Ep 117: Joy Can Transcend with Que Johnson

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:00:00

You ever wonder what success actually means?

Theresa Lambert: 00:00:11

How do you get it?

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:00:12

And how do you keep it?

Theresa Lambert: 00:00:14

We all want it yet sometimes it feels only some of us get to have it.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:00:18

Hi, Theresa and Blair here we are to badass entrepreneurs, best selling authors, coaches and business mentors who have had success, built success, questioned our own success and reclaimed it. Let's be real for a hot minute. 2020 has been a roller coaster ride, and many of us a start to wonder if the loser things that made them successful. So we got curious, Ron real about what success is truly about?

Theresa Lambert: 00:00:45

Can you put it in a box?

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:00:47

How can you get it?

Theresa Lambert: 00:00:48

Can people take it away? Or are you the one with the power?

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:00:52

Does it mean the same to all of us? Or are we the ones that create it?

Theresa Lambert: 00:00:56

From PGA golf pros to doctors, CEOs, entrepreneurs and spiritual mentors. We get together to meet with successful people from around the globe to dissect success for vibrant conversations and interviews. Make sure you click the subscribe button on the app store because each week we will drop a new episode to bust through the myths around success and dissect its true meaning.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:01:22

Welcome back to another episode of dissecting success. It's me Blair Kaplan. Venables Theresa couldn't be here today. But that's okay. Because I have a new friend, my new business manager, Que Johnson here. And I'm so excited because I just met her while we were filming for my story in Nashville. Remember, I'm going to be on a TV show where she's going to be on that show too. And I met her and it's funny because I met her and we accidentally met because we were like, kind of in the background of someone's photoshoot. And then later on, there was a reception and we sat down and I know I just met you cute, but I was like, holy shit. I feel like I've known you forever and we just hit it off. So who is cute she was born and raised on the south side of Chicago in the historical Englewood neighborhood. Que Johnson quickly learned the importance of hard work and properly using your voice at the age of 16. She attributes lending her first retail management and management training for 20 years and managing over 400 million in retail sales to her success. She is so phenomenal. She had a show called the purple girl show on BlogTalk radio. And she born that born that she bought it, she burst it in her bedroom, just for the cell phone and a computer. And I love that because she had over 150,000 listeners. And what I love about that it shows that you can literally use your phone and start this huge empire you don't need to have all the technology and everything you need. You just need to have your voice and your passion. You know from there, she landed some really cool experiences like, you know, doing commentary on TMZ, which I love TMZ you know, she did some media coverage with BT Hip Hop Awards. She's just absolutely phenomenal. But right now she is the founder of five to nine management which is a lifestyle branding and brand management company. And she helps brands across the world tap into their core values by being recognized and trusted by their target market while standing up for the competition. When I read this last little thing I'm going to share with you my jaw dropped because I had no idea because she's so humble. But she's been featured in over 200 national publications 200 That's a lot Que Oh my gosh, Huffington Post New York weekly Business Insider Yahoo Fox and so much more. She speaks has an Amazon Best Selling Author authored book and she's here with you and me today. Hello, Que.

Que Johnson: 00:03:41

Hello. I was waiting for drumroll. Hi Blair. You say something you are like amazeballs? Like you are so dope. I felt like we known each other for 12 million years. We even did you guys just let me share this before we go like totally into it. We even had like a mini spa time in Blair's hotel room like we just like oh my god we need I've had just retired we needed to get the puffiness from under our eyes. And we sat there and we talk like it felt so college and you are so amazing and resilient. Oh, and so authentic. I just need every body across the country, across every continent, across the globe to hear your story and know who you are because you deserve to be heard. And I'm just so proud of you. And thank you for having me today.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:04:38

Thank you and you know what Que This is about you because when you shared your story with me I just wow. So like before we dive into you and your story I just want to know you know what does success mean to you?

