We were lucky to catch up with Jessica Johnson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jessica, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I think my purpose, and possibly everyone’s purpose, is something that is always pulsating deep within us. It’s something many of people may ignore, possibly their entire lives, but still sits inside of us all like a little nudge, trying to get our attention.
I always knew my purpose was to help others, whether it was to inspire them to find the magic within them or physically help them. I was an art teacher for 13 years and really enjoyed helping people hone in on their talents while building their self-esteem.
Hidden San Diego has been an amazing platform for me. I’ve been told by many how it impacted their lives, whether it was to merely get outside and see what’s out there or even inspiring people to create their own unique brand.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My brands are Hidden San Diego and Hidden California. They were created in 2010 and 2012 as a means to inspire the masses to get outside and find all the hidden gems around them. I specifically wanted to create a platform for those that could not travel far and may not have a car. This is why everything is categorized by towns on Hidden San Diego and by cities & counties on Hidden California.
My brands have really morphed and shifted over the years as they grew. These days I put a far bigger emphasis on spotlighting unique businesses as I don’t really think promoting small trails and such are benefitting the trails if potentially hundreds of thousands of people are heading out to them.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
* Strengthen the main skills needed to grow your brand. In 2009 when Hidden San Diego was a bubbling idea, I bought a DSLR and took photoshop and photography classes to truly understand how to be a good photographer. These days our phones are such high quality and there are so many filters that can edit your photo with one click. 13 years ago when I started Hidden San Diego, this was not the case. I think learning how to take and edit a beautiful photo was really important to being taken seriously in my field.
* Eternal optimism. So I’m not *actually* an eternal optimist across the board, but with my brand I just keep hoofing forward no matter what. There have been so many ups and downs, setbacks and challenges. It can be stressful at times! But in the end, I always look at the love I have for this project and keep chipping away at it.
* The ability to bend and change with the times. I can be stubborn and definitely move forward with trends and necessary changes a little slower than most. I do understand the importance of being malleable though and eventually cave in.
If I were to have stuck with what was working for me 13 years ago into the present day, I would have been swallowed whole a long time ago. It can be really frustrating when you’ve mastered the formula only for the entire formula to change, but that’s part of the game!
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
I feel like I’ve had an entire life change this past year since having my baby. She is the greatest thing that’s happened to me but MAN is it hard to juggle a business while being a stay-at-home mom with no nanny. I am figuring it out though and learning how to work smarter, not harder. And you know what? It’s really paying off!
I am exhausted constantly these days but I know my blessings are rich and that each stage with my baby is merely a passing phase. One day she won’t want her mommy 24/7 and I am sure I will reflect on these memories and wish they were still around.
Contact Info:
- Website: hiddensandiego.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiddensandiego/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiddenSpotsOfSanDiego/