Meet Ashley Owens

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley Owens a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
As I reflect on my journey, I realize that the skill of resilience didn’t come easy to me. It was something that I had to consciously develop, foster and refine over time. It was a combination of taking risks, seeking opportunities, facing my fears, and finding my inner strength that helped me grow into the person I am today.

In my childhood, I struggled with a stutter and a submissive nature, which made me a target for bullies. It was a difficult time in my life, and I felt powerless to change my situation. But instead of giving up, I decided to take action. I started attending public speaking classes and participated in school plays to overcome my fear of speaking in public. It wasn’t easy, and I still remember the feeling of nervousness and anxiety that I felt during those early days. But as I continued to push myself, I began to find my voice and develop my confidence.

However, my journey towards resilience didn’t end there. After college, I faced a major setback in my career, and I found myself questioning my abilities and self-worth. It was a difficult time in my life, and I felt lost and unsure of what to do next. But I refused to give up. I started working as a waitress in a restaurant to make ends meet, and it was there that I met two businessmen who recognized my natural sales abilities and offered me a sales position in their company.

As I worked in this new role, I began to see how my natural communication skills and enthusiasm could be an asset in the business world. I was able to connect with people on a deeper level, and I found that my ability to build relationships and rapport helped me excel in my job. It was a turning point in my life, and it taught me that resilience isn’t just about bouncing back from failure. It’s about recognizing your strengths and building on them, even in the face of adversity.

Today, as I help others find their own voice and succeed in their personal and professional lives, I am grateful for the experiences that have helped me develop my resilience. I know that it’s not always easy to face your fears or push yourself out of your comfort zone. But I also know that with determination, support, and a willingness to take risks, anything is possible.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am Ashley Owens, the first and only Networking Concierge who networks so you don’t have to. As a networking concierge, I train, coach, and speak on becoming an authority at generating revenue by networking with intention. I am the host of three digital TV talk shows on RVNTV, This is it TV, and Closers Coffee, where I speak and interview entrepreneurs and business owners on the topic of tactical networking and best business practices. I have taken hundreds of introductory meetings with business professionals looking to grow their network and have given over 2000 introductions. I have spoken to over 300 networking groups, organizations, companies, and conferences while teaching personal branding and advertising sales at Temple University. I have been interviewed on the Mel Robbins Show on CBS, produce and host a podcast talking to entrepreneurs and their experiences, and raise thousands of dollars for local nonprofits through my Cocktails and Conversation networking events. I am a sought-after keynote speaker and bring a wealth of expertise and passion to everything I do.
Whether you’re looking to enhance your personal brand, grow your network, or simply learn from one of the best in the business, I am the ultimate resource for anyone looking to take their career to the next level.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Persistence means never giving up on your goals, no matter how difficult the road may be. It requires a strong belief in oneself and the ability to overcome obstacles and setbacks. To develop persistence, one needs to set realistic goals and focus on one step at a time.

Adaptability is the ability to adjust to changing circumstances and embrace new opportunities. In today’s fast-paced world, one must be able to adapt quickly to stay relevant and succeed. To develop adaptability, one should be open to new ideas, be flexible and willing to take risks.

Continuous learning is essential for personal and professional growth. It is the willingness to acquire new knowledge, skills, and experiences. To develop continuous learning, one must be curious, read widely, and take courses or workshops to improve their skills.

For folks who are early in their journey, my advice is to believe in yourself, stay focused on your goals, be open to new ideas and experiences, and never stop learning. Learn from your mistakes and challenges, and use them to grow and become better. Stay persistent, adaptable, and committed to your goals, and success will follow.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
In my opinion, it’s important to focus on our strengths and invest in them, rather than trying to be more well-rounded by improving our weaker areas. By tripling down on our strengths, we can create a unique value proposition and stand out in the market.

Focusing on our strengths enables us to excel in our chosen field and achieve success. It’s the key to developing a competitive advantage and becoming an expert in our area of expertise. When we focus on our strengths, we can leverage our unique talents, skills, and knowledge to create innovative solutions that meet the needs of our customers.

That being said, it’s also important to have a basic understanding of other areas of our business to be successful. For instance, as an entrepreneur, one may need to have a basic understanding of finance, marketing, and sales, even if it’s not their strongest skill. However, investing too much time and effort on improving our weaker areas can take away from our ability to triple down on our strengths.

I feel strongly about the importance of taking charge of one’s own life and future. This is because I have personally experienced the negative consequences of not doing so. After graduating, I had 23 jobs and struggled to overcome my weaknesses. I constantly had to ask permission and was tired of someone else dictating my future.

One relevant story that comes to mind is when I was working at a job that I did not enjoy. I was constantly being told what to do and how to do it, without any room for creativity or individuality. It was a demotivating environment and I felt like I had no control over my own life. One day, I decided to quit and take a chance on starting my own business. It was a scary decision, but I knew that I had to take charge of my own future and not let others dictate it for me.

Through hard work and determination, my business has become successful and has given me the freedom and control over my life that I had been lacking. This experience has reinforced my belief that we should all strive to take charge of our own lives and futures, as it can lead to greater fulfillment and success.

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