Boss Money: Naomi Johnston, Founder & Creative Director at NJ Consulting
From a young age Naomi always had a passion for entrepreneurship and knew she would never conform to the traditional 9-5 career. In 2017, she was studying full-time whilst also keeping a full-time role in marketing when she identified two things - that her job didn’t fulfil her and that there was an opportunity to help business to grow and scale using social media platforms. The idea for NJ Consulting was born. Naomi wanted to create something for herself and to make a tangible difference to the bottom line for the business owners she served.
In its essence, NJ Consulting is a Digital Marketing Consultancy that provides strategy, web and social media marketing services for businesses in the Real Estate, Constructions and Financial Services sectors. Naomi and the team attract clients through word-of-mouth referrals and repeat customers - a testament to the quality of services they provide. The boutique business is made up of a team of five which includes developers, graphic designers, administrations support and an accounts officer but this expected to double in 2022 to meet the demands of their rapidly growing client base.
Naomi, you always knew you would run your own business. What do you know now that you wish you had known when you first started?
Work smarter, not harder. Everyone has the same 24 hours so why work harder when you can work smarter?
Some of my go-to daily practices:
Physically write a to-do list every morning
Reflect on the to-do list in the afternoon
Put everything in the calendar (work and life)
Delegate more
Batch similar tasks together
Schedule tasks based on energy levels
Turn off notifications
What has been your biggest money lesson you've learned since starting your business?
Bookkeepers (and Xero) are worth their weight in gold. As a business owner trying to do your own BAS and tax is not time efficient or productive. Your time is better spent focusing on the tasks that move the needle forward in your business.
What's been your biggest financial win as a business owner?
My business doubled its quarterly projections over the past 24 months. I am beyond appreciative for the support of my loyal client-base and team.
What kind of legacy do you wish to create with your business and why?
NJ Consulting's legacy stems from our values of passion and purpose. It is to empower Real Estate, Construction and/or Financial Services businesses, globally, to impact the lives of their ideal target client who are in need of their service.
What does your business empower you to do?
It has empowered me to create freedom - life, time and financial freedom.
Who's in your 'A Team' ?
Internally, I have a team of 5, consisting of Developers, Graphic Designers, Administration Support and an Accounts Officer. Outside of business, I like to keep my inner circle close and be selective with who I go to for business advice. I receive advice from my entrepreneur friends and clients from a range of industries, they provide interesting and diverse perspectives.
What advice would you give to another lady hoping to start her own business?
Two pieces of advice for someone looking to start their own business ...
First, take action. That one thing that's been on your mind, put together an action plan and take action every day to get you that step closer. Become a doer.
Second, learn to network. This was crucial for me in building my service-based business. Relationship management is key to develop your client base, retain clients and building up your mentor network.
And finally, What are you looking forward to right now?
I am in a season of growth this year, personally and in business. For NJ Consulting I am looking to double my team over the next year as we continue to help more businesses grow their businesses. I look forward to continually educating my team, helping them reach their personal and professional goals.
It’s always inspiring to learn about female run businesses and the people behind them. Thank you Naomi for sharing your story. If you’re in the Real Estate, Financial Services or Construction industry and need to give your marketing efforts a super charge please don’t hesitate to reach out to Naomi and the team via their website, linkedin, instagram or facebook.