Meet Ashley Polacek

We recently connected with Ashley Polacek and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I found my purpose through trial and error, persistency, consistency, discipline, and taking risks. What people fail to realize about the journey of finding your purpose is that is it supposed to come to you. It is supposed to come on a random day without putting any effort, time, or work. And if it does not, then you have no purpose. On the contrary, effort, time, and work have to be put in to find your purpose. It is a process that you must invest in and trust.

I was in high school when I started my journey of finding my purpose, specificially, my sophomore year. It was one of the hardest journeys I went through. I knew it had to do with basketball. I knew I had it in me to be someone and do something with the game. But how? How is the game of basketball my purpose? How is putting an orange ball in a net my purpose? Little did I know that little orange ball was going to inspire thousands and take me around the world. While in high school, I spent hours in the gym perfecting my craft. I was on the basketball court and in the weight room. While on the basketball court, I had a plan every time I stepped onto the court. The night before, I wrote down the workout. I went online and educated myself on how to workout properly. I wanted to learn from the best. I reached out to some of the best trainers in the game to pick their brain. In the weight room, I wrote down every single workout I did including the reps and sets. I knew I also had to work on my mindset. I read books and took notes on how to become mentally tough and confident. I became obsessed with the process. Who told me what to do? Nobody. That is the crazy part. All I knew was that my purpose had to do with basketball. I knew I had to put in the work and trust the process. Fast forward to my second year of college basketball, one of my basketball training videos went viral all over social media. My life has never been the same since then in the best way possible. That orange ball gave me the opportunity to inspire thousands through my story, my struggles, my achievements. and my passion for the game. I was able to help players that were in the same situation as me reach their own goals. The game of basketball was my vessel to be an inspiration to those who do not have an easy journey, but always find a way to figure it out while also enjoying the beauty that life has to offer.

The journey to finding your purpose requires a lot of dedication. but it IS 100% achievable. Everyone has a purpose. You will find yours.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a professional basketball player, basketball skills trainer as well as a strength and conditioning coach, and content creator. I moved to St Louis about a year ago. I grew up in Canada and moved to the US when I graduated high school for basketball. I have my own clothing apparel called NextGenHoops Apparel. I love tattoos. I love them because it represents who I am, my beliefs, and my story. I plan on building my own nonprofit one day. I want to take my brand globally. Through basketball, I want to help millions of people of all ages reach their personal goals.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Consistency
2. Creativity
3. Work ethic

My advice is to choose the hardest path and to look at the bigger picture. By choosing the easy path, the rewards won’t be as rewarding compared to what could have been achieved by choosing the hardest path. By looking at the bigger picture, you remember why you started during the times you feel like giving up.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I am looking for goal-driven, positive, creative, and consistent individuals who love to entertain and create interesting and original content. I want to be a part of a community who strives to make a positive impact through fitness and entertainment. Social media is one of the best ways to do so. My Instagram is nashley and my TikTok is _nashley911. I’m very open-minded and love to tap into new and creative ways!

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