients and customers. And those times when God specifically sends a client or customer you must learn from (whether the lesson is a difficult or easy one), you better learn the lesson OR you’ll be going through the “class” again! In reference to “settling a client or customer’s mindset,” I don’t do that anymore! I specialize in serving and NOT selling. I “prepare the table” and let the potential client or customer make their own decision. Whether they decide to work with me or not, they will have received so much value, it will be undeniable to the reasonably-minded individual. So, when it comes to a potential client or customer being unsettled, I take full responsibility for it! Whether it’s because I have not been clear in communicating the benefits of working with me, or I have not offered enough supplemental resources and tools to support them, or I have not properly qualified them as a “good fit” to work with me. Whatever the issue, it’s usually me (except for the times when it isn’t me and the potential client could never see the benefit or value of my offer because they want a “unicorn for the price of a donkey”)!😁
How does Testimony Publishers stand out from the competitor publisher?
A: Testimony Publishers, LLC. is in a special class of indie publishing companies. We were featured in “Business Insider” because of our success online and that is a long way from where we began online in 2018. This is significant concerning how we “stand out!” We stand out because we help our clients and customers “stand out!” The care that goes into going “deep within” to extract the beauty of your story that is already within you IS what makes us stand out! When you work with me and our team, you’ll receive the support you deserve and the outcome you desire (or we’ll work with you until you get what you’ve paid for). My signature writing strategy, “1500 Words In 15 Minutes Or Less,” has assisted so many individuals get the right book done (and apply the same strategy in other areas of their lives that require writing and publishing)! Also, my pre-selling strategies and launch formula require less work and more profitable results because I’ve streamlined the processes that go into writing and publishing books that sell! Finally, if you want to write quickly and effectively, I’m going to share a secret strategy with you. Use Microsoft’s “Dictation” tool OR Google Docs “Voice Typing” feature so you don’t actually have to “write” anything! Quick and easy strategies, like that, can be implemented with no hassle!
Related link: 14 Creative Ways to Sell Your Self-Published Book
How did you grow your customer base and following?
A: By now you know that I am a bit unorthodox! Instead of Facebook or Instagram Ads, I’ve grown a Facebook group to a little under 1500 members (at the time of this article). This is where I serve my potential clients and customers, along with interested individuals. This community gives me the chance to provide value in the market place and assist any-and-everyone who will accept my help. I can have conversations with my members and break through the noise and speak directly to them. We’ve also given away approximately $36,000.00 in the last year to our members to start, launch, and scale their businesses. This private community is free, so there’s no excuse for anyone who wants assistance with writing, publishing, and starting/launching/scaling a business. It’s imperative that you get the support you need when striving to accomplish your mission and achieve your goals. One of my clients was able to make more in one quarter working with me than she was able to the entire year before. That’s the beauty of working with me or with someone who has experience and expertise in what you want!
How do you balance social media marketing and the day to day administrative tasks of running a business?
A: I have an assistant! Most people online will NOT share with you the amount of time they spend on social media and their results are not satisfactory. At this time, I’m shadow-banned on Instagram, but I have monetized other social media platforms (like Facebook and Clubhouse). Digital Real Estate and digital content is more necessary now than ever before. More importantly, I’ve come to terms with accepting my strengths AND weaknesses. If something is not a strength, I invest in someone who knows more than me so I will not have to invest a lot of time in the task. This mindset shift is one of several biblical business principles I teach my clients that quantum leap their impact, influence, and income. This is also one of the most-beneficial mindset shifts I teach my clients to apply in their books and businesses to get them to their “NEXT BEST!”
Where do you envision Testimony Publishers in the near future and what steps are you taking to get there?
A: Testimony Publishers, LLC. is evolving! My husband and I saw a huge disparity in the online opportunities that share the truth about family empowerment, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. So, we hosted the R.I.S.E. VIRTUAL SUMMIT 2022, the premier online event for leaving a lasting legacy for yourself and your family. Attendees learned how to write a bestseller, how to start a trucking company, how to hire their dream team, how to protect their business, how to start a non-profit, how to monetize their social media profiles, how to monetize a Facebook group, and so much more. We decided to offer the virtual summit to assist individuals and their families who may not be in a position to work with me in my mastermind or other programs. Testimony Publishers, LLC. will continue to offer opportunities to work with me 1:1 or in a small group. We’ll also continue to do live events so ensure everyone who wants to work with us can. Finally, we’ll also maintain our Facebook Group for now to allow individuals access to me and my family as they press forward to achieve their mission and goals.
I know being in the publishing industry you have had/seen your fair share of prima donnasa’s {chuckle}: How do you protect your peace with clients; what boundaries do you set?
A: Jehovah Shalom, “God is peace!” I’ve found that most people don’t know what they want, but they have an idea about what they don’t want. I tell my clients all the time, If I can do it and it’s right for me to do it, I will. If I can’t do it, I’ll be honest with you. If I can do it, but don’t want to because it doesn’t make sense for you based on what I know (and have experienced), I’ll let you know that as well! One thing you can count on with me, and my clients will attest to this, I will help you get results and you’ll walk away with so much value that you will feel less like a prima donna (AND MORE LIKE A QUEEN)! I also take naps during the day when I get tired. This is extremely helpful for me to drop everything for a moment…reflect, relate, and restore!
What advice would you go back and tell your teenage self that you know now?
A: You are loved, Christina, and you will be more than OK!
What books would you recommend for entrepreneurs to read? Any books that inspire you?
A: The Bible (and not for what most believe). I recommend the Bible because it teaches financial principles (in addition to principles for living the life of your dreams)! Testimony Publishers, LLC. was birthed through hardship (and out of it came a “testimony”)! This is true for most individuals who want to help and serve others. My 4-book series assists readers through 4 steps to living your best life: Faith That Conquers, Filter Your Faith, Faith To Forgive, and Faith To F.O.C.U.S.: Focus On Conquering Until Successful. Authors like Florence Scovel Shinn, Norman Vincent Peale, Robert Kiyosaki, and Les Brown have books that are great to read.
What suggestions would you give to authors of color for building their customer base?
A: By now you know that I am a bit unorthodox! Instead of Facebook or Instagram Ads, I’ve grown a Facebook group to a little under 1500 members (at the time of this article). This is where I serve my potential clients and customers, along with interested individuals. This community gives me the chance to provide value in the market place and assist any-and-everyone who will accept my help. I can have conversations with my members and break through the noise to speak directly to them. We’ve also given away approximately $36,000.00 in the last year to our members to start, launch, and scale their businesses. This private community is free, so there’s no excuse for anyone who wants assistance with writing, publishing, and starting/launching/scaling a business.
Being a public speaker yourself, what tips would you give an introvert author who needs to show up and sell his/her book?
A: The introvert has a story, too…a testimony! It’s important that everyone knows (even the introvert) that your story is your fingerprint; it’s unique to you and no one has it but you! So if you’re reading this and you’re an introvert, now is the time to tell your story! If you need support doing that, join my private community – http://beyond6figures.com. One benefit of being a member of our community is that you are able to get support without having to be a part of the fully-open platforms that most social media outlets offer. My clients find our community beneficial when looking for more support, networking opportunities, and collaborations with other members. There are trainings available in our community that will assist you with going live and monetizing your livestreams. My team and I are also adding new trainings and resources all the time!
How have your priorities changed since becoming an entrepreneur?
A: My priorities have changed since becoming a mother! I’ve been an entrepreneur for most of my life so it seems natural to me. My lifestyle didn’t revolve around being an entrepreneur. However, as a mother, my life revolves around being a mother. It’s a beautiful experience and I wouldn’t change it!
Related article link: 12 Tips to Staying Motivated as an Online Entrepreneur
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5 Spotlight Questions!
What is your daily self-care routine?
Naps: I take naps when I’m tired.
Best advice you received…
Favorite thing to do when you have alone time…
Enjoy the quiet sound of silence.
What would you tell your eighteen-year-old self?
You are loved, Christina, and you will be more than OK!
What would be your natural talent if you weren’t doing this?
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Connect with Christina:
Website links: https://beacons.ai/christinamarciajohnson and http://beyond6figures.com
Social Media links: Facebook and LinkedIN