Russell Johnson & Associates

At Russell Johnson & Associates, we support our clients in attaining their full potential for fulfillment and self-actualization. Our methodology, tools, one-to-one consulting, and coaching are designed to meet the complex needs of executives and entrepreneurs. 

Our clients develop the clarity, strategy, tactics, mindset, skills, and confidence necessary to achieve objectives ranging from accelerated advancement to major career change. And we provide ongoing long-term support for further career growth.

WHAT WE STAND FOR

We are dedicated to empowering the individual because our world needs the full contribution of us all, and we all benefit from maximizing the value we create. 

Because services such as recruitment and outplacement are funded by employers, they perpetuate a distortion of the balance of power between the employer and the individual. Superficial services focused on employers' objectives leave countless high-potential people disempowered, unfulfilled, and not knowing why. Yet with career paths becoming ever more complex, we all need to see our career as our business and operate with the attributes of a successful business. 

We aim to help make this the ‘new normal’ rather than the rare exception.

WHAT WE DO

We help our clients develop the empowered mindset, vision, clarity, strategy, tactics, self-marketing skills, and confidence to achieve their full potential for contribution and self-actualization.

Our clients become free from the artificial constraints of the advertised job market. Whether they continue on their current paths, change direction, leave their jobs for self-employment, or vice versa, there’s a lasting difference. Through deepened awareness, clarity, and the skills to capitalize on these, they are no longer trapped in unsuitable careers. 

They work for purposes they want to serve and in roles where they can make their full contribution and enjoy the lives they want.

Founder and CEO

Empowered Careers

Empowered Careers helps people in early professional careers who find themselves stuck in unsatisfying roles to create fulfilling futures. 

Our philosophy corresponds to that of Russell Johnson & Associates, the firm through which we provide the extensive one-to-one support that senior-level clients need.

EPR Careers

I founded EPR Careers after a long search for career fulfillment when the experiences of a takeover at Arby's led me to acknowledge that I needed a new and more fulfilling career path than the corporate one I had been on. 

I was attracted to the autonomy of self-employment; however, I committed to supporting the transition to new ownership at Arby's and stayed on for two more years. Then, I left to devote full time to the search for the transformation I wanted.

I sought high-quality career support but was unable to find it in either the US or my home country, Australia. Recognizing that many executives and professionals needed such support, I established EPR Careers, initially with a partner whose experience in owning a recruitment business added another perspective to mine.
  
Over the ensuing 22 years, I developed a team with offices in Melbourne and Sydney, and we provided services throughout Australia and internationally. I led the development of EPR's services, continually refined our methodology, and built the firm into a global leader in its field. 

I focused on developing and refining our unique approach and we helped many thousands of self-funded clients to achieve their objectives. However, the business model needed more work. 

Others saw opportunities in this and the business was acquired in 2014 by a consortium of staff and former clients. They ultimately closed the firm in 2016. Meanwhile, I reflected on the lessons of my 22 years at the helm of EPR and subsequently launched a new firm incorporating those lessons.

Founder and Managing Director

Arby's

Founded in 1964, Arby’s was an established quick-service restaurant chain, part of the Fortune 500 and New York Stock Exchange-listed Royal Crown group. I joined the company as Director of Franchising with a mandate to expand the franchise system after a decade of stagnation and failed attempts to restart it. 

Over the next six years, I built a high-performing team and transformed the attractiveness of the franchise system and the strength of the Arby's brand. 

Led all franchising activities including planning, marketing, sales, administration, site selection and acquisition, financing, construction, fit-out of restaurant premises, franchisee induction and training, ongoing operational support, and relationships between the company and its franchisees. 

The chain was transformed from a laggard in the restaurant industry into one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing franchise systems and experienced its golden era. I advanced to Chief Franchising Officer and Senior Vice President, reporting to the CEO as equal number two executive of the company. 