Que Johnson: 00:04:51

Whose Success to me is peace and joy. That's what success is to me. I want happiness because I feel like happiness is temporary Like when we can be happy in the moment, but joy can transcend joy can be a part of you every day. Success is what you make it so whatever I'm filling in a specific accomplishment or an accolade or just just waking up every day that is success to me. I don't put a monetary value on success.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:05:20

Buck. Yeah, yeah, so waking up every day. This is where you told me your story. Yeah, yeah, let's dive into your story a little bit about like, your upbringing and Inglewood. Like I've never been there like, I live like very far from you in a different country, but like I know of Inglewood. Yeah, she was like, you know, Hollywood. The news?

Que Johnson: 00:05:42

Well, yeah, well, Inglewood is the total opposite of Hollywood. Hollywood is the California Inglewood isn't there isn't Inglewood, California, but working with Chicago, Illinois, which is one of the most prominent communities actually in, in Chicago, and at one point was deemed the murder capital of the United States. At one point. Chicago even got the nickname Shai rack due to the gun violence at one point, which is really really sad. The interesting part about Inglewood is it's so community, but it's the most separated. Well put together community in the world. And let me explain. Yes, we have the gang violence. Yes, we have the drug issues and things like that that happened within that community. But it was at a point when I was growing up, we all stuck together, community stuck together. And as the as divisive as that sounds, it was like we will come together. But there was field trials and tribulations. And for me in my household was growing up with two drug addicted parents. My mom was on drugs. And my dad was actually an alcoholic, and a drug addict. So it was like a struggle. My father was actually a functioning addict. He was one who went to work every day. But his problem drained his pockets and actually ended his life at the age of 47. My mom did drugs all the way up until maybe like my early 20s. So from from my early 20s, up until when she passed two years ago, my mom was like 22 years clean. And when I talk about resilience, and when you say that Lear that was that was my mom, when she stopped doing drugs, she stopped cold turkey. No rehab, no therapy, and never ever backs. We're not once in that recovered. Wow. That's to me. That's a great example of resilience. So you know, I grew up I grew up feeling lost alone, lonely. And I had a lot of people putting terrible workhorses on me, like, I'm not going to be shit when I grow up, you know, you got to be just like your parents, you got to have household babies, like all of those things. And I just really hope they're eating those words, right, man, I'd really like to know how it tastes they

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:08:07

are they're eating those words. Because, like, you're still waking up every day, which is success. Right? And you think thank you for sharing that. And you know, you also share that like you had a brother.

Que Johnson: 00:08:19

Yes.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:08:21

What happened there?

Que Johnson: 00:08:22

So my brother, my, my, my little brother, he was actually two years younger than me. Now, let me let me make it clear for the world. Now, although we were we were technically first cousins. But due to the situation of my parents, we grew up in the same household. So that was my brother. My little brother was murdered. Like eight months before my mother passed,

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:08:48

so I didn't realize it was so soon. I thought it was a long time ago

Que Johnson: 00:08:51

no, no, no, no, he was he was murdered in April of 2020. And my mother actually went on a ventilator December of 2020. So 2020 was, was like throw the whole year away. He was murdered in in Harvey, Illinois, here in a suburb of Illinois. 30 bullets to the body. And now I'm on a $30 million dollar run because I'm on a million dollars, but every bullet that entered his body. That's my goal

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:09:17

what are you gonna do with that? $30 million.

Que Johnson: 00:09:21

We're definitely going to create a center community, a village prayerfully for families that have been affected by gun violence and helping them become resilient.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:09:38

Yeah, I love that. I'm so sorry. Oh, my God, I can't even imagine that. Like, I didn't realize it was so close together. Yeah. You know, losing your mom. That's its own separate fresh house, especially in COVID. And I'm so sorry. You went through all that. And while you were going through all this while in a pandemic, you were running a business.

Que Johnson: 00:09:57

Yeah, it was crazy because Those mom went on a ventilator December 6, and then in Not to mention, tragedy on top of tragedy because my mother resided in Orlando, Florida. So it's a back and forth thing. And, you know, just trying to nurse her back to health. But everyday just watching her decline like that, I think it was, it was more mentally draining than actually hearing that she transition. Because watching somebody that kind of like that, and seeing their body morphing to different changes and the swelling and you know, the flipping her back and forth trying to get her strong enough to train her. It was it was so mentally mentally draining. And then when she transitioned getting her flown back to Chicago, and, you know, following her final wishes, and you know, she's very directly next to her mother and my grandmother, which was wonderful wishes, so they're literally right next to each other. And in the midst of that still running a business because time stops for nobody. Yes, clients were empathetic, and sympathetic to what was going on. But business still had to run. And that right there showed me a different different value of who I am like you could get through something, you're fighting for your life. Mentally, while your mother is fighting for her life, while still upholding multiple clients. It was it was the most disrespectful thing ever.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:11:28

It's really It's rude. I get it, I was there to like, my mum suddenly died, like learn she had cancer and then died three weeks later. And I run a business and I don't have like anyone to fart like, I don't have any employees. And like, I don't know what you guys have. In the US though. Sometimes when you have a job, you get bereavement leave, you get time off to like, mourn the loss. There was no bereavement leave,

Que Johnson: 00:11:46

know that when you're your own boss, and you are running the business. That is actually you should teach a class on that layer, because that's a whole separate set of resilience.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:12:00

What breathing,

Que Johnson: 00:12:02

deep breathing and depending on your own as entrepreneur entreprenuer Yeah. On the mental capacity that you have to try to uphold to save yourself.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:12:14

Yeah. And you're in survival mode. Like I go into this like survival mode. I definitely dropped the ball and some clients, some were empathetic, some were not so the ones I was like, by me, and then, you know, like, then some were just patient with me because they knew my situation. And they know I'm good at my job. Just something that will take less time now took me a bit more time because, you know, in between waves of crying my face off, I was productive. And I'm sure like, like, man,

Que Johnson: 00:12:43

I was telling people my people will say cute, how are you? And I'm just saying I'm crying and grinding. I was only explanation. I am crying and grinding because I can't stop.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:12:51

Yeah, like people just ask me how I'm like terrible. Do you think I have like, I don't know. Okay, so like, Thank you for sharing all that. So five to nine management. Okay, wait one more thing before we dive into that. One of the things that really stood out when I met you is that you said to me I am not the statistic

Que Johnson: 00:13:12

I am not what does that mean? I am not I will not let anybody any human being on this planet. define who I am. I am not what I went through. I am not a product of my environment in the way that society deems it I am a product of my environment of what can come from it. Pushing forward and moving forward and finding your way out being resourceful growing myself money who I am internally and externally loving myself. So no, you can't define me as a statistic or you can't define who I am. I am not that I am Que Johnson. And that's who I am and always will be until my dying day.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:13:57

Mic drop. Oh my gosh, I love this this one word creational let's talk about five to nine management like what talk about what what is it because I signed on with you and I'm like, I got a booking manager I have someone you know, I have a manager difference like what's that mean? And like, I have someone helping me grow my business get me booked on stages like getting me paid. Like you can't do it all on your own. i My business is 15 I just started bringing on people to help me vas OBS. I mean, I've always had graphic designers, but like, you can't grow without growing your team and I was looking for the right person and I didn't even go to her website when I was like I just want to work with you like let's make some shit happen. But I was like let's dive into what five Can I management is for everyone and like what what is it that you do and why do people need someone like you?

