Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Tyne.
Ashley, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I guess it goes back to childhood. I was a crazy, goofy, fun-loving kid from birth to about eight years old. I was outgoing, always making friends, talking to everyone, and constantly the center of attention, but then, when I was eight, everything changed. I was constantly bullied and called names, which is, I imagine, when everything went south. I became quiet, passive, and embarrassed of myself. I felt ugly and uncomfortable in my own skin and started dieting at age 12. Through my teenage years and into my early 20s, I battled multiple eating disorders, depression, and I attempted suicide three times (I can’t believe I’m writing this).
In my early 20s, I made financial mistakes, relationship mistakes, career mistakes, health mistakes, and overall life mistakes; it felt like I was making the wrong decision at every fork in the road, until one day.
I remember the day like it was yesterday; I was vacuuming my apartment in NYC that I shared with my ex-boyfriend. I was completely miserable and losing faith in my decision to move out there with him from CA, but I made that decision, and HAD to stick with it because otherwise, I would be a “failure.” Anyway, back to the story, while vacuuming, I saw an infomercial for Tony Robbins. I had never heard of him at that point, but everyone had such great stories and experiences with his program (yes, I know, it was an infomercial), so I thought, what the hell? What’s the worst thing that could happen?
Long story short, I listened to the tapes and after several months of trying to fix my relationship, nothing changed. I listened to the next steps, where he basically said, if your relationship is not improving, then make the decision to get out of it. For a split second, I remembered my, “everyone will think I’m a failure” mindset, but then I realized, I am the only one living MY life, and I should be happy. Why should I worry about someone else’s decision when they aren’t living my life day to day. I have to take care of myself and my happiness.
I left NYC and moved back to sunny CA two months later. The plane ride home was life-changing. I was beginning a new chapter of my life and could feel the excitement in my chest. I had never made such a big decision before, and I just knew I could do it again, in ALL aspects of my life.
Since that day, I still make mistakes, but I always learn from them and rebound much more quickly than before. I have finally developed the self-confidence and empowerment I needed to succeed in my life. I am NOT willing to settle for anything less than my best self, and I only compare myself to who I was yesterday, not anyone else in the world or on the internet.
Why I started A of All Trades is to be the support system for girls who are struggling to find acceptance and support regarding their own confidence, empowerment, and individuality. I struggled when I was younger because I didn’t have a support system who understood what I was dealing with. My parents are AMAZING and they have always supported me, but they didn’t understand the mental aspects of how I was feeling. They couldn’t understand my depression, my eating disorders or my mental health battles, and they couldn’t give me the advice I really needed from someone personally experienced in those issues. I feel as though I’ve been through hell and back, and it’s given me such a deeper appreciation for the world and what I can make of it.
I’m here to be the virtual BFF to all girls struggling to find their true selves, their unique gifts, and their confidence both inside and out. I’m ready to build an army of positive, empowered girls who are ready to take control of their lives and positively change the world for good! We’re ALL striving for acceptance, support, love, and world peace, right?
Has it been a smooth road?
A smooth road, ABSOLUTELY NOT. I’ve hit so many obstacles along the way. Even now, I make the wrong decisions, I hit snags, I have mental breakdowns and sometimes I question if what I’m doing is even worth it, but then I remember why I started.
I have three tips of advice for girls starting their journey toward self-improvement, launching a brand, or developing their influence.
My first tip is to always remember your “why.” Your “why” is so much more important than the numbers, the follower counts and the engagement. Write down your “why,” your main reason for starting, and keep it in a place you can always reference if you ever feel like throwing in the towel.
Number two is to always be authentic. When you are your true self, you always know what decisions to make, based off your own moral compass, and you won’t settle for collaborations, jobs, or opportunities, that just “don’t feel right.” Also, when you are authentically you, people will be able to more easily relate to you and trust you, in turn, creating lifelong relationships and friends. (Plus you don’t have to worry about hiding your “real” life because they already know your real life.)
Lastly, “do it scared.” Honestly, no one knows what they are doing in a job they’ve never done before, and this is a job you, most likely, have never done before. You can do all the research you want, but until you are in the daily grind, you will never truly understand the time, the persistence, the commitment and the determination needed to keep your vision alive, thriving and headed toward success. Don’t worry about buying that extra piece of technology, that expensive camera, that software program, or that online course before you can start. Start TODAY and do it scared.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into A of All Trades story. Tell us more about it.
