Hi Dennis, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
In our society today, I feel instant gratification has taken over and the idea of a work ethic or working towards a goal has become an invaluable trait. I am blessed to be able to look around and be inspired by so many of my peers, friends, and family who are the hardest working and driven people. Truth to be told, I think these are my direct influences.
Growing up, I watched my father come from a single parent household and out on his own at a very young age to becoming the head of music at a major talent agency and become one of the most respected men in the industry who has represented many of the biggest household names. My mom was the exact same way and had to create a truth path for herself with no one to look up to and with no promise of true hope like I have seen in my life. Subconsciously, these are the things that kids pick up on as they grow up and truly see what real values are. I will forever be in debt to my parents for the strong values that they instilled in me and that I find is the major separator for me in my life.
Seeing my friends and peers around me thriving in their respective spaces also is major driver for me in how hard I choose to work for myself and them as well. I want to see everyone around me be the most successful they can ever be in this life. I value and love my friendships and family more than I may put off(I have been more intentional about this as of late), but I hope they come to realize that they all push me to be a better man and person everyday with the way they carry themselves and push for their dreams.
Moreover, when I discovered my true passion in work that aligned with my interests and strengths it created a profound sense of purpose within myself. I am truly lucky as my passion allows me to be around the people I love and making decisions that I believe can benefit everyone around me. When I wake up at 6am every morning to read my book and drink my coffee, I have this driving desire to constantly improve, innovate, and make a meaningful impact that will make my friends, family, and peers happy.
As I started to progress in my career and amazing doors started to open, I found inspiration in learning about those whom had achieved great success before me and learning about the trials they went through to become who they are.
Ultimately, the foundation of my work ethic is truly rooted in a belief that hard work, adding value, and keeping positive thoughts are the key drivers of personal and professional success. With all the lessons learned that I find valuable or not, I have found that with the right blend of influences and everyday energy to obtain a goal, I can truly make anything happen.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am involved in many endeavors as I like to stay busy. I am a co-founder and owner of 3 different businesses and also President of a non-profit.
Every single one of my duties and jobs to me is a passion. I love building things, I love to bring value to teams, and I also love to see everyone win together. In every business I am a part of, the main drivers are how do we create value for others that “we” can be proud of and how do become successful in this space.
I have found that in life and business, the more you don’t worry about the outcome and just focus on the journey of it with a positive mindset you will 99.9% of the time see the value in why you did something and why it worked out the best way possible.
Some exciting things I have coming up is my lifestyle brand, Bliss, is partnering with the Hwood Group on the 4th of July Nobu party. We also have a huge e-commerce product drop and retail store drop nationwide on the horizon following the Nobu event. Also the S.N.O. Culture Summit for my other company is coming up at the end of August while planning another charity event to raise money for underprivileged kids in our area. There is an exciting summer ahead and I can’t wait to dive in and enjoy the process.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three most important qualities, skills and areas of knowledge I’d say are understanding how to create and add value, learning from people who have gone where you want to go, and being your own self motivator.
The biggest piece of knowledge I have ever gained is that 99% of people who have an idea don’t ever act on it, but its the 1% who do act that are the 1% in society. The point being is don’t be afraid to chase your dream and change your reality because you will always gain something from it that is positive and will help you grow if you keep that mindset.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents have done for me is by giving me the tools and confidence to take risks to be the person I want to be in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theblisslifestyle.com
- Instagram: dennisash3
- Linkedin: Dennis Ashley III
- Other: www.snofamilyfoundation.org www.snoculture.com
Image Credits
-Castro -S.N.O. Culture