Que Johnson: 00:14:47

Yeah, for sure for sure. So I'm gonna tie in two stories into that because 529 management was birthed from my original brand which is the purple Groeschel brand. So that horse was an internet radio station that I started in my bedroom with a cell phone and computer, as you said earlier, and I grew myself to over 30,000 listeners that first year at the time, just only we were only on using Twitter platform at that time. And we were interviewing anybody and everybody you can think of from pillars in the community, elected officials, artists, entertainers, reality stars, NBA players, their mothers, everybody, we were interviewing everyone.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:15:28

Sorry, NBA players mothers. Yes, there was

Que Johnson: 00:15:31

Dwight Howard's mom, Mr. Cheryl Howard. She is amazing. I even I even stayed with them for a week, during the duration of one of their basketball camps assisting with their basketball camps in Atlanta in their home with Mr. And Mrs. Our, the White House parents, it was so crazy like, and I just thought about that I forget about a lot of stuff that I've done in the past. So with that being said, and brought hosting gigs, of course, I was speaking on panels, interviewing at the top top events in the city of Chicago. And people were always asking me, you know, cute, like, how are you doing this? In it? Because in 2015, I came on board with an internet radio station, a physical station, and I only was already a personality. I became the communications director as well. It was so weird. Don't ask me how I was doing both jobs. So people will say Q How are you doing? Holidays? You your marketing and branding and getting noticed and getting seen? And a lot of people have questions. So I was like, hold up. Two questions is a conversation three is a consultation, I need to start a business. So that telephone cleaner management was born.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:16:41

That's the I need to hear that. What did you write and he was muted. I couldn't find the unmute button. I got excited. What was that? Two? Two? Is it what did you

Que Johnson: 00:16:48

just say? questions? Is the conversation three is a consultation. Oh my God,

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:16:52

I need to write that. I'm writing that down too. Yeah, I love that.

Que Johnson: 00:16:58

Yeah. So that's how 529 management was born. So it was born because of all the questions that I was getting from people. And I realized that a lot of people were getting false information from from so called gurus and experts who were charging like 1000s of dollars to tell them surface bullshit. What couldn't even get to the root of the problem to even help them develop a brand from the ground up. And you know, in the end, people were tapping into certain areas of entrepreneurship that they weren't ready for. You skipped five or six steps. How did you even get here when you haven't even built the foundation. So it just came from a lot of people not knowing that I felt like I have so much valuable information I need to help aspiring, seasoned and veteran entrepreneurs. So we initially started with full service branding, while we were doing the full brand development from the for graphic and web design, actually creating all the messaging communication, the actual facts for mood boards, we were doing everything, everything and then we introduce for seasoned veteran entrepreneurs who are already there but needed to go to the next level. We started doing media placement, whether that's digital or print publications, TV segments, digital billboards, full podcast production, ghostwriting for a lot of these high end six or seven figure earners who do not have time to go stright, their ebooks, content creation. So we were like doing it all branding master classes, and then I'm speaking everywhere. So that's 529 management in a nutshell.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:18:36

Oh my gosh, I love it. Yeah, you do like everything?

Que Johnson: 00:18:41

Yes, yes, yes, every everything. But coming into 2023, we eliminated multiple services because we wanted to be effective with the, with the clients that we work with. And we didn't no longer want to spread ourselves thin. So we took a step back and we analyze the services as a whole, and where we are getting the most results. So that kind of wiped out some things for the startups and aspiring entrepreneurs. Because in order for us to take people to the next level, we have to work with people who are already ready to go to the next level. So to not like leave them out the startup sitting aspiring entrepreneurs. We do have classes and seminars and conferences and things like that to cater to them. But we just can't work with them one on one, like we've worked with you Blair. Yeah, yeah,

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:19:30

that's fair. Like, you know, I'm only I'm 15 years into the business. Like there's an investment there's, you know, I believe there's three types of currency, currency of time, currency of energy, currency of money. Yeah, you're using one of those, right? And in the beginning, it's, you know, energy and time, but like, once you make the money, you can exchange it and, you know, I think I think what you're doing is so important, because, you know, entrepreneurs try to do it all themselves, especially when it's like a service base like me or you. Yeah, and I Um, you know, I, you have like, you have the credibility and the clout like, you know, you started the purple ghost girl show and like, had very prolific guests and, you know, companies like the TMZ. Like, how did that happen? How did they reach out to you,

Que Johnson: 00:20:15

though it was crazy. I think I made a comment or something on Twitter, I said something, I actually I gave them a compliment. And it was funny because TMZ never gets a compliment, because I thought one of their headlines at the time was so freaking hilarious. And I think it started with the tweet. And then that's when I got an inbox. And then it just, it went from there,

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:20:39

I love it, do you still do that?

