We were lucky to catch up with Tammy Ash recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tammy, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
My work ethic comes from a few things, actually; it would be impossible to put it into just one thing. I grew up watching my Grandpa and my Dad work as hard as they knew how, and neither one ever complained or backed down from a job. If they didn’t know how, no one ever knew; they would just figure it out.
I was always so impressed with this work ethic that I promised myself that I would do the same thing, never let anything beat me, and never settle for where I am in life just because I reached my goals. When I started Designs by Ash, LLC, I knew nothing about owning a business, but I did know what I wanted to do if I owned one, so I started there.
I wanted it to be one for the people that need help the most, the disabled, the ones in hospice, the ones that are memory challenged with dementia, and the autistic communities, because these last two mentioned are the ones that most people don’t understand. They are the ones that are afraid to go to a salon, and most stylists, not all, but most, don’t have the time or patience for what is required to make them comfortable.
To do something like what I do with Designs by Ash, LLC, you need to have the best work ethic ever, because it will take a toll fast if you don’t. There have been a lot of changes and upgrades over the past 11 years, but that comes with growth and being dedicated to my work. My drive to succeed to prove not only to myself, but to others that I can and will succeed is a lot of what keeps me going. The need to be successful and to show my kids and grandkids that no matter what, no matter how long you’ve waited, you can always make your dreams come true if your willing to work hard enough. I like to think that I have accomplished this when I hear my sons tell me they are proud of me, or one of my 3 grandkids telling people what I do for a living . To hear how proud they are of me when they talk, makes me want to try even harder.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am the owner of Designs by Ash, LLC, a mobile hair and medical nail company that specializes in severely disabled, hospice, dementia, autism, mental health, etc, in the comfort of their homes, in their room at a facility, or in the hospital for extended stays.
I stay very busy, and I am normally booked 2-3 weeks in advance with a waiting list! I have clients already booked through the end of the year, so this is very exciting for me to know that my hard work over the last 11 years has paid off!
When I am not doing hair or nails, I have my grandkids every Friday when they aren’t in school. This is an important thing for me to get to do, as when my boys were growing up, I was always having to work, so getting to make time to watch them grow and to be a part of their lives is really important to me.
In my spare time, I work for the Kansas City Chiefs at all home events, whether it’s football, concerts, or anything that takes place at Arrowhead, including the World Cup next year! This is my 4th year of being a part of something as big as the NFL, and having 2 Super Bowl rings of my own is truly amazing to me in how far I’ve come, not only with my business, but in my personal life as well. I used to be too scared to put myself out there to do the things I really wanted to do, so I settled for most of my life. I have learned that there is an entire world out there just waiting if you’re not scared and don’t mind a little hard work!
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. The first would be to stop being scared to fail. You only miss the chances you don’t take!
2. Set goals for yourself, but make them feasible to achieve in a set amount of time. Don’t be unrealistic, but don’t sell yourself short either; you can accomplish a lot more than you ever dreamed possible!
3. Never stop learning new things. For example, I was already a licensed stylist and nail tech, but I became a medical nail technician. I specialize in all fields of people that I work with. I have a diploma in Human Resources, one in Business Management and one in Public Relations just because I wanted to better myself for my company and my clients.
My biggest accomplishment is that outside of being a nail tech, I am now also a medical nail technician, and I can work alongside Doctors and podiatrists doing medical pedicures. I choose to do it for my own company and my own clients to save them a trip!
If you settle for where you are, you will never know how amazing your life can actually be!
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always on the lookout for new companies or individuals who would like to tell their clients about my services! Unfortunately, in my field of service, my clients pass away sooner than most, so it’s a constant ongoing struggle to find new clients. While the others can never be replaced, it is part of the territory with what I do for a living, so I appreciate anyone who refers me to their friends, family, coworkers, or their own clients!
This is how my company stays in business is by word of mouth, so I would love it for people to share my phone # or my website with others. My info can all be found on my website at www.designsbyashllc.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.designsbyashllc.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammy-ash-7445785a
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/designs-by-ash-richmond
- Other: Google reviews: https://share.google/vt6dcfQgXMXqHZp3G
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
