Story & Lesson Highlights with Ashley Scott of Sherman Oaks

Ashley Scott shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Ashley , thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me looks like waking up Monday-Friday at 6:45am to get my daughter ready for school. Tackle getting my daughter up and ready for school, heading out the door on time and fighting through the morning school drop offs. Which if you’re a parent with a child in school, you would understand! Once successfully getting her to school on time, I head home where I get to spend my mornings with my boyfriend, where we drink coffee or tea and just enjoy each others company before having to get ready for work. Depending on what time I have to go in, I get myself ready for the day and head into the office. On average I usually have anywhere from 4-6 clients a day. At the end of the day, I usually close the shop and have to head back to school where I pick up my child. From there, we usually try to figure out what we want to eat, whether it’s me cooking at home or getting takeout. I spend time with my daughter helping her with homework, give her a bath and get her ready for bed. Once settled in and asleep, that’s when I usually have time for myself and basically get ready for the next day.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ashley Scott and I’m a medical aesthetician specializing in problematic skin (acne, melasma, rosacea, anti-aging, all chemical peels, ect.) and postoperative lymphatic drainage massages for those who have had surgeries such as liposuction BBL‘s, facelift, tummy tucks, ect; I have been in the industry for a little over 15 years now where I started in the industry working with plastic surgeons, doing postoperative lymphatic massages. I then later went back to school and obtained my aestheticians license and had worked in a med. spa for almost 11 years. After having my daughter, I decided to branch off and start my own business, All Things Skin. Starting my own business has been one of the best decisions I have ever made, it was truly a leap of faith. Four years later, I’m still on my own and am the happiest I’ve ever been in this field.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that most shaped how I see myself would be the relationship that I have/had with myself. We sit with ourselves more than one would like to at times and I feel like when you’re able to be alone and understand who you truly are it can make or break you. It can allow you to evolve, you either like yourself or don’t like yourself. You can either continue to live content where your life is at or you choose to make decisions that will elevate you to the next level. The only person that is stopping you from obtaining the life you want is yourself. Being able to also self reflect is the biggest blessing that you can give yourself. The moment you think you know everything is the moment you actually don’t and being humble enough to learn, not only through your mistakes, but through others. My mistakes have absolutely shaped me into the person that I am today.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
When I was in college at Arizona State University I remember being a junior this particular year. I was taking 18 credit courses, which for those who don’t know what that means, I was taking about six classes and they were all project based. Extremely time-consuming and difficult. I remember feeling extremely overwhelmed and just wanting to quit. I wanted nothing more to do with college. I felt like this just wasn’t for me. Vividly, as if I was there I recall sitting in the lobby contemplating and just wanting to cry. I called my mother, and I shared with her how overwhelmed I was feeling, how tired I was and how I was really considering on quitting or just taking a break from school. Within that phone call my mother told me to just calm down, relax, and go for a walk. Get your mind off of it for a few hours and reset. She told me, “You have come this far, You are almost done with school. You can’t quit now. When you see the finish line, that’s where you will be tested the most, and where you need to push the hardest. There is no giving up because you are not a failure. You are a winner and you will find a way.” I don’t know what it was about that phone call with my mom but it resonated in my soul and honestly I feel like have I not had that phone call, I might’ve just quit. This story always sticks in my head because I’ve come to realize nothing in life isn’t unattainable. It’s the will within ourselves to keep going and not quit. If you continue and fail, at least you tried. But if you quit, you’ll never know what the outcome could’ve been.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
As smart as people are, I think we forget to go back to basics. And what I mean by this is what matters most in life, Connection. We all know how social media has just completely taken over everybody’s lives. Putting our phones down and truly enjoying each other’s company. Having that one on one intimate conversations and allowing us to be vulnerable with one another. Understanding that you can get a lot further in life by just being your true authentic self instead of constantly wearing a mask that you feel others would like more than who you truly are. Also, a lot of parents lack connection with their own children/child. Unfortunately, the children are fed tablets, phones, or television to fill in the void that parents are not giving their child/children. We as adults can get so caught up in our everyday lives, not realizing that the connection with our child means more than anything because it’ll shape their future relationship with you and others.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
What I understand deeply that most people don’t in my opinion are a few things I find to be true, is unconditional love. Giving to those and not expecting anything in return. Understanding forgiveness and the ability to understand when people make mistakes that it really has nothing to with you and it isn’t personal. Whether this is in business or your personal life, it applies to every aspect. I truly have mastered that life is a journey and I’m just along for the ride. I’ve