Be Joyful
Be Joyful: a podcast for women in their 50’s or 60’s looking for inspiration on how to start a new chapter of their lives such as retirement, or looking to course correct their lives onto a happier, more fulfilling trajectory. Each month, Jean Cameron Hill introduces women who have reinvented themselves, or triumphed over challenges, and are now living their best lives! Jean hopes her listeners will gain valuable knowledge from the amazing women featured in this podcast.
Be Joyful
Jan Johnsen: Living Her Dream Every Day
Jan’s foolproof lessons to be a successful entrepreneur and how she learned to succeed in a male-dominated field and continues to live her dream everyday.
Early years and her unusual college experiences:
- Kid from the NY boroughs, growing up in a concrete jungle
- Always fascinated w plants
- Steered toward botanical illustratration by HS guidance counselor
- Attended Friends World College, run by Quakers, created her own studies
- Studied in Japan, lived in Kyoto and transfixed by Japanese gardens
- Japanese boss said “you’re not an architect, you’re a landscape architect.”
- Studied landscape architecture at University of Hawaii and studied hydroponic gardening, without soil. She was the only woman in her class
What was Jan’s next endeavor?
- Realized she was not suited to working in an office
- She wanted hands on training and worked at Mohonk Mountain House in NY
- Worked for a French master gardener who was reticent to work w her since she was a woman. But Jan was persistent and persevered
- Learned professional horticulture
- Jan believes in experiential education, learn by doing
How did she start her biz?
- With not much money, rented one room from a man who ran a small tree service, who became her mentor
- “I knew what I knew, but I didn’t know how to run a business and luckily had a husband who knew how to.”
- Her mentor coached her, told her what courses to take. He started Sav-a-Tree, a first class and very successful tree business.
- Your thoughts and attitudes are key to your success. Set sites high enough
- Have a goal and see it through Jan’s goal is to create beautiful outdoor settings
- Her mission is to pay it forward, share what she’s learned
Author:
- Jan started writing books because she loves sharing what she has learned and believes that having a serene outdoor environment can uplift people in this crazy world
- 7 books including Spirit of Stone, Flowertopia, Gardentopia, Heaven in a Garden
What advice do you have for women looking to find their passions, and her “brass ring” for success?
- Get your business systems in place first before you start out. Being talented in your specific field is not enough, your passion I will be the key to your success.
- Work with people you align with
- Get yourself out there
- Make time for yourself, even something as simple as a walk
- It’s ok to be the only woman in the room
- You have to love what you do
Where can listeners learn more about Jan?
- Instagram @johnsendesign
- Subscribe to janjohnsen.substack.com for landscaping tips
- johnsenlandscapes.com
- Books can be purchased on Amazon
To learn more about Jean and the Be Joyful podcast visit www.bejoyful.love.
