We recently connected with Jfam Johnson® and have shared our conversation below.

JFAM, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

When the world was hit hard by the pandemic in 2020, it shook us all up. Many people were at home feeling isolated and unsure about everything. But instead of letting it get us down, we—eight siblings ranging from 8 to 17 years old—decided to lean into our faith and do something big together. Our creative collective is made up of Emmanuel, Abigail, Elizabeth, Jael, Phoebe, Sarah Judah and Joshua. We’re a team not just by blood but by dreams too! Each of us brought our own flavor into this mix, and set out to bring a little hope and joy to families during those tough times.

We felt driven to act—to create things that would lift the spirits of children everywhere. That’s how our idea turned into a real mission with JFAM JOHNSON® at its heart. We started dreaming up books that could encourage other children to know that they are special. We also started designing clothes that shouted ‘You’re Special!’ and speaking to youth and young adults using our “The Power of You” workshop. Every book written or shirt designed or speaking engagement reflected what we believe: young people are powerful beyond measure!

We’ve been blessed! From being featured in “Business Insider” to being supported by Maryland Public Television’s WLF—it’s more than we ever imagined. We’re still building the JFAM JOHNSON® brand. Working as a collective is our way of showing every child out there that no matter how rough things get you still have a purpose and can bless others with your gifts. If we can do it during a lockdown, so can you!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Absolutely! We’d love to share more about who we are and what we do. For one, we’re all homeschooled and we’re enjoying the freedom we have to learn at our own pace and pursue our own interests. For two, we decided to team up and create any and everything that could bring hope, joy, and confidence to children like us. That’s when JFAM JOHNSON® was born. We wanted to go beyond just creating products; we wanted to create meaningful experiences that would remind young people of their potential and their worth. We also wanted to remain true to our faith so we do everything as if we’re doing it for God.

Today, we offer a range of creative products and services. Our bestselling children’s books, “Hip Hop Hair” and “Hip Hop Music” highlight positive hip hop and encourages young readers to embrace their unique strengths. We’ve had the opportunity to speak at the R.I.S.E. Virtual Summits and share the virtual stage with Kierra “KiKi” Sheard-Kelly and Dr. Boyce Watkins. What sets us apart is that we’re all siblings working together, each bringing a different talent to the table. Emmanuel might be delegating tasks, while Abigail is working on a new illustration, and Elizabeth is putting together ideas for our YouTube Channel or editing an animation. Our mom and dad have helped us see the importance of each of our roles. People always tell us that choosing to work as a family inspires them because it feels authentic and relatable. As for the problems we aim to solve, we know that young people need more than just entertainment. We need reminders of true strength and purpose. Our books, our clothing, and every time we’re given the opportunity to speak, we know that we’re on mission. Because we stepped out on faith, and we believe we’ll continue to reap rewards for our hard work. Like being an Amazon bestseller, getting to write “ReWired For Homeschool” with our parents, and winning a literary award for our hip hop book.

For anyone getting to know JFAM JOHNSON® for the first time, purpose brought us together during tough times and, now, we’re here to share that creativity with the world.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Great question! Yes, there are definitely resources we wish we had known about earlier in our journey—one of the biggest being our very own private community, Self-Publishers Hub. When we first started learning about writing and publishing, most resources out there seemed to be geared exclusively toward individuals and adults. It was rare to find materials that supported adults, young authors, or family teams who wanted to turn their stories into something meaningful. And, even beyond that, we struggled to find resources that showed us how to create a legacy together as a family.

Self-Publishers Hub was built to fill that gap. It’s a supportive, one-stop community that helps individuals and families create impactful books—whether it’s how-to guides, self-help books, journals, children’s books, or beyond. We’ve stocked it with everything you need to go from idea to published book to thriving business, including tools, templates, and tips on how to succeed in the self-publishing world. But it’s more than just resources; it’s a community of like-minded creatives who want to add real value to the market with their work. This hub was born from our experiences and the challenges we faced, so it’s specifically designed to support anyone, of any age, who’s serious about writing a great book, building a business, and being part of a helpful, encouraging community.

For us, Self-Publishers Hub has become a core resource, not just in terms of skills but in mindset. It’s about learning to see writing as more than a project—it’s a legacy, a way to impact others for years to come. So, if you’re just starting out, or even if you’ve been in the self-publishing world for a while but feel like you’re missing community support, Self-Publishers Hub is a fantastic place to grow, learn, and connect. We only wish we’d had access to something like this when we first started!

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Managing a team, especially when that team is made up of your own siblings, is both an art and a responsibility! A huge part of our approach to team management comes from our faith. We find our strength in the Lord, grounding everything we do in His guidance and wisdom. Working as a family, we understand that we’re all human—we’re going to have days when things don’t go as planned or when someone makes a mistake. That’s where operating with grace and mercy becomes essential. We remind each other to approach each situation with kindness, patience, and forgiveness, just as God extends His grace to us.

When challenges arise, we pray together and know that God is working through each of us to shape our journey. This faith-centered approach keeps us connected to each other and allows us to overcome difficulties with love and resilience. It’s a constant reminder that we’re not just working for ourselves but serving a greater purpose, and that perspective transforms every task and every project into a blessing. Some of the other things that are important to us are:

1. Maintaining a Shared Vision: When everyone understands the “why” behind what we’re doing, it makes the work feel meaningful. And even though we have individual projects that we work on, we know that our mission is to help each other be successful. A strong sense of purpose unites the team and keeps everyone moving in the same direction, even when things get tough.

2. Encouraging Open Communication: We get to say what we want about what we’re thinking and feeling. But, we don’t get to be rude and disrespectful. We think talking through our wins and losses helps us in the long run. It also helps us keep misunderstandings to a minimum. It toooooough, but we manage to get great work done!

3. Recognizing Our Strengths and Weaknesses: Each one of us brings something special to the table, but we also know that we’re not going to ask anyone to do something that they’re uncomfortable with. Now, we’re not talking about pushing someone to be better. We’re talking about showing the best skill level for where we are right now, age-wise and talent-wise.

4. Having Fun and Celebrating Our Wins: Keeping everyone’s morale up is not always easy, so it’s important to make sure what we do is fun. We also want to celebrate when someone (or all of us) accomplishes a goal. We make time for fun stuff, like a family game night (we love chess and “Guess Who”), or having pizza night. These kinds of things remind us that it’s cool to work with and grow as a family.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beacons.ai/jfamjohnson
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jfamjohnson
• Other: Ultimate Bestseller Checklist (Free Resource) – https://www.testimonypublishersllc.com/bestsellerchecklist
  Profit, Pen & Publish 3-Day Challenge (Free Training) – https://www.testimonypublishersllc.com/3daychallenge

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Testimony Publishers, LLC.®