We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jessica Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica , thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

A little over 2 years ago I made the decision to resign from my corporate job and pursue a full time career in makeup artistry and esthetics . This meant leaving my comfy salaried job of over 7+ years in private practice management. Throughout my time in corporate I always worked my passion part time. Little did I know, this was also the dawn of COVID -19 . 2 months in of taking that leap of faith , and taking the risk of becoming a full time entrepreneur ,things got real fast! I’m grateful for the timing in me taking the risk to jump straight in because it gave me the opportunity to dig deep within myself . I’d do self checks periodically asking myself questions like,” how bad to you really want this?” and ” Is the really something your’e passionate about?” 2019-2020 taught me a lot about myself and I grew a lot too as an individual. I would be lying to say the 2020 wasn’t a difficult year- I mean it was difficult for everyone, but image leaving leaving something secure and guaranteed all for the sake of passion and your mental health- I did. My husband really helped to reassure me and help through the transition to corporate to self employed. He would remind me of the days when I worked the 9-5 and I would come home and complain about being stressed, under valued and under paid and that now I have created an opportunity for myself to not only change how I feel with what I do but work my passion and create a schedule that allows to me live the life that we desire.

Jessica , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a United States Air Force combat veteran. I served 4 years as a Security Forces Officer (MP) with 3 of those years being deployed doing combat missions for OIF and OEF ( operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom ) and managing base security through ESS and TASS ( Electronic Security Systems and Tactical Automated Security Systems) Throughout my time in the service I always had the love and passion for entertainment and the beauty industry .

I did some work in radio in Valdosta Ga, with Star 105.3 doing commercial drops here and there to parties/promotions/modeling with Core DJ’s worldwide ( as Jessica Rochelle ) . It was about my last year in service that I really took modeling and makeup artistry more seriously . I was fortunate enough to work along side a lot of prominent people in the industry and have national published work as a model and makeup artist.

Everything for me has been a transition or stepping stone into the next thing. It was when I really got into makeup artistry ( formally known as It’s Jess Glam) that I grew a passion for skincare . Honestly, I was also dealing with some skincare issues myself like sensitivities, allergies and reactions. I wanted to have a better understanding as to why those thing were happening and how to fix it . In terms of working with clients, I always would get clients wanting me to cover up imperfections they had. Yeah, it was easy to color correct and put on the makeup , but that was just a temporary solution to the problem. . . I in 2019 I enrolled in esthetics school and became licensed by 2020 to returning to school to become an esthetics instructor that I completed this year 2022.

I now have a successful spa business located in Sandy Springs called Rochelle Aesthetics where the focus is on preventive and corrective skincare treatments , makeup . My services range from dermaplaning treatments to hydrafacial treatments, makeup and lash extension services and even chemical resurfacing treatments as well RF facial tightening and waxing . Rochelle Aesthetics is also recognized as an Image Skincare Professional. Majority of the products used in service are clinical skincare products that yield results. Rochelle Aesthetics is also launching online esthetics training that will be available July 1 2022 that will include esthetics fundamentals and advanced esthetics trainings to help other skincare professionals in the industry.

The one thing that I believe that has helped the success of my esthetics business and social media platforms is that people have grown with me and seen the progress. My IG has shown the transition and every once in a while I get the messages from people on how they are inspired and proud of my growth. Also, some of those same people have become my clients and they always help promote . Word of mouth is also the biggest for me and making sure I treat everyone like a VIP/ Celebrity Client. I always try to be the energy I seek and treat people how I want to be treated. I think that goes a long way in this industry in terms of ones success in it.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The biggest lesson that I had to learn is that not all your family and friends is your client and all are not going to support you like you think they should. Support will always come from the most unexpected places. Focus on the ones who are there for you and that give you grace while you have the blinders on and down in the trenches making your goals and your passion work. Recognize things and people for what and who they are, take self inventory and be true to you. In the past I tried to hold onto to certain relationships that no longer served me. There is no bad blood , still wish them the best. Sometimes elevation requires separation.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

When it clicked to me that no matter what you do in business people will go because of YOU. Yes, skill, training , education all these things play a role but with owning your own business or brand people are supporting you or not because of YOU. It’s important to remain authentic, the people/ clients who are for you are going to be yours. It is really easy to fall into the trends of social media and in some ways you kind of need to follow certain algorithms when you are building a business profile on-line, but make it you. A lot of times in the past I use to get in my head thinking I HAD to be a certain way to attract clientele. The moment I got out of my own way and head things fell in line. Also, people can tell when you are in in for the money and when your’e passionate about something. Money comes and goes , but building relationships can last forever this is why ( for me ) it’s always important to be kind, understanding and humble.

Also having a team and recognizing you can not do everything yourself. I have to give props to where they are due, I do not know what I would do without the back office support of Lexia . She is a beast and I am forever in debt to her with the work she puts into to making sure my business is successful.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rochelleaesthetics.com
• Instagram: @rochelleaesthetics and @rochelleaestheticsedu
• Facebook: Rochelle Aesthetics