Que Johnson: 00:20:42

I haven't in a while, I actually took a backseat because birth in fact, 29 management put me in the backseat to put my clients in the forefront. So my goal and focus is to to push my clients and make sure that we're executing to get the results that they need. But this year, people will see more of q in the forefront.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:21:06

So I love it. Welcome back here. Okay, so what do you like? You've had like, quite the journey. Like, what's one of the lessons you've learned a really hard way? Like, what's the lesson you learned the hard way?

Que Johnson: 00:21:19

Um, one of the lessons that I learned the hard way was, and I just recently that's funny that she asked me a question, because I was just asked this question and the feature, obviously, and roll it out. Um, one of the one of the, the hard things for me, that I learned too late, was not investing in my intellectual property property earlier on. That was one of the worst things that I could have done. And I, I suggest this to every entrepreneur, get you a coach or a mentor, it saves you 1000s of dollars down the line. And it can help you scale your business so much faster. We cannot go into entrepreneurship, or business just thinking that we know it all. And let as you say it, we you can be the CEO, the CEO, the receptionist, the assistant, the grad, you can't it's just not going to work and making that investment later on. I wish I would have did it in the beginning because I would have saved myself 1000s of dollars and hours. Yes. And mental capacity.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:22:23

Yeah, I wish I would

Que Johnson: 00:22:25

have saved a lot of money not buying all that tequila, okay.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:22:30

Yeah, you know, I wish like I was 23 When my business started, I didn't even really understand coaches and mentors. And that's why like, when I do mentor and coach, it's because I learned a lot of shit the hard way. So like, my clients don't have to Yeah, you know, that's actually really good advice. Like I, I did a lot of figuring it out. But like, you don't have to figure it out.

Que Johnson: 00:22:52

You do not know, you do that. And I'm over figuring it out on a phone call. I understand my weaknesses and my strengths. And for those weaknesses, I leave it to the experts and just show me and tell me what to do.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:23:05

Yeah, no, definitely. Right. So what like, what are some of your goals for this year? Like 2023? Like, what are some big things that you're working towards? With five to nine or personally?

Que Johnson: 00:23:16

Well, I got a list. So first and foremost is to attract more clients as yourself. I love the I love the clients who come already packaged. That's that's the fun part for us. Because during that pitch, I get to swag out and talk shit. Because, you know, my client has a proven track record. How can you tell her? No, how did you tell him now like, what are we talking about here, and I love negotiating. So that's going to be the fun part for me. So definitely attracting more top tier clients, more corporate clients as well. And four or five to me and I management for the brand of the business. And then the my goals for me this year for the personal brand focusing on to Johnson, the brand surgeon is actually more teaching more speaking, getting more involved. I want to get down and dirty with people and things to actually bring out the best and now I want to be known for for understanding the temperature of where we are right now. And it's climbing up the world with business owners and entrepreneurs and helping them achieve those things that they need to achieve. And then of course, like when we're gonna be on TV, like you got to do of course, like share my story with the world on amazon prime. So yeah, and being an also personally for me as well. I want to take this time to be a better mother. So I'm working on a lot of things internally. I want to be a better friend. I want to be a better sister. Um, yeah, all of those things.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:24:54

Yeah. And you know what you will like it's it's interesting like because you You just said your mom passed away two years ago, right? Yeah. Same with me. What was the date your mom passed?

