Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Katy Johnson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Katy , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Resilience is something that deeply resonates with me, as my life has been marked by numerous challenges. I endured a difficult childhood and adolescence, and my journey into adulthood was punctuated by two major traumatic events. It all began with the tragic loss of my ex of four years to suicide in my twenties, followed by a divorce that took a significant toll on me in every aspect of my life. Even as recently as two years ago, I experienced the heartbreaking loss of my closest friend to cancer.
Despite these tragic events, I have found the strength to persevere, thanks in large part to my unwavering faith in God. There were moments when I felt utterly alone, falling to my knees in prayer. I firmly believe that with each new hardship, we gain greater resilience. It doesn’t mean that the pain of subsequent blows is diminished, but rather, it fortifies our resolve and equips us to face challenges with greater resilience.
These life-altering hardships have shaped my perspective, leading me to the realization that, in truth, life cannot throw much at me that I haven’t already faced. I’ve learned that I can and will endure, emerging from adversity intact. Life is a series of ebbs and flows, and the struggles we encounter are essential in our pursuit of the brighter aspects of life. I don’t believe that our lives are solely about perpetual happiness; rather, it is a journey of love, resilience, learning, and personal evolution—a process that prepares us for the next phase of our spiritual journey. Resilience is the essential quality that we must cultivate to overcome life’s hardships and continue moving forward.
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?
I’m Katy Johnson, and I’m from a quiet Iowa town with limited opportunities. Born into a middle-class family, I lacked the means to travel on extravagant vacations. While content with my everyday life, a burning desire to explore the world simmered within me. It wasn’t until I turned 18 that I witnessed the ocean for the first time and set foot on an airplane. Crazy I know.
My parents, content with their routine lives, contrasted sharply with my longing for more. At 19, I made a life-altering decision to leave college and move to Los Angeles. There, I fully embraced a career in modeling. Subsequently, fate led me to participate in a TV show filmed in Cape Town, which marked the beginning of my globe-trotting adventures. I ventured from Scotland to France and eventually back to LA, all while sharing my life with a significant other I had met and fallen in love with.
These travels ignited an obsession with exploring the world, leading me to combine my passion for travel with my dedication to self-love and female empowerment. I was desperate to understand and empower women from diverse backgrounds, sharing their stories with the world and giving them a voice. Thus, “One Model Mission” was born. To support this project, I initiated a travel blog to reduce production costs, leveraging my writing skills and modest photography expertise to collaborate with top hotel and hospitality groups globally. This journey not only highlighted the unique beauty of women worldwide but also showcased stunning locations and properties.
I’ve been incredibly blessed, and I cherish the resourcefulness that has guided my path. God has granted me countless opportunities in return for my hard work and unwavering belief in my dreams. I firmly believe that one can achieve anything through determination and effort and almost delusional self belief.
Currently, I’m working on relaunching my blog and seeking potential financing to enhance the production quality of “One Model Mission.” My ultimate vision is to have it featured on a major network, and I dream of seeing it on Netflix as a documentary, with hopes of winning an Emmy. Though this journey may take time, and seem extremely ambitious, I have full faith in its realization.
Additionally, I’ve recently ventured into the world of luxury real estate in Los Angeles, joining The Oppenheim Group, a well known brokerage. This transition has been fulfilling, allowing me to collaborate with close friends and have even helped my broker and mentor on a sale within my first few months.
My career is on an upward trajectory, and while I’m not yet at my ultimate goal, I embrace the journey as the true essence of life. My successes are a testament to my unwavering faith in God, my resilience, and my resourcefulness. As a childhood underdog, I am determined to prove that one can overcome challenges and achieve success and happiness, regardless of their upbringing.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I would identify the top three qualities as follows:
Self-Belief: Believing in yourself is paramount; it’s the foundation of success. This conviction should be unwavering, almost to the point of being delusional. Visualization techniques, such as creating a vision board, can help in fostering self-belief. Consistently reminding yourself of your goals and purpose is crucial. Personally, I keep my vision board in my shower as a daily reminder.
Resilience and Adaptability: The ability to bounce back from failures, rejections, and setbacks is essential. These experiences are inevitable on the path to change and growth. Over time, they become less personal, and you learn to view them as opportunities for improvement. Eventually, someone will recognize your determination, hunger, and self-belief and take a chance on you. As much as I get sad about rejection, I believe in “the plan”, and put my utmost trust in God and the purpose.
Strategic Work Ethic: Working smart, not just hard, is vital. Building authentic relationships within your industry, where you can learn, trade skills, and potentially collaborate or find a mentor, is crucial. Networking is a significant contributor to success. The saying “It’s not what you know, but who you know” holds some truth, but it’s essential to have a solid foundation of knowledge and skills that will make those you know confident in supporting your goals or working with you.
Furthermore, connecting with like-minded individuals is invaluable. Surrounding yourself with people who inspire you and challenge your thinking is key. If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. Stay curious, keep learning from those around you, and expand your network as much as possible, across various facets of life.
To succeed, strive to be knowledgeable, skilled, ambitious, a good listener, and an effective communicator. Traveling can broaden your horizons, and cultivating connections with diverse individuals can provide valuable perspectives. Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of reading and prayer in your journey towards success.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I’m continuously seeking people in the travel industry interested in connecting, traveling together, sharing stories, providing advice, or collaborating on guest blog posts or interviews for my newly launched travel blog. If you fit this description, please feel free to reach out to me on Instagram or via email. I’m a strong advocate for collaboration and partnerships, and I’m open to exploring various travel opportunities and projects related to women’s empowerment. Your input and involvement are highly valued!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.onemodelmission.com relaunching 1/1/24 www.iamkatyjohnson.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/iamkatyjohnson
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/officialkatyjohnson
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/katyjohnson1
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/onemodelmission
Image Credits
Headshots by Deon Casey Photography Red Carpet by Chad Cedric Salvador
