Today we’d like to introduce you to Corniesha Johnson
Hi Corniesha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In my experience the things that I loved as a child I still love as an adult. My love for dance started in childhood. As I got older I pushed my love for dance into the hobby category of adulthood. Although I tried to push dance to the side it never really went away. After I graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in Social Work I continued to get my Masters degree in Social Work (MSW). After a semester in the MSW program, I had to leave to put my health first. My blood pressure was up the roof because of stress. As time went on dance waited for me patiently and was prescribed to me by my doctor as a stress reliever. After going to countless salsa socials it was suggested to me that I become A Zumba instructor. I attended a Zumba step class and immediately knew that was not my expertise. I was determined to find a genre of Zumba I liked so I asked for the schedule to see if something else caught my eye. Big and bold the word DANCE stood out to me. It was like I heard the birds chirping with a harmonica when I saw the word dance. That next week I attended the dance portion of Zumba. After taking one class I was hooked. The vibe was positive and it was a great workout I didn’t feel like I was working out because I had fun. Three weeks later I became a certified Zumba Instructor.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
All I can do is smile when asked if there were any challenges. My first thought is por supresto (of course). Facing challenges is a part of life. I say challenges but honestly, they felt like storms and at times I was unsure if the rain would ever stop. Zumba was my rainbow after the storms. I have had to ask myself questions like “If money was not a factor what would you do for a living? Was it what I was doing? I also thought of the saying “If you do what you love you will never work a day in your life” The two go hand and hand. What I realized is that I was doing what I love and it was work. Lol. But it was work that I was willing to do. Creators create we throw things at the wall and if it sticks it’s art to us. It’s not a traditional way of thinking or doing things and it is not always deemed responsible or normal, but it works. I have had to find my footing multiple times. After you become a certified Zumba instructor everything is up to you. You are your brand. It was challenging because I had to work multiple jobs to make ends meet and they didn’t always meet. I became what felt like a starving artist. In my experience, people have always had something to say without any viable suggestions or solutions. The traditional way of thinking is suggested meanwhile you may not be a traditional thinker. You have to think outside of every box thrown at you. You have to bet on you. I didn’t know where to start so I started right where I was. I did what I do best and that was research. My research skills led me to my first Zumba teaching experience, in a Behavioral hospital over 4 years ago.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a certified Zumba and CIRCL Mobility instructor. I am also in the process of becoming a Stretching Flexibility Coach along with becoming a Mindset Coach. I am known for my passion for dance and for inspiring others through dance and fitness. What sets me apart is my background in social work, being bilingual, and being led to fitness through dance. I will always be more than what meets the eye.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Dreams can come true and quickly turn into a nightmare if you don’t have the finances to make your dreams come true. Passion and logic don’t always get along. People are going to tell you to keep your 9-5 while building a business. Some people are going to flat out tell you to give up(sad, but true) You are going to have to get quiet and create a plan. This is not the time for you to tell everyone what you are doing. This is the time for you to create/ develop a plan that is flexible, but attainable with a well-thought-out action plan. Side bar be mentally prepared for naysayers. The enthusiasm you have may not transfer into support from the people you expect it from. In other words, check on your expectations before and during your journey.
Here is the thing about entrepreneurship a lot of us did not learn how to be employers we learned how to be employees. Going into entrepreneurship is beyond a mindset shift. Throughout your life starting in grade school to adulthood you’ve been prepped to be an employee. In grade school, you wake up at a certain time to go to school( the equivalent of going to work. You have a break/ recess (the equivalent of lunchtime at work) Then you stay at school for 8-12 hrs in a classroom or at school (the equivalent of an 8-12 hr work day). We are trained into the workforce at a young age. In school your school teacher is the equivalent of your manager and the principal is the boss. So fast forward to adulthood and all of a sudden you are just supposed to know how to build a business? No! I think not! All of the coaches and books in the world don’t compare to you getting out there and doing what you are led to do. A lot of us do what the business is, but do not build the actual business. A lot of factors go into just going out and doing the darn thing. One you need the money not yesterday or tomorrow, but right now. Another factor is let’s be real it’s not always fun. Budgeting, paying business taxes, branding, social media, marketing, and being a brand is not always exciting. But to legitimize your business you will need to build the business if not you are hustling backwards.
It’s all a tough pill to swallow when you feel like you don’t have the time to build a business, but it is necessary. So if you had to hit the ground running and just put your business out there. Take a pause! Decide if you are an LLC, Sole Pre(sp), non-profit, etc, get an EIN, come up with a business plan, brand yourself, etc, and create. You have already done the footwork. Now it’s time to do the business portion. If the saying is build it and they will come is true then you are in the clear. You are already doing what is necessary to have a business now all you have to do is build the business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zumba.com/en-US/p/corniesha-johnson/1794182
- Instagram: thesavvynailchic
- Facebook: Corniesha Johnson
