Behind the Business with Elaine Gonzalez-Johnson

When you think of a multi-hyphenate individual, your mind may go to someone like Oprah Winfrey: media executive, actress, talk show host, television producer, and philanthropist. Or Diddy: rapper, producer, entrepreneur, music executive, and actor. Here at Planning 2 Perfection, we think of Elaine Gonzalez-Johnson. Known for her high energy personality, Elaine has reshaped what it means to be a modern-day businesswoman.  

ABOUT THE BUSINESS

Elaine Gonzalez-Johnson is the proud founder of two thriving businesses: Latinas in Motion and Mogul Mami. Founded in 2012, Latinas in Motion is a nonprofit created to foster a community of women living a healthy lifestyle through encouragement, inspiration, and empowerment. Mogul Mami is Elaine’s all-encompassing brand, serving as a platform for her multitude of entrepreneurial endeavors including coaching, public speaking and the sale of her goal-defining planner. Needless to say, this working mom is living a very unique life, and she wouldn’t change it for the world. 

FILLING THE DEFICIT

As Elaine crossed the finish line at her first Broad Street Run—a major fitness milestone for any Philadelphian—she encountered a light bulb moment, or as she likes to call it, a “God Idea”. As she looked around at the various fitness groups that had gathered to encourage one another along the race, she realized no group existed for Latina women. “When you find a deficit, fill it,” was Elaine’s perspective as she began the process of starting her nonprofit Latinas in Motion.

Elaine’s entrepreneurial journey has taken her on some wild, unpredictable rides. During those moments of uncertainty, she turns to helpful voices such as her grandfather, a veteran entrepreneur with decades of experience, and other mentors in business, fitness and marriage. 

PIVOTING YOUR BUSINESS

Elaine’s entrepreneurial inspiration is Sarah Jake Roberts, four-time author, media personality, wife and mother of four children. Women such as Sarah inspire Elaine to remain open to the idea of pursuing various avenues of success in business. This was a hard lesson learned for Elaine on October 17, 2018, when her first largest contract vanished into thin air. After 2-weeks of shock, questioning and anger, Elaine made the decision to adapt and seek other sources of income. “It taught me how to pivot in my business and not depend on one thing to pay my bills” Elaine stated. In just 3 weeks, she took a risk and invested in a brand-new business venture that earned her more revenue than her original contract. This experience reminded Elaine of her favorite motivational bible verse “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future - Jeremiah 29:11.” Elaine is a firm believer that embracing the unknown and reminding yourself that your work has a greater purpose is key to remaining faithful on your unique entrepreneurship journey.

DEFINING YOUR VOICE

Elaine describes her entrepreneurial journey as invigorating, exciting and fulfilling. Like many entrepreneurs, the exciting voyage to self-efficacy began manifesting during her youth. In reflecting upon her childhood, Elaine said “I was always in leadership.” From first grade through high school, Elaine consistently found herself in the position of guiding others to success, a personality trait that presents itself today in her coaching courses. These influential positions allowed Elaine to find her voice at a young age. However, while she had established her voice in other areas of her life, Elaine still struggled to find confidence at the beginning of her business journey. She constantly sought validation for her ideas before she realized “Nobody can do Elaine the way Elaine does Elaine.” This new thought process allowed her to dig deep for the belief that her most genuine ideas did not need a stamp of approval from anyone else, a notion that she instills in her children every day. 

When asked to give advice to the next generation of entrepreneurs, Elaine encourages the use of daily affirmations to motivate yourself on your lowest days. She also encourages writing a mission statement for yourself, not just your business. Take time to really consider what success look like in your personal life, regardless of the success you may see other achieving. Elaine has seen sequential accomplishments along her entrepreneurial journey, and she attributes that to learning the sound of her own voice and taking pride in her individual path.

You can learn more about Elaine Gonzalez-Johnson and her nonprofit Latinas in Motion by visiting the Mogul Mami. and Latinas in Motion website. 

ABOUT THE SERIES

“Behind the Business: Insights from the Everyday Entrepreneur” is a written interview series developed by the Planning 2 Perfection team. In each interview, we will explore the entrepreneurial journeys of everyday people turned self-starter and how they have been able to grow their business. Interviews will span across various industries to offer a wide array of advice, learning lessons and personal anecdotes.