Tim Johnson

Tim Johnson is the CEO and Founder of Health In Tech, which provides proprietary technology solutions that are disrupting the healthcare industry and changing it for the better. A graduate of Missouri Western State University, where he studied business and marketing, Tim is leading Health In Tech in its mission to streamline the healthcare industry and make it more transparent. Its technology solutions for brokers make providing quotes for self-funded plans quick and easy. Health In Tech also assists TPAs and small business owners providing small-group plans that are level-funded. He believes that technology can improve efficiency and create a better customer experience in the healthcare industry. This is exciting and very fulfilling work.

In his spare time, Tim likes to build things. His family are all hard-working blue collar workers. He grew up building garages, pouring concrete, wiring houses, and remodeling anything just to make money. So now his small acreage in the country is covered with buildings, ponds, garages and things that he has made. His house has been added on to multiple times as a result. This work in the evenings and weekends helps him relax, as it is quite a change of pace from his workday routine leading Health In Tech.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

My typical day involves a balance of business development and leadership responsibilities. I make my day productive by maintaining a disciplined schedule but also leaving time for unexpected things I may need to handle, and making sure to take breaks to restore my energy for the next tasks.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I bring ideas to life with the help of an excellent team. Our leadership are experts in their roles and together we help take concepts from idea to reality.

What’s one trend that excites you?

The trend toward greater transparency in the healthcare sector. This is a small but growing trend and we want to help facilitate better understanding and even mutually beneficial collaboration between brokers, small employers, and employees.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

Writing down ideas when I have them, so I remember to act on them later, works well for me.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would advise my younger self to have more confidence in his ideas and bring them forward more.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.

They won’t admit it, but my leadership team does not agree with me when I tell them that our products and programs will all be purchased on-line in the near future, and that we need to be developing that technology as we continue to innovate. I am sure they think this is not coming for the next 10 years.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

I repeatedly recommend (even in this interview!) carefully scheduling your time, but also leaving space in your calendar for anything unexpected or when you need a break. This will ultimately make you more productive and more responsive to what happens to you throughout the day.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

I find that taking a walk can help clear my mind.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

The strategy of always asking “What next?” This has helped me not not get set in my ways and always ask how we can do something even better, and to be ready for a new challenge.

What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

When I was younger I was not as willing to take risks in my career, because I did not feel that I had the right amount of experience to do so. Now I take structured risks and it has definitely paid off in allowing me to drive our organization forward.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

While I can’t design your business for you, I encourage you to find the intersection of your strengths and your passion, and determine a way to monetize that intersection. That is the best possible business idea, because you will have the skills to make the right decision and the motivation to work as hard as it takes to make your business a success.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

It’s hard to narrow it down when you’re as interested as I am in the way technology can simplify someone’s life. A very basic example that people might find relatable is Google Calendar. This helps me be productive by helping me plan out my day in a structured way, including building in time to take breaks when I need to, and time to handle anything unexpected that comes up. This boosts productivity because I always know where I am going when, and what I am doing, throughout my workday, but I can also handle surprises.

What is the best $100 you recently spent?

I recently purchased a remote that can shut my pond aerator off from my house so I can sit on my porch and not listen to it hum all evening.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?

There are so many excellent books out there about business, startups, and healthcare, that it’s impossible to pick just one. The best books are those that challenge your thinking, helping you to come up with more creative solutions in your work and life.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

Unfortunately I don’t have a lot of time for movies and TV. However, if that’s your way of clearing your mind and helping you be more productive, that’s great!

Key learnings:

• Never be afraid to take chances that fit with your strengths. When we decided to disrupt the healthcare industry, we had to be bold, but we did it in a rational way, leveraging our existing experience to make that happen.
• Keep a consistent schedule, but schedule for inconsistencies. In other words, leave time in your schedule to address anything that comes up unexpectedly, so you won’t be caught unprepared.
• Take the long view of things. Your chances of making substantial change or significant monetary gains in a short period of time that last over a long period are very very low. You have to have a vision and an understanding that it will take years to reach, not months. Then the patience to work the long term plan to reach that vision.