Driven by her passion to help and inspire others, Kimberly began The Revolutionary Living Institute. Here, she takes her clients on a journey of self-empowerment and self-knowledge so that they can live a conscious, intentional life. Her interview inspires us to slow down and be present with our work and always walk our talk.
What inspired you to become a holistic entrepreneur?
As most kids dream of being teachers or fire fighters I, since I can remember, have told my mother that when I grow up I want to love people. My intention is to do just that love people and offer them any and all support they need on their amazing journey here to self love and loving their life!
Tell us about your business or practice.
My business is called The Revolutionary Living Institute and it definitely lives up to its name. I have a business partner who lives in Seattle, her name is Tessa Chittle and we are a stand for bold living and doing life and business differently. We deeply believe that the way we live our life is how we make the greatest difference and impact. We are advocates for Revolutionary, Bold Living, which to us simply means conscious, empowered living that is based on what you truly value and desire for yourself and your life. One is able to do that through self-empowerment and self-knowledge. Living this way allows one to go to sleep at night in peace and feeling fulfilled. Living is for the now. Life is now, not later. The Revolutionary Living Institute is a movement to Live Life and Doing Business Differently!
What is your current business model?
Tessa and I offer 1:1 coaching, group programs, and transformational retreats. We also are both writers and are about to start a podcast!
What has been one of your favorite moments as a business owner thus far?
Being present with people as they share their story, are vulnerable, and explore themselves and their lives! We all want to be heard and want to make some sort of impact here and we all need a support system and accountability to make that happen. I feel honored to be that support and partner to so many people who are ready to courageously take on their self-journeys and create the life of their dreams!
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in running your business or practice?
Taking care of others before myself is my personal one and then organizational skills and attention to detail are my more businessy ones.
How have you overcome those challenges?
Walk my talk. Walk my talk. Walk my talk. The more I do the work that I teach the more I feel grounded and inspired by what I am doing here. As far as the other things, slowing down and being present to what I am doing now.
How do you find new clients?
Word of mouth and living my Revolutionary Life. People are inspired by seeing people happy and fully living their life. They see something they want and then they ask how they can get it too. Also fully living my life and being present in each moment allows me to step into all the opportunities that present themselves. My life is how I impact and is my best tool for marketing.
What have you found to be most effective in securing new clients to sign up for your services?
Being authentic. Being true and honest. Walking my talk and letting them witness for themselves what it looks like to live an empowered, conscious life.
What do you do to keep your existing clients engaged in the long term?
Challenge them. Hear them. Honor them. Love them. And at times be the tough love, fire under their ass, and accountability partner they truly need.
As your own boss, what is your best strategy for staying focused and productive during your workday?
Doing more of what I love and hiring others to do things I don’t want to do. It is true it takes some up front cost but in the long run it brings a sustainability to the work. I don’t get burnt out. I feel inspired and love all the work I am doing. Also it gives me more time to do what I love and what comes naturally to me and I let someone else that is talented and passionate at the other aspects of my business do those things.
If you could start your business over again from the beginning, what would you do differently?
Give up my disempowering stories about money. Allow others to invest in themselves and give to me for the work that I do in the world. Money is just an energetic exchange. When we allow others to give to us we can authentically give back to them.
What were some of the first mistakes you made that you would tell a new holistic entrepreneur to avoid?
Trying to do it all yourself. We are not meant to do it all and do it all alone. We are meant to have community and a tribe to make the difference and do the things we want to do in the world. Invest in yourself and your business. Collaborate. Hire people to help you. It will be worth it 100%!
What are the top three business tools or resources you couldn’t live without?
Hmmm… Business tools: self care – taking care of myself is my biggest tool in business. Jigsawbox is an online coaching platform that has kept me organized. Lastly my Virtual Assistant or other coaches… other people in this industry who are my tribe or the other amazing humans that support us in this industry. These people have saved my life.
What has been your most effective method for growing your business?
Walking my talk. The more you are what you teach the more people are attracted to you and the more that you will feel inspired and love your work. When you love what you are doing people can tell and are a magnet to you.
In building your business, was there any specific mistake you made, “oops!” moment, or “I can’t believe I did that!” time that you look back and laugh at now?
Yes! Tessa and I as a kick off to our business hosted a 27 speaker telesummit. We had no idea what were doing. We just started sending out emails asking people if we could interview them. They almost all said yes. It was amazing and definitely an “I can’t believe we did that” moment.
What is your favorite indulgence?
Ohhh dancing or chips and salsa!! I also have an indulgence of loving to sit in either a bar or a café and drink liquids all day and write…it’s my inner poet!
Most exotic thing you’ve ever eaten?
Horse in Japan.
Most memorable place you’ve ever visited?
Arches National Park it was my first solo camping trip. I went out West for a few months but Arches was were I fell in love with myself and realized that I was okay on my own and that anyone else in my life was such a gift. Traveling alone has changed my life.
Last book you read?
Eckhart Tolle: A New Earth — it was my 8th time through the book. It is almost always the first book I recommend all my clients.
If you could only have one kind of food for the rest of your life, it would be…
Chips and Salsa or Broccoli
What is your go-to breakfast?
Greens and an egg mainly… but I love a good breakfast sandwich on a bagel with bacon and an egg smothered in cream cheese!
What do you find most fascinating about the human body?
That our body is sooo connected to our thoughts. Our thoughts produce visceral reactions in the body and that to me is fascinating.
What do you love most about being an entrepreneur?
Well I call myself a dirtbagpreneur because I get to run my business from anywhere in the world. I get to live a dirt bag lifestyle and still do my soul work. Win-win!!!
Kimberly Johnson is a Health Coach/Feng Shui Practitioner based out of Fayetteville, AK and Seattle, WA. You can find out more about Kimberly and her business, The Revolutionary Living Institute, by visiting www.revolutionarylivinginstitute.com
