LaTosha Johnson, a True Hot Momma, on Realizing her Dream Job

I was privileged enough to be able to attend the Hot Mommas Project “To Don’t List” event on November 18th 2009. The panelists were informative, interesting, and inspiring, and all of the women offered great tips on prioritization and achieving your goals. Many expressed the importance of doing whatever it takes to stick to your business plan. But what if the business plan you’ve formulated isn’t the best thing for you? In her case for the Hot Mommas Project, LaTosha Johnson writes about her journey to entrepreneurial self-discovery.

Click here to read LaTosha’s case, “Life is NOT an ATM,” on the Hot Mommas Project Case Library.

LaTosha worked at many of what she refers to as “dead end jobs” before she realized she needed a change in her life. She expressed her frustration to her mother about being unable to find her dream job. Her mother suggested starting her own business. It was around this time LaTosha had her “a-ha” moment. She realized that the reason she had not been able to find her dream was due to her “tunnel vision.” She had been working tirelessly to achieve a form of success she’d built up in her mind as the ultimate goal. She became aware that she had yet to realize her personal idea of success and that, if she continued to conduct her life the way she had, she would never reach that goal.

LaTosha writes,

“I was living my life like an ATM—I deposited my time and effort into receiving my Bachelors degree and expected to withdraw a great paying job that I loved. However, I quickly learned that life is not an ATM. You can deposit hard work, patience, etc. but you cannot get discouraged if you are unable to immediately withdraw your goals…I was so focused on waiting for the ATM to withdraw my dream job that I was ignoring the ATM’s error message telling me I was not meant to be an employee—I was meant to be an entrepreneur. “

This is when LaTosha founded TargetStars, an “innovative consulting firm that specializes in providing top notch market research and administrative services to small companies, account executives, and aspiring entrepreneurs.” I find LaTosha’s ATM analogy extremely powerful. In a way, I feel like I have been treating my life the same way. The stakes are high, as I attend one of the most expensive universities in the country. Since I am paying so much to go to school, I have felt almost entitled to a “good” job when I graduate. I declared my major as Business with a concentration in Marketing not only because I was interested in the subject, but also because I knew that it was a relatively safe avenue for finding a well-paying job. Reading LaTosha’s case reminded me to slow down and reexamine what I want to get out of my education. I have always been compassionate and dedicated to helping others. LaTosha’s case inspired me to explore my interest in the Human Services, focusing on the non-profit sector. I am now a Human Services minor, and may even make it my major during the upcoming Spring semester.

LaTosha says,

“I almost missed out on my dream job because I was too focused on carrying out my plan. Had I not deviated from my plan, I would still be hosting pity parties.”

LaTosha is a great example of a Hot Momma. She is an incredibly accomplished woman who was not afraid to dive into entrepreneurship. She now takes great pride in the fact that she has her dream job because she was willing to take the plunge. Her business is flourishing because of her drive to succeed and her acceptance of her personal definition of success, and she is a great role model for women of all ages.