Major Achievements:
•	Developed rigorous systems for franchisee support 
•	Quadrupled the number of franchisees
•	Achieved growth of well over 200 new restaurants annually, making the company one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing restaurant chains, employing over 50,000 people, with over 1,850 restaurants and more than 200 under development
•	Despite the turmoil of a takeover in 1984 and over a year without a CEO, the company was independently and repeatedly ranked in the top ten of the approximately 3,000 franchise systems in the U.S. at the time
•	With a new restaurant opening every 39 hours on average, Arby’s became recognized as the most significant turnaround of the period in the American restaurant industry, and one of the greatest franchising success stories of the era.

Chief Franchising Officer and Senior Vice President

International Multifoods Corporation

Joined the Franchise Division of International Multifoods, a Minneapolis, MN-based Fortune 500 and New York Stock Exchange-listed company in a head office role. After gaining initial franchising experience, relocated to Atlanta GA, managing franchise development in the Southern region of the US. Subsequently declined promotion to Director of Franchising at head office and instead accepted a role at the same level but with greater potential at Arby’s Inc.

Managed development of fast food franchises in several regions of the U.S. and in Canada.
	Selected franchisees and sites
	Assisted franchisees in real estate, financing and construction negotiations

Regional Franchise Manager

Unfulfilling executive career? Transform it before it traps you.

At 14, I was pulled out of school to get my first full-time job by a family crisis.

That disruption sparked a long journey through many industries and layers of the working world.

From office work to construction and self-employment in Australia, study in the UK and ministry in Africa, then from sales to senior executive roles in the US.

At Arby’s, I advanced to Chief Franchising Officer and led its transformation to one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains globally. 

With a new location opening every 39 hours, we were rated in the Top 10 of over 3,000 franchise systems in the US. 

Then, a corporate takeover harmed the culture.

I resigned to find a meaningful new path, then stayed on for a nearly tripled income. 

Two years later, I resigned again, to buy or create a business aligned with my values.

A few months on, I realized I was lost. 

I sought high-level, values and vision-based career support, and couldn’t find that either.

But that experience led me to finally recognize my calling—to fill that market gap.

Since then, I have spent decades helping executives worldwide align their careers with their deeper values and awaken their dormant clarity, confidence, energy and impact.

My colleagues and I have guided thousands through critical transitions, enabling them to align their careers with who they truly are—and with what they most want to contribute. 

I do this work because I believe that society needs more leaders doing work they find personally meaningful. 

And that begins with taking charge of their careers, rather than surrendering them to systems that meet their lower needs but not their higher aspirations. 

If you’re ready to reimagine what your career can be, let’s explore what’s possible.

📅 Schedule a conversation: https://rjacareers.com/schedule-a-call-rj/

Russell Johnson

Stuck in career quicksand? 
 
It's not necessarily your fault. 
 
Consider this: Analysis paralysis is often seen as the villain, freezing us in our tracks. But what if it's actually your superpower? 
 
In a world obsessed with speed, taking your time to analyze might in fact be your edge. 
 
It’s a characteristic of thoughtful people who don’t settle too easily. 
 
Yet too much of a good thing can be harmful. The trick lies in finding the balance. 
 
Start by setting a 'decision deadline'. Give yourself the freedom to explore options, but with a clear end in sight. 
 
Next, embrace the 'good enough' principle. Perfection is an illusion. Aim for progress, not perfection. 
 
And recognize and implement the power of iteration. We are living in times of rapid change. We need to be nimble. 
 
Finally, tap into your support network. Sometimes, a fresh perspective is all it takes to break the cycle of overthinking. 
 
Your analytical mind is a gift. Use it wisely. 
 
Ready to turn your analytical inclination into your career superpower? 
 
Let's break free from the quicksand, together. 
 
Engage below if you're ready for a shift. 
 
~~ 
 
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. 

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

Australian Women's Golf Network

Building business relationships for women in a healthy, challenging, and fun environment on the golf course.

Ambassador

CQ Mills Consulting

I’m a firm believer that if you are going to outsource, you need to do it responsibly and ethically. 

It means your business can grow in a responsible way.

It means the person working for you is treated correctly and paid correctly. They should be an extension of your team and your values – they just happen to sit in another office.

I’m passionate about helping you grow and remain competitive in an increasingly global market place.

Reach out via your preferred comms channel if you'd like to see how outsourcing could help you.

CQ (def.) Cultural intelligence or cultural quotient is a term used in business, education, government and academic research. Cultural intelligence can be understood as the capability to relate and work effectively across cultures.  

dee@deemills.com.au
Phone: 0447 534 223 (Sydney Australia)

Owner

Valuable Business Conversations

Over the years I’ve had many conversations with business leaders around business, funnily enough. 

The Highs, the Lows and so forth. I would leave each meeting thinking, WOW what a great nugget of info we just shared. And I wanted to share it with others. That’s how we learn right, by sharing our stories in business. But they weren’t my stories to share.

Sandy Colombo was also having the same style of conversations with people and the same feeling. So many Valuable Business Conversations out there, but they weren’t being heard and there was no way of getting it out there without huge money and resources.

So we Co-Founded Valuable Business Conversations. A community of like minded, authentic business owners who share the same values of being successful in business in a responsible way.

It’s a community for business leaders to share what they think are valuable business conversations. To go out there as Ambassadors and to start and have more Valuable Business Conversations. To level the playing field when it comes to being heard. To share their back story. Because people will do business with people they know and trust and they refer them. And together we all grow responsibly and with authenticity.

If this sounds like a community you’d like to be involved in, check us out and join us. And it’s ok if it’s not for you 😊 .

@valuablebusinessconversations
www.valuablebusinessconversations.com.au

Co-Founder

Learning Ventures

Leadership Coach (contract / project based)

Tallant Asia

Tallant Asia services companies around the globe with highly skilled staff. We ethically and responsibly source qualified candidates. We build teams for companies in various back office functions. This includes roles such as software development, accounting, payroll, virtual assistants, sales administration, CAD and more. You can start with just one person and scale up from there.

Sales and Client Relationship Manager

Telstra

Customer Service

Regional Pharmaceuticals

Target state based and national buying groups for pharmacy, grocery/retail and health food channels for products represented by Regional Pharmaceuticals. These include Foltene Hair Loss and Beauty range, The Mozzy Patch, V-Pro and ClearScreen. This is a hybrid role that includes on territory sales calls 2 days a week.

National Sales Manager

Health Focus Products

Sales call design and implementation in my territory of NSW. After 3 months promoted to also include QLD and WA. "Hunter" style sales. Find new stores in the pharmacy and health food channel and build those relationships to ensure ongoing reorders. No existing customer base - all new. 80% conversion from initial call to sale.

Sales Manager

Toga Hospitality

Develop the regional, sporting and special event markets domestically to feed into all Toga properties. Look after B and C Travel Agents. Regular regional and interstate trips.

Sales Executive

Aussie Adventure Holidays

Sales and Marketing Manager

Recruitment and Management of Virtual Assistants and Remote Teams

Are you looking to outsource ethically and responsibly? 
Have you been recruiting & managing Virtual Assistants yourself, but now want to get back to your business and have someone else handle the HR?
Got yourself a Remote Team and want to hone their soft skills around Communication to improve their impact within your business?

I've been successfully recruiting, managing and training Virtual Assistants and Remote Teams based in the Philippines for over 7 years.

I bring that much needed knowledge around business realities and combine it with the Cultural Intelligence required to make it a win win for my clients and their remote team members.

Starting with recruiting candidates to match your job description AND your workplace culture.

Add to that, ensuring your remote team members are paid correctly with the necessary government mandated benefits to stop the churn and burn of staff.
No wasted time on replacing staff and retraining every 6 months or so.
No white collar sweatshops here.

You CAN grow your business profits while providing a stable income and jobs via outsourcing ethically and responsibly.

Ready to do it?
Then let's do it!

Phone: (+61) 0447 534 223 (Sydney Australia)
Email: dee@deemills.com.au

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