Que Johnson: 00:25:07

January 28 2021.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:25:10

My mom was and like February 23 2020. Wow. Like, and I like and then my dad, like a year later. So it's been just over a year since my dad passed and two years since my mom and now I'm feeling like I can fully function. Like, it's hard to. It's hard to be out of survival mode. Like even, you know, like, I feel like my sister and I are just finally like, my sister helps with the global Resilience Project Atlanta. Yeah, we're just able to like, elevate that now. Because when you're in such deep grief and mourning, a loss is so hard. And so like the goals you've set for yourself coming out of such a heavy period. Yeah, epic. And the fact that you went from like, grieving your brother, and your mom to like getting on Amazon Prime and up leveling your business and like stepping up to be a better mom better sister better friends. Yes, that's huge. Because that shows, you know that you have bounced forward, you know, resilience is bouncing forward, and that you're now in this new level of life.

Que Johnson: 00:26:12

Yeah. Yeah. And it feels good. And it feels good when you can. I mean, isn't. For me, it's like the whole Michael Jackson song, I'm starting with the man in the mirror, you know, own up to your bullshit. own up to it own up to the role that you play in your school to read and make it right, make it better with the people who you believe are valuable to you, and those relationships that are worth having and not losing. And what people don't understand is, if you don't do self improvement, personally, it affects the professional, it affects you professionally, and it can spill over into your business because that happened to me before as well. So I'm not saying it to tell somebody what to do. I'm speaking from experience. Yeah, no, definitely. Yeah. From pure experience. Yeah. And I'm just excited to be in this space. Of, of me.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:27:10

The space of Que

Que Johnson: 00:27:12

knew Yeah. The space of me. Que and? Yeah.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:27:18

If people want to get into your space, how can they find you? Yes,

Que Johnson: 00:27:21

yes, yes, yes, you can definitely you can definitely get in our space, you can go to our website, which is five to nine the numbers, not the spelling 529 management.com. You can find us on Instagram as well at five to nine manners, management, and then you can find me on Instagram at I am Que Johnson q u e johnson.com.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:27:42

Amazing. Okay, so who? Yeah, advice do you have for those entrepreneurs, business owners who are on their path to success?

Que Johnson: 00:27:52

Don't let your dreams die in the most fertile place in the world? The cemetery? Yeah, there are too many people that are in their final resting places with multimillion dollar ideas, innovative breakthroughs and regrets. I want everybody to live the life they deserve and desire.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:28:13

Yes. That is such important advice. Don't enlighten you know. It's funny because I'm doing all these things. Like I'm traveling a lot. I'm investing in my myself. My Yeah, you know, I'm donating and I have people in the financial industry, like Blair puts like, hay away for the rain when it rains or bullshit. I'm like, let me be a die with all my money. Like, I have cool things I want to work on and do now. While I'm alive. Like, what am I sitting around and waiting for?

Que Johnson: 00:28:42

Yes, I just want I want I want to have joy and peace. That's my level of success. joy and peace, joy and peace. Yes.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:28:51

joy and peace. Whew, you're amazing. Hey, so

Que Johnson: 00:28:56

And so are you!

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:28:57

I love it. Oh, my gosh. Well, I appreciate you coming on dissecting success. This was such a treat. And thank you for everyone to turned in. Turned up tuned in tuned our laws. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Whoever did all the things you know, I hope you're I hope you're pulling over and like, pausing and going to the show notes and reading more about Que and clicking on her links. She's a joy to like, you know, it feels like I've known you forever. It's only been

Que Johnson: 00:29:24

a week or two. I know, right? It's so crazy. I know. I love it. contract signed and boom. Yeah, it's so crazy.

Blair Kaplan Venables: 00:29:32

We had a business meeting in my hotel room. One night it was one night it was a spa the next night it was an office. He was so good. So I guess follow her journey. Follow my journey. I'm gonna see what she can do for me. And if you want her to do that for you, you know, definitely reach out. And thank you to everyone who spent some time with us. Let us into your ears, your eyes, your heart your day and with out further ado, thank you my friends.

Que Johnson: 00:30:02

Thank you

Theresa Lambert: 00:30:03

that's a wrap for another episode of dissecting success. enjoyed this episode. Make sure to subscribe to Blair Kaplan Venables and Theresa Lambert's podcast dissecting success