Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Dennis.
Ashley, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
About two and a half years ago, I found myself at a huge transition point in life, I had been in Logistics for over ten years and I was fired for the first time in my life, my fiancee and I broke up and to top it all off I had just lost a pregnancy. I’ve always believed in having multiple streams of income, however in the midst of being knocked down by the tidal waves of change I knew that digging myself out of this hole was going to require me to step outside of my comfort zone. So, I had to decide what business I could start with no money and or materials.
After a few weeks of surfing the internet, and sifting through a few work-from-home opportunities I found myself on a blind date that would change my life forever. I know what you’re thinking I met the man of dreams and we’re off living happily ever after… unfortunately, this is not that story. However, me and the gentlemen are still friends to this day. I did get to meet someone else that night Charlene Brown, you all probably know her as Kimberly Reese from A Different World. We only chatted briefly that night, but what stuck with me that night was one thing that she said. She told me “Sister you have a light, you’d be selfish not to share it with the world.” At that moment, I had no idea what that amazing woman saw in little old me, but it was that sentence that gave me the idea for my next business ME.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As with any business, I’ve experienced my fair share of no’s and frustrations the key is learning to fail forward. You must able to step back and identify your missteps, also you need to look back on the things that seem to be working for you and figure out not only why they work, but ways to get better. In all my years of real estate investing, I’ve learned the most from my bad deals. The biggest struggle I’ve dealt with across the board is doubt, in all of my businesses at some point or another, I reached a point where I thought “maybe everyone is right, I can’t do this it’s too hard or if I fail, I’ll never be able to recover.” I’m here to tell you-you to have two options you can allow your naysayers to convince you to quit or you can pull up your bootstraps and take a chance on yourself, either way, you’ll be right.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am the co-owner of an Edible Arrangements Franchise.
I am a Real Estate investor, I have seven rental properties and I have bought and sold 27 residential and commercial properties.
I am a stock options trader – my business partner and I are looking to turn our trading business into an asset management company and eventually a trading university.
I am an actress/host, I’ve done two feature films; three commercials and a host of music videos and skits, I host a radio show on 92 KELZ called Say Whattt.
I am also an event curator parties, fashion shows, conferences you name it dream, it or think it and I make it happened.
I’m also a mentor for the King Family Foundation, I volunteer as a mentor for the Teen Mom’s Program as well as the Charm Girls which are girls ages 10-18, this is one of my favorite roles, I love being there for all these young women.
Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
There are endless possibilities for women right now, the reality is that WE literally have to decide what it is that you want to do. My intention this year is to turn your passion into your life source. The first step towards turning your dreams into reality is identifying your why. You have to know why you’re doing what you do having your purpose clear gives you the fuel you need to keep going when things get tough.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 713-257-8484
- Email: info@ashleysohouston.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ashleysohouston/?hl=en
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/category/Entertainment-Website/Ashley-So-Houston-259733131266036/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/so_houston
- Other: www.92kelz.com
Image Credit:
Photos by 1409 Media & Graphic Jones
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