Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashley Allen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Ashley, great to have you with us today and excited to have you share your wisdom with our readers. Over the years, after speaking with countless do-ers, makers, builders, entrepreneurs, artists and more we’ve noticed that the ability to take risks is central to almost all stories of triumph and so we’re really interested in hearing about your journey with risk and how you developed your risk-taking ability.
If you asked me if I was a risk taker, I would say no. I like to think of myself as a calculated planner with a dash of perfectionism. I think everything through, even too much so. Everything needs to be perfect all the time.
Then I had kids. I quickly learned that my dreams of being a Pinterest mom were unrealistic. My sons rocked my world in the best way possible. They’ve taught me to live in the moment and to not fixate on the imperfect. My kids have truly has pushed me to try and be the best version of myself.
Through having kids, it’s made me see my world differently. How do I want them to remember me? Am I making them proud? What legacy am I leaving them? Being a mom has encouraged me to take risks. My family is my biggest support system and through their cheerleading I have grown so much as a person. In April of 2023 I took the biggest risk, leaving a well paying secure job to open my own salon with my best friend. It was severely out of character for me to do something like this. More often than not I stayed at jobs that became unfulfilling and underwhelming but were dependable. Becoming stagnant is something so many people struggle with. After mastering my craft, I knew I wanted a new challenge and took the risk of being my own boss. BEST DECISION EVER! You know you are surrounded by the right people when they challenge you to be the best version of yourself. Take the hard road. Take the risk. You never know, it just might be the best thing to ever happen to you. But you will never know if you don’t take the risk.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I have been an esthetician for over 10 years and love to show off my skills as the co-owner of the High Arch Society. Jamie Kirby and I met working at another salon and bonded over the toxic work environment we were in. As the saying goes, in the middle of every difficultly lies opportunity. We fed off a bad situation to create a beautiful new beginning, thus The High Arch Society was opened in April of 2023.
We wanted to build a safe, welcoming space for clients to come and feel valued. Our focus on all things brows, lashes and body waxing has highlighted our strengths as professionals in the beauty industry. The High Arch Society has been an outlet for us to share our eclectic personalities while providing exceptional services. If you don’t mind, I’d love to recommend starting with a brow shape and tinting. It’s truly a gateway in brow addiction. For those that are already hooked, we welcome you to give brow lamination and a lash lift a go to enhance your natural beauty. It truly will add a whole new meaning to I woke up like this.
Moreover, what we do at the High Arch Society is far beyond beauty treatments. We pride ourselves on being a friend to those in need and showing people their potential. All of our services come with the belief that you are part of our family now and we will go above and beyond every expectation you have. We come across so many clients that have branded us as their unofficial therapist and we take great honor with that responsibility.
There are so many talented estheticians out there. We have incredible peers and value all their work. We hope to inspire others in and out of the beauty industry to find their drive and be the best they can be. Our passion for what we do is abundant and we hope that everyone we connect with is affected by our enthusiasm.
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?
Getting the courage to open my own business was one of the hardest things I’ve done. Being self employed is not for the weak hearted.
Having the tenacity to roll with the punches has probably been one of my strongest qualities. Everyday you will thrown a different obstacle or setback and it’s all in having the perseverance to over come it. There were so many days I wanted to give up, but the thought of failure was more crippling than the intimidation of not knowing how to do something. Knowing when to ask for help and being humble has really been vital to growing my business. It’s ok not to know everything all the time, but knowing your resources is invaluable.
Moreover, trust your gut. If you know your industry and demographics, let your intuition lead the way. Imposter syndrome is real and can be such a roadblock. As someone that’s personally fought with some imposter syndrome, I know how much a devil in your ear it can be. I think the best way to overcome it is by empowering yourself with education related to your field and building a strong network of peers. Don’t be your own worst enemy!
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
I am a huge reader and one book I constantly think about is Unfuck Yourself by Gary John Bishop. If you are looking for some sweet sugar coating life advice this is not the book for you. Bishop lays it out straight to the point in way that makes you hold yourself accountable in the best way. It’s all about learning how to avoid negative internal dialogue despite any circumstance. It was refreshing to read a book that was so honest and a threat to self deprecation. I constantly try to hold myself to the set of standards Bishop lays out. It has really helped me consider things in a different light and to stop throwing pity parties.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vagaro.com/thehigharchsociety
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/higharchsociety/
Image Credits
John Chihoskip
