Hidden Gems: Meet Tarleshia Johnson of TJ Digital Marketing Services

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tarleshia Johnson. 

Hi Tarleshia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

My pleasure. Prior to me having children, I went to Draughons Junior College which is now/ Daymar Institute to pursue E-commerce Engineering, which later changed to IWD (Internet Web Development). When I walked across the stage to receive my Associate’s Degree, I was pregnant with my first child. At the time, I was working a minimum wage clerical position and a paid commission-based web design position, for a small firm where I didn’t know a thing about obtaining new clients. I believe that the owner felt so bad that he just allowed me to train clients and get paid an hourly rate.

In 2008, our daughter was born. My husband and I decided that quitting my minimum wage and commission-based job and staying home to raise our daughter was the best option for us at that time. Childcare was so expensive. We decided that I could do this until she was potty trained which then the weekly cost would be more affordable. So I did just that. Soon after our daughter became potty trained we found out that I was pregnant again!! We were happy but, I felt like my life was pretty much on hold, and I was gradually becoming the old lady that lived in a shoe. But, don’t get me wrong, I was super grateful to be at home with our babies. At the same time, my $20,000 degree was collecting dust.

Soon after, I jumped back into the workforce just to say I had a job. I was still unfulfilled. It was not until our son became 4 yrs and our firstborn became 7 yrs old that I decided that enough was enough! I quickly grew tired of working at dead-end jobs where I was undervalued, spinning my wheels tirelessly while making someone else rich and not living the life that I deserved. I needed benefits, I needed vacation money, I needed to do work that was more fulfilling to me. I was now behind on the culture of Web Development for almost a decade, and we all know how fast technology advances on a continuous basis. I then purchased $6,000+ worth of online courses and books to reteach myself the skill that I was so far behind on. In 2019, TJ Digital Marketing Services was born.

I love the quote by, “ American entrepreneur, Marie Forleo that states that “The key to success is to start before you are ready”, and that is what I did.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

It has not been a smooth road. The struggles were first having the belief in my own abilities, and that I was capable of learning new tech although I had been out of the loop for so long. I learned that personal development is the best gift that anyone can give to oneself. Once I began joining online and offline communities of individuals that were headed in the same direction that I was, at that moment, is when the road began to feel less rocky.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I am a brand & Squarespace web designer for women coaches, consultants, and creative businesses. I design bold and beautiful brands and websites in just 2 weeks. What sets me apart is that I don’t work on multiple projects at once. My clients are considered VIPs, they have my undivided attention for the full two-week term. I have been working to rebrand TJ Digital Marketing Services for the last month. My 2022 calendar just opened on December 1st to accept new clients. Be sure to connect with me on IG @tarleshiajohnson to learn branding and web design tips and/or to schedule a free discovery consultation.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
In every new field that I have entered recently, I’ve learned to find a mentor FAST whether it is free or paid. Recently, I have joined Toastmasters International, and I had the opportunity and privilege to obtain a mentor. 7 months later, I have accomplished many goals that I wouldn’t have accomplished on my own. I have completed level one of my course. I was encouraged to enter a speaking contest. Since joining the contest, I have earned 1st place at the club level, 1st place at the area level, and recently won 2nd place at the district level. I have found that I am more capable than I realized with my mentor. I would like to shout out to my personal mentor, Becky Begarly for being such a wonderful mentor!

I’ve learned along the way that the fastest way to succeed is to find a mentor. A mentor helps you to clearly define your goals, access your strengths, and make recommendations to push you to new heights.

The best place to obtain a mentor is to join communities whether it is online or offline. Show up for the meetings, develop relationships,  ask people or influencers that you admire the most if they are open to mentoring you? You would never know if you never ask.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarleshiajohnson

Image Credits
Amy Allmand