Today we’d like to introduce you to Dorothy Johnson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
About two years ago I went through a really difficult breakup with my boyfriend of 6 and a 1/2 years. I had molded my life around his and had just moved back to his hometown in Florida with him after he had finished dental school. I was traveling back and forth to Chicago still for work and he broke up with me on the phone. I then moved into my 1 bedroom apartment in Chicago with the suitcase I had for that trip and when I flew back to Florida to get my things a month after the breakup he was already dating someone else. When I found that out, I left my things, packed up my clothes in my car and drove back to Chicago.
During that drive, I decided that I was not going to let this breakup break me. That was the moment where I decided I was going to make my life everything that I wanted. I was going to make my dreams into reality. Since I had built my life around my ex I was starting with literally a blank slate. I had never thought about what I wanted my life to look like. I had no idea where to start but it was the most magical canvas that I painted my dreams on and continue to do so. I took off like a bird who had been in a cage for years and was just released.
I began to travel to one new place a month, I got the apartment of my dreams, I got into the best shape of my life, started daily meditation and journaling, and the biggest of them all, I became a model. Something I had never thought I was unique enough to do. I had for so long held a belief that I was a basic blonde, that there wasn’t anything unique about me. Yes, I was pretty but only the REALLY skinny girls are models or the one with a prominent facial feature.
With the help and support of all my friends and family, I had my first photo shoot that forever changed my life. It was the most amazing accomplishment for me. Everything in my life escalated from there and I ultimately landed on Life Coaching. The dramatic amount of change that has happened in such a short time frame for me was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I shared it with the world and the world responded in a way that surprised me.
People reached out about traveling together, they said they were inspired and would ask questions. It then came to me that I wanted to help people do the same thing I did. I wanted to help women who had built a life with someone realize that if that ended, it is not the end of the road for them, they just have to change direction and that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It’s not a bad thing at all, it is actually the most magical, exhilarating, inspiring time of your life. You get to paint whatever picture on your beautiful canvas you want. And the best part, you get to live your dreams. You can turn your dreams into reality. So that was how my coaching business was built and it’s the most rewarding thing I do.
My clients mean the world to me and it’s so magical to help women come to their own actualizations in life and help them build their dreams into reality. My ultimate purpose in life is to question everything, shatter limiting beliefs, and make dreams into reality. I get to live that every single day and I’m unbelievably grateful for the opportunity to work with women to do the same in their lives.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I think everyone responds to this question the same. “No, of course, it hasn’t been a smooth road” but I think I approach this a bit differently.
I agree that there have been struggles along the way but truthfully the struggles in life are the ones that help us learn, grow and change. A friend/yoga instructor (Monica Trobagis) told me recently, the heat from within your mind that helps us change and morph mentally is just like the heat from within when holding a difficult posture in class, your muscles burn and it’s difficult but then you are a little bit stronger after.
So yes, grieving someone who was alive was one of the most difficult things I’ve had to overcome but I am so glad I experience that and am beyond grateful. However, when I look at my past I always recognize that my past is just an idea, a thought in my mind. And the way I interpret the past may be different from how someone else does.
Therefore, I only hold onto the stories from my past that serve me and let go of the stories that don’t.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Dorothy AB Johnson – what should we know?
I help women turn their dreams into reality, specifically, I work with women coming from recently ended long-term relationships. I help them question everything in their lives, shatter the limiting beliefs/stories they’ve been telling themselves and make their dreams a reality.
What sets my business apart from others in this area is that I don’t only help you recognize what those dreams may be and identify them but I also give you the necessary tools to actually build them out. We don’t focus on surface level issues we always dive deep and address the root of any problem (I’ll give you a clue, it has to do with your thoughts) rather than just address the symptom. This allows for long-term solutions rather than a quick fix. By the time I’m done working with my clients they are quite literally living their dreams. It’s so magical and amazing.
I’d have to say that I’m most proud of my clients. They are amazing and I’ve had so many wonderful success stories from leaving their 9 to 5 job so they can go meditate on top of mountains to money manifestation and building their own businesses. I’m so blessed to have the opportunity to work with women who truly just strive to live their life on purpose. So in love with them.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Oh man, this is such a hard question because there is no way I could list them all off. I think the first person who deserves credit is my ex-boyfriend. Ryan, I wouldn’t be here without you and I’m just so grateful for the time we had together and thank you for ending something that wasn’t serving either of us and knowing when we were out of alignment when I couldn’t see.
Secondly, my friends and family have just been so amazing. Mom, dad, my brother Wilson you guys are the most loving of them all and I appreciate you to the moon and back. Jill & Wes, thanks for literally ALWAYS being there for me. My new boyfriend Matthew who has stuck with me during the hard times and helping me unpack and let go of old baggage I totally by accident brought into our relationship. I love you. And for my beautiful, magical, friends who picked me up and have always supported me, Danika, Lexie, Brittnie, Christine, Jess, Shawn, Kristin, Meuh, Anna, both Kellys and many many more.
I have had so many mentors throughout the past two years but a special thanks goes to the one and only Brooke Castillo. Other mentors who have had a huge impact on my life and have helped me in numerous ways and deserve so much credit, Shannon Ihrke, Christine Lawther, Kristin Lohr, Charlene Ignites, Sarah Lopes. Thank you all for your time, patience, feedback, and love.
One last thank you to all the photographers I’ve worked with thus far! I’m so grateful for your talents and always helping me grow! <3
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dorothyabjohnson.com/about/
- Phone: 2183241774
- Email: dorothy@dorothyabjohnson.com
- Instagram: dorothyjohnson
- Other: https://www.dorothyabjohnson.com/home/2017/4/3/break-through-your-break-up
Image Credit:
Matthew McLaughlin, Sinan Erten, Jeremy Cheshareck, Svitlana Pimenov, Alec Rogers
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