Check Out TJ Ojehomon’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to TJ Ojehomon.

TJ, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a licensed real estate professional and certified financial coach in Nashville. I moved to Nashville from Chattanooga, TN, to study at Lipscomb University. After graduating with a degree in Public Communication and Leadership, I looked up and realized that I didn’t have a job and only $135 to my name in a city where I had no roots or family support. However, I had made some connections at Lipscomb and was able to meet with a prominent faculty leader named John, to ask about job opportunities in the area. Thankfully, John had strong relationships with local professionals and made two phone calls on my behalf. One to the GM of Lexus of Nashville, and the other to a local bank. At Lexus, I could make a lot of money in commissions by doing sales. The catch is it would be long hours and the money would be inconsistent. But after listening to my late grandfather during a conversation we had, he told me that a stable check at the beginning of my career and learning about banking and finance would be more valuable to start. He was right. For several years, I worked in banking and finance. During that time, I learned everything from understanding credit reports and scores to federal banking guidelines, interest rates, what high earning professionals did, to mortgage lending, educational savings accounts, investment products, sales skills, and everything else in between. In banking, one of the most profitable products we could offer was mortgages. This began to trigger my interest in real estate and how the asset class was able to secure so much money and wealth for so many people. A few years later, I had a friend and mentor who had recently launched his own real estate company and management firm. He wanted me to take my skills and knowledge from the banking industry and bring it over to real estate. But the insight of finances I had learned certainly wouldn’t die. Today I work full-time for myself and I use all of those experiences to the benefit of my community and help build a better tomorrow for my family and others around me.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey to entrepreneurship, building a brand, and leaving an impact can certainly take a toll on the one who chooses to go through it. Taking a risk into something of that magnitude requires you to develop a strong character about yourself. But the only way you can do that is by intentionally going down roads less traveled and using methods that are contrary to the norm. You don’t always have fair circumstances and I wasn’t always treated the best in various spaces. I had moments where I wasn’t as good as the people I was around, nor qualified while still trying to accomplish the goal at hand. Plus, you have personal battles and external issues to wrestle with. It could be family problems, health scares, financial troubles, abnormal setbacks (like a COVID-19), and a plethora of other obstacles. There are times where I, MYSELF, was the issue. Sometimes when we deal with trauma or rough experiences, we just keep going and never take the time to heal or process. Which can cause us to not be our best selves in the long term. So we have to go through, recover, reflect, and then tell the testimony. But if I’ve learned anything, it’s not a matter of IF troubles are coming, it’s WHEN. It’s so important to have the right mindset and skills to navigate muddy waters and persevere through the worst of times. As a man of faith, I’ve tried my best to stay with God wherever I go and make sure that I never lose myself in the process.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I believe in purpose and ministry. We are called to do something with our lives that’s usually bigger than us as individuals. But it’s up to us to be in a position to hear what that is. If we were only put here to please and do for ourselves, how meaningless would that become? At 22 years old, I took a financial literacy class after it was promoted as a program in our church. At the time, it was revolutionary. Even more important, it forced me into learning more and really treat my banking and finance career as a classroom.

When I started to see the light, I noticed something pretty significant: Money is tied to EVERYTHING. But how amazing it is that most people don’t understand it? In fact, the bible even says this in Ecclesiastes 10:19: “…money is the answer for everything.” Ultimately, I discovered my ministry was being a teacher. I even call myself “The Nashville Teaching Realtor” and I do my best to live up to that name. But specifically, God told me to teach about financial literacy. Help people become better managers of the resources they’re given. Why? Because ultimately when we’re good stewards of what we have, we can be in a better position to give to those who don’t have. We don’t have to wait on the government of billionaires to do it. But the problem is, most of us usually don’t have it. And a life of constantly mismanaging resources and opportunities begins to add up into a poverty-stricken lifestyle. Don’t be fooled, people with a nice car and suit can be just as poor as someone growing up in public housing. I’ve coached those folks too.

So I use my career as a licensed realtor to connect people into owning land and the structures on it, a key part of building wealth. But I teach people to do it in a secure way. My conscience wouldn’t let me sleep if I was just throwing people in houses by any means. I also use my financial coaching skills to teach financial literacy to organizations such as churches and universities. I’ve developed several presentations around those topics that I’ve certainly seen change people’s perspectives and lifestyles for the better. I tell people often, “Leave breadcrumbs.” The reality is I’ll never know the total impact of all I do, but it’s a reward when I get to see a mentee thriving or drive by a home I sold and say, I had a part in that.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
During this journey, I’m very thankful to my wife, Shan, who’s been a phenomenal support system. We share two beautiful children, Efe and Malachi.

In 2016, I created a community program called Project Purpose (in partnership with Mt. Zion Baptist Church and The Cupcake Collection). The program featured high-level volunteer professionals and instructors who took the time to mentor and teach college students a curriculum around financial literacy, career readiness, and personal development. We ran the program for nearly 4 years and helped mentor over 200 students across the Middle TN area.

Pricing:

• Financial Coaching Sessions – $75
• Group Presentations – $500
• Home Buying Consultation – No Charge
• Listing Consultation – No Charge

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://tj.nashvilletopagents.com/ (www.tjojehomon.com launching later this year)
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenashvilleteachingrealtor/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NashvilleTeachingRealtor
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tj-ojehomon-realty-one-group-music-city-nashville-nashville?osq=tj+ojehomon
• Other: https://g.page/r/CenveYIcw4UtEAE