Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariah Johnson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve always been determined to make the most for myself. My idea of success…has always been to live on my own terms, and be my own boss. On the contrary in high school, corporate America jobs were idolized, so much so that i remember daydreaming about working for a large corporation in high-rise building. Never to much concerned about what profession i’d actually be in…but more focused on, what the view of the city would look like from my office and dressing up in a well pressed suit everyday . At an early age, I began to position myself and plan how I would create the life I wanted to live. I knew two things in high school.
- I wanted to attend a major university and graduate because neither of my parents were afforded that opportunity.
- I wanted to be a first-generation college graduate in my family, and be an example for my nieces and nephews.
With my senior year in high school quickly approaching, I was not at all prepared for college. I was so discouraged quite frankly, I could not score higher than a 13 on my ACT, and the ACT score was seen as a “the right of passage” to attend the university of my dreams!
The prequisite score for admission was a 23 overall, and no matter what I did, or how long i studied I never met that requirement. Meaning that I didn’t make the cut as an applicant and more importantly I didn’t qualify for any university scholarships. Without scholarship, I wouldn’t be able to attend college. I wasn’t giving up that easy… I spent hours filling out outside scholarship applications, grooming my application essays in order to stand out from the other prospective students. I got admitted into the university, with 22 scholarships to fund my educational journey. Even though I didn’t “qualify”, I decided I was still going to try, and it played out in my favor.
After graduating from the University of Oklahoma I began my career in my “large corporation”. Only to realized after a few months, that corporate America wasn’t for me. Go figure, my role straight out of college was at age 22 was a District Manager. In a sense I did run own my own business, I was responsible for the performance and revenue of my district. Although that didn’t quite satisfy my urge or idea of entrepreneurship.
Again, here I was devastated, and discouraged. My family was so proud of my accomplishments and I was given an amazing opportunity. After all I had worked so hard to get to “this place in life” to realize my overall goal did not make me happy.
My mother always told me go to school, get a good job, get married, have a family….in that order. Never was I told to start a business, if I was that would have completely changed the game, but i’d eventually get there soon enough.
April of 2016, I attended Fortune Builders real estate workshop and joined the Mastery Program to learn more about the real-estate industry. I wanted to learn more about investing, building wealth and wealth management. After attending workshops for two days, I realized that real estate would be my way out of corporate America. I diligently drew out my five year plan to leave corporate America by age 28.
Within nine months of studying the industry, at age 23 I had acquired three investment properties not including my own residence. I was very hands on in learning about the business operations, renovations, scouting prime location, and I did all of this while working full-time as a District Manager.
This was the tipping point in my life in which I began to LIVE, I was able to travel, start a scholarship foundation, teach financial literacy and home-buying workshops and serve my community as well as make an impact.
I’ve always felt like God had a greater purpose for me, whether it be in my career or my current position in life. I remember looking around and asking God “why?” Why has he given me these opportunities , why am i different, what did he see in me in order to carry the weight of some of my responsibilities? I was always the youngest person in the room, with the least experience, whether it be in the workplace, 401k informational, or a real estate workshop. Seeing how opportunities continue to unfold I stopped asking why He positioned me, and began asking how can his kingdom in these position. I knew for a fact that He had not blessed me, to NOT be able to bless others.
It was placed on my heart to give back, be involved, and give to the community as it was once given to me, so someone else can to be afforded the same opportunity. The sheer thought of being able to do something like that brought me so much joy. In return, it also fueled my determination to make my dreams into my reality.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, absolutely not! When I first started this business, I was working full-time as a District Manager. Putting in 10-15 hours day with my full time job and then contributing additional hours into my business to get it off the ground. I started investing at age of 23, so another challenge I experienced was maintaining my social life, while building my business.
Present day, as an entrepreneur I still put in some long hours and days. I have to consciously remind myself that I need to create a balance. Without that balance my business will suffer, everything you do or don’t do WILL affect your business. Being an entrepreneur is hard as hell, some times you get so caught up in perfecting your craft that you can easily and unknowingly burn yourself out.! While on this journey, I have learned so much about myself and discipline, and planning out my day in order to perfect my craft. It is ALOT of pressure… but it is so worth it!
Please tell us about Lokal Estates.
Lokal Estates property management company that offers a comprehensive suite of value-added services for our clients. We service residential and commercial clients in the Oklahoma City and DFW area. With our substantial local presence in each of the markets we serve. Our clientele includes but is not limited to:
investors, and owners of real estate.
This fall we are actually launching our subsidiary Lokal Abode which covers the vacation rental aspect of real estate as well as offering travel accommodations.
Lokal Abode will serve as a resource for booking accommodations including: temporary housing options depending on your needs, corporate apartments, furnished apartments for rent, hotels, privately owned houses, condos and vacation properties.
This platform will also have an exclusive portal which will serve as a hub and community for new and existing vacation rental hosts and or real estate investors! The portal will have investment courses, hosting/ landlord tips, a community forum and more! The aboder community is a safe space for up and coming and well as existing hosts or real estate investors.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory is actually with my mom.
I was eight years old and my mom took me to outdoor festival to go rock climbing, I had never done this before…I got all geared up to “belay on” and suddenly I realized I didn’t have the courage to try something new, crazy, or out of the norm.
My mom said to me “Mariah you can…. ‘can’t’ does not belong in your vocabulary.”
Then my mom strapped up, climbed to the top of the makeshift mountain range the bell, and then told me.. ”it’s your turn.”
And from that moment I knew if she can do it I can to do it. If I can change my mindset can make this happen for me. That feeling is the feeling and the narrative to most situations I face in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: Lokaleliving.com and Lokalabode.co
- Phone: 6194916476
- Email: lokalestates@gmail.com
- Instagram: @themariahjohnson
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LokalEliving
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/lokalestates/
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