Rachel Johnson of ah.mi on working together to achieve collective success

Describe your business in a few words:

ah.mi is a wellness revolution focused on getting healthy for good, by sticking to the basics: greens.water.move.repeat. ah.mi was started out of a desire to get healthy after my second baby.  As a busy corporate lawyer, I found there was no company out there that spoke my language when it came to getting healthy.

Most importantly, I needed something that was realistic, relatable, and had an accountability/motivation piece so I could actually stick with it for the long haul. I founded ah.mi on the mission that small, sustainable changes are they key to sticking to a healthy lifestyle.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I started in Big Law at one of the world’s largest law firms.  I worked long hours, put in the work, and got experience learning from some of the best lawyers out there.  I knew I wouldn’t be there forever, but I am so thankful I started there.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

No way! Looking back I can’t believe I took the risks I did. I’m proud of myself, but it definitely wasn’t some lifelong vision for myself. I always hear that you have to bet on yourself and I do believe that!

Take us back to when you first launched your business – what was your marketing strategy to get the word out, and did it go as planned?

For ah.mi, we are self-funded and there was no grand plan or fancy marketing strategy.  We spread the word on Instagram and through our members. Luckily, being healthy is something most people usually want to talk and learn about.

What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?

I love this question because I don’t look at my accomplishments enough, I am constantly just looking forward! I am so proud of myself for having the courage to go for it and leave Big Law.  It was scary and I had a pit in my stomach for at least a year after I left. It was a little over 7 years ago that my Co-Founder and I made that decision, and I just wish I could tell myself we would create something bigger than we could have ever imagined – it was all so worth it. I get to do exciting legal work for Founders who are building their companies and work with such an amazing team.  I also now get to build ah.mi and hopefully inspire other busy women that they can live a healthy life too!

Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?

Putting your phone outside of your bedroom at night is so key and really trying to focus on the little things that make you happy. Running or walking outside is so amazing for both my physical and mental energy so I make sure to find a way to get outside everyday. Also, find a way to make easy simple dinners. I was on the take-out train for way too long and just gave up when it came to cooking dinner after a long day. It’s not healthy and not sustainable! I now enjoy coming home and cooking dinner – it helps take the edge off after a long day.

What have you achieved recently that you’d like to celebrate with our community?

ah.mi was recently featured in Women’s Day Magazine as 1 of 20 Woman-Owned Businesses to Support! I thought that was so cool given we are so new.  We have also been featured in Peloton’s blog and in The Zoe Report without any fancy PR firm behind us.

I really see ah.mi as a wellness revolution and it’s so exciting to see the brand getting out there! It’s also the little things like when I get a text from a friend sharing something and saying “this is so ah.mi.” I want to build a brand that has a bigger mission around it than physical appearance or losing weight – it’s a brand to show other busy women that living a healthy life is ACTUALLY possible.

What’s next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

ah.mi has big plans for 2022! We accept new Le health Club members only a few times a year and we are starting with Super Clean January. I hope to continue to grow ah.mi this year and am totally fine with it going slow and steady.

What excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?

For me, getting recommendations from other founders is gold. We are all in the thick of it together and sharing vetted resources we rely on, whether it’s an accountant, web developer, or HR consultant, is so important! I also love hearing other founder’s stories – it inspires me daily seeing how other women go for it.  We all have our days that we feel down in the dumps and discouraged and we need to be encouragement to each other to stick with it!