Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashley Moss. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Ashley, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
I developed my ability to take risks by writing out all of the potential problems that could come from a negative outcome and then minimizing the effects of those risks if things go wrong; aka risk mitigation. To give an example, I was nervous when it came to purchasing my first house. One of my biggest fears was buying a house that needed a lot of repairs that I couldn’t afford. I did my research using Google, Tiktok, Pinterest, etc. to see how other people overcame expensive house repairs, as I knew I wasn’t the only one with this concern and my concern probably was already solved by someone or technology/innovation. Sure enough, I found a good home warranty company that had a first time homebuyer special which covered you for up to 3 years. For $60, their technicians would cover 90% of issues that come up on a home. This allowed me to feel comfortable about purchasing a home as the reward of buying a house(increase in house value, rental income, space, etc.) outweighed the risks that I worked to make smaller.
This skill stuck with me throughout life as I proceeded to go to Pilot School. I wrote out all the risks that come with paying for pilot school, then worked through how I can put “insurance” in place incase things did not work out as planned. For example, I was concerned about not having enough money while attending ATP Flight School as I planned on not working while being a single mom. I started researching and found that Sallie Mae can cover your monthly expenses while in school. I also decided I could rent out my house and receive rental income to assist with my expenses. My next concern was not being able to cover my student loan payment when flight school was over. So I quieted the risk by telling myself that I could change my loan to a lower interest rate company, get a higher paying pilot job after the deferment period, or sell my house to pay off the loan.
Finding solutions to all your fears, worries, and concerns regarding a risk ahead of time will allow you to always have a game plan which will set you free to take those risks.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am focused on becoming a Captain at United Airlines, a Designated Pilot Examiner, and a wonderful wife someday with 6 million kids. I am a big believer that women can have it all. After being in an abusive relationship with a man who felt like women are less than and their ideas are not as valuable, I knew I had to leave as God did not see me in the same way. I also had a child with sickle cell disease and the doctors kept telling me in another few months, she will start enduring pain crisis if I do not follow their protocol that included penicillin everyday(so damaging to gut microbiome) til age 5, yet she is almost 5 and hasn’t had a pain crisis yet. So I am here to encourage single moms to spread their wings as we don’t have to fall into the “struggling single mom stereotype”. I am here to remind you that your power is all within and that your connection with God will lead you and keep you safe. I am here to encourage people to be themselves as others may identify with something in you and it can empower them to take action on their dreams. I am here to remind everyone that they can be anything they want to be, regardless of how hard life gets. I am here to encourage people to challenge and question everything. I am here to encourage people to take their health back into their own hands and/or find a holistic approach. I am here to remind people that one size does not fit everyone. Everyone’s unique with gifts that the world needs them to utilize.
I do all of this through being an aviation pilot, a certified flight instructor, creating content on Youtube and Tiktok (@missflyingbeauty), volunteering to teach aviation grounds to high school kids, being a part of Sisters of the Skies, and creating a group chat to help other moms of sickle cell kids.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
One area of knowledge that was very impactful in my journey is understanding finances, budgets, and how to make your money work for you. Being knowledgeable about saving money, investing money, and how to get ahead financially allowed me to leave my abusive relationship and know that I would be able to take care of myself independent of a partner. Another area of knowledge that was extremely impactful was psychology. Understanding myself, people’s defense mechanisms, what causes depression and negative beliefs, why people do what they do, and how to heal toxic patterns that may not be the most beneficial for you in today’s time. Lastly, another area that was helpful was staying connected to God. I would always tell myself that no matter where I am or what happens, I know I will be okay because I am in God’s hands and he is leading the way. Through God, I’ve learned that my life is not about me, but truly about helping and inspiring others through my purpose and passions. Without him, I would still be so lost with a void that I was trying to fill with things that were not healthy for me. He helped me with strength during times when I was scared and nervous. I never felt alone as I felt like he was always by my side. I became more powerful in my walk with God by my side.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
Slowing down is one of the best things I do when I feel overwhelmed. I also enjoy sitting out in the sun, taking vitamin D, taking zinc, writing out a to-do list, cleaning, praying, and trying to prioritize what is most important so I am swallowing one thing at a time.
If that doesn’t work, then writing my thoughts down about why the task feels overwhelming or why I feel overwhelmed and then fact checking my thoughts and finding solutions to getting through overwhelming seasons.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @MissFlyingBeauty
- Facebook: Ashley Moss
- Linkedin: Ashley Moss
- Youtube: Miss Flying Beauty
- Other: Tiktok: @MissFlyingBeauty