I started “A of All Trades” to impact the life of ONE girl. I started because my “why” was so much more important than the numbers, the follower counts and the engagement. My mission in life is to help girls who may not have a support system, girls struggling with issues they can’t talk to their friends about, girls who want to learn from someone who’s been in their shoes, and girls who want to learn from someone who’s “doing is scared,” because the bigger picture is really what matters.
I am an influencer. I’m on all social media outlets (Instagram being my most active platform), I have a blog, I’m in the beginning stages of starting a YouTube channel, and down the road, I would love to start a podcast and write a book. (Lord knows how much I listen to podcasts and audiobooks! #multitasking).
On my blog, I discuss mindset shifts and how to “level-up” your life by finding your power to make the change and decide to be the person you’ve always wanted to be, by not settling in ANY of your relationships, and by sharing MY mistakes and how I’ve failed, so you don’t have to repeat the struggles that I’ve gone through. I also share body positivity and how to feel confident and beautiful in your own skin by teaching the tips and tricks I’ve learned within beauty, skincare, hair care, and fashion, from what I’ve learned throughout my years working in both the fashion and beauty industry, as well as from my education at FIDM (The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) and MUD (The Make-Up Designory). I’m ultimately here to serve YOU, every single day. I want to be your “virtual BFF” to support your dreams, goals, and intentions you have for your life.
What sets me apart from other influencers is that I’m NOT perfect, and I don’t pretend to be. I’ve struggled with my self-worth, I’ve made mistakes, I’ve spent countless hours worrying about sub-par relationships, I’ve failed, I’ve given up, I’ve felt unworthy, I’ve been a pushover, and I’ve battled mental health issues. But I did something about it. I finally got to a point where I couldn’t keep prioritizing everyone else’s priorities over my own and I couldn’t keep apologizing for my existence, and I’m here to help other girls in the same position, finally, feel empowered to do the same.
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
There have been so many strong, powerful and incredible women who inspired my life and my journey along the way. There are so many women who inspire me on a daily basis, but I’ll narrow it down to five.
Marie Kondo, who honestly taught me everything I need to know about tidying and life. She truly taught me the art of keeping only what brings me joy, and I couldn’t tell you how much that has completely transformed my life, my outlook and my intentions for the future. The anxiety you lose when getting rid of things that are taking up space and causing subconscious emotional distress is UNREAL. You will never know how life-changing tidying can be until you read and implement the lessons from her book. (PS: it’s the only book I’ve read 6 times!)
JK Rowling, who hit rock-bottom, yet still had the perseverance and determination to use the only resource she had (her brain) to fight for her dream, even when everyone around her was telling her to quit.
I’m sure every millennial will say this but, Sophia Amoruso, Founder, and CEO of Girlboss Media, and Former Founder and CEO of Nasty Gal. She started with nothing but one stolen book and a simple eBay store. She slowly started selling one-off vintage pieces, she bought from thrift stores, on eBay and Nasty Gal grew into a multi-million dollar company. She wrote an autobiographical novel about her life and the ups and downs she went through, and then, after stepping down as CEO at Nasty Gal and selling the company, she founded Girlboss Media, a platform aimed to inform, educate and inspire ambitious women… something I would LOVE to create down the line.
Tabatha Coffey, who always speaks the truth, stands up for what’s right and is determined to help others succeed, both in business and in life.
And lastly, I HAVE to mention my mom. My mom has been a huge support throughout my life. Many of my decisions, she did NOT agree with (sorry about the tattoos, Mom) but she has always been there to encourage me to go after my dreams. Entrepreneurship was something she dabbled in, but I don’t think she wanted me to go down that path, not because she didn’t think I intelligent enough or experienced enough, but because she knew how risky, difficult, and taxing it would be, both on myself and my relationships. However, over the years, my mom has been by my side through countless businesses I’ve created, dozens of part-time jobs, an overwhelming amount of career moves (which always included extra schooling), and over 100,000 miles of commuting in LA for jobs, internships, auditions, and interviews. My mom inspires me by teaching me the life lessons she’s learned, being the most positive and easy-going person I’ve ever met, and always knowing the right thing to say to keep me focused on the journey ahead. Thanks, Mom, I love you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ashleyofalltrades.com
- Email: ashley@ashleyofalltrades.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aofalltrades/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aofalltrades1/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/aofalltrades
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzgQ2F7bbbr_pSlevs1Rhcw
Image Credit:
Bobby Brink
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