We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Keyaira Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Keyaira, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
I’ve taken a few risk in life… each risk I’ve ever taken was definitely worth the reward. I went through many many trials and tribulations but it’s what made me who I am today. My first risk I taken was quitting a 9-5 to become a full time entrepreneur. When I chosen to stop working it showed me that it’s guaranteed income but now like a 9-5 if I don’t work I don’t eat type of thing. When you clock in you’re guaranteed a pay check. When you work for yourself some days you may not eat, sometimes you eat last, you don’t have guaranteed income in the beginning because you just getting started so you’re investing your money and giving it your all for long term goals. It’s about staying passionate , knowing your risk is worth the reward and giving your all into what you want to do.
My first investment was selling clothes. Ordering clothes off of a vendors website from China and selling them for profit in my city. It was definitely worth the reward because I was buying single dollar clothes selling them for $25-$45 dollars per outfit. The risk I had to take as well was not having a place to sell my clothes out of. With that I had to travel to deliver outfits, meet people in places, sell clothes out my trunk, sell clothes out my house. But I was making money and I loved it. I literally was making my pay checks in a day. I loved selling clothes and I love fashion so it was easy for me to help women with my brand of nice clothing I had….. few years later I took another risk, I wanted to invest into doing hair. But not just regular hair I do “Lace installs” so I took classes 3 to be exact 2 from people from my home town and one with the famous celebrity hair stylist “Arrogant tae” but even with that I began as one of the worse hair stylist because I was new so even though I took classes I still had to build and learn from the knowledge so I stayed consistent, I did hair for low prices for about 2 years. Like other stylist had to literally make me up my prices once I got good because I didn’t think I was good. Years later. I got my own suite I operate out of and do hair in I love doing lace because I wear lace so if I know how I like my hair I know how I other people like theirs. Hair is my income still til this day it’s what pays the bills it’s what put food on my table clothes on my child back and I feel like the hair industry gets bigger every day
Keyaira, 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?
Most people know me as the “go getter”. I was selling Avon products outside my grandma house on the table at 9am at like 9 years old. I knew I wanted to get some money. I didn’t know why but I know I wanted to make it. Even in high school I was doing hair , lashes, selling Furla purses to make money. I just love the feeling of making my own money. At 15 I literally had 2 jobs one at kings island and one at McDonald’s. My mother took well care of me and my brothers but I still wanted my own money.
I became an entrepreneur by selling clothes and doing hair. I still will pick up shifts through an agency to make money as an stna. But being broke is just not a option. My reasons being my daughter I had a kid at 17 I knew I needed to provide for her every way possible so I make sure I do that. Plus I’m her first role model so if I mess up I know she May also mess up because She look up to me.
My advice to people is to don’t be scared to take leaps you may fall but it’s about how you get back up. No one is perfect no one is posting their failures. So if it’s something you want to do and your passionate about it 9 X out of 10 it’s for you. Just don’t let fear have you scared. Because you never know what may be your next. Big thing. Also don’t limit yourself you literally can do whatever you put your mind to
How did you build your audience on social media?
With selling clothes and long hair I always just posted. Posted on my page , posted in groups, in comments, everything I wanted everyone to see me or my work. I always engage with my audience by running specials, sales, giving out free give always everything. I just wanted people to know I’m good people you know. So I tried to build a relationship with my audience
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I think me just being me helped me a lot. I never faked it , I never tried to be like nobody else. I’m real authentic. People love me cause I’m me. Always have. I have a huge bright personality, I know how to make people laugh, I’m always happy, I’m always smiling. I’m not perfect not even close but I’m just me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @KeyairaKhloe
- Facebook: Gabrielle Johnson
- Other: Text to book 513.488.3272