We had the good fortune of connecting with Laketia Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Laketia, what’s the most important lesson your business/career has taught you?
The biggest lesson I have learned in the five years of owning my own business is do it your way! Getting advice from friends, family, and mentors is great but at the end of the day, this is your business. If you are trying to do what other people are doing it could come off as disingenuous. You have to be true to yourself and your vision in order for it to work out. Running a business is probably one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it was harder when I spent more time listening to people in the background versus listening to myself and following my gut! I also spent more money doing things other people recommended. People say you can’t make money if you don’t spend money, but I do not think that is 100% true. If you are spending money on things that do not resonate with you, your brand, or your business then you are just spending money that is not going to make you money.
What should our readers know about your business?
I came to Colorado with big dreams of opening a fancy chiropractic office where my patients could feel like they were stepping into my home when they came to my office. Little did I know, that was not the plan that the Universe had for me! As I was doing nothing one day, a friend of mine asked if I would come to her job and check out her boss because she was in a lot of pain. So, I went, did an exam, adjusted her, and as I was putting my table back in my car it hit me…instead of having people go to me I should just go to them. I knew nothing about running a business and I knew less about how to start and market a mobile business. It was hard but I got out there and started talking to people and letting them know that I was here. I am very passionate about soldiers and first responders. My dad did 22 years in the military and I always feel the need to give back. So, one weekend I went as far as baking 250 cookies, boxing them up, and my mom and I visited all 22 fire stations in Colorado Springs handing out cookies and letting them know that I was here for them!
I thought my business was just going to skyrocket when I put myself out there but that was not the case, and in the middle of it all my very expensive table that I ordered before I graduated showed up at my front door and I thought well what am I going to do now? So, I put it in the front room of my house and decided that I would have two aspects of my business. I would be mobile and I would have a home office. What’s ironic is that my dream was always to make my patients feel like they walked into my home when they came to my office and here I was setting up an actual home office. It is funny how the Universe works. I got exactly what I asked for, just not in the way I imagined it. Running a business is hard and you have your ups and downs, but I would not trade my life for the world. I am doing what I absolutely love and my life is filled with patients that make my heart happy. Am I a millionaire? No, but I am doing things my way and I would not have it any other way.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Places to visit/hang out: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Garden of the Gods, Red Rocks, Pike’s Peak, Boulder, Rocky Mountain National Forest, and my backyard – sitting around my firepit under the stars making s’mores!
Places to eat: Javalato, Makenzie’s, Peppertree, and The Saucy Noodle
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It sounds a little cliche, but my mom has been my biggest cheerleader! When I finished undergrad she moved across the country with me so I could go to chiropractic school and then again when I graduated. When things were hard and I did not think I was going to make it, she always gave me the rest of the day to have a pity party and then told me that the next day I needed to do better. I needed to figure it out. If this is what I wanted then it was not going to be easy, but if this is not what I wanted to do with my life that was fine but I still needed a new plan. My mom was my guinea pig in chiropractic school and I know there were times when she was definitely nervous (especially when I started adjusting), but she had faith that I was going to be great and she put her body on the line to help me get there. I would not be here today without her love, compassion, and faith that she had in me.
Website: www.42klickchiro.com
Instagram: @42klickschiro
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laketia-johnson-dc-9ba48b125/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/42Klicks
Image Credits
Avery Lynn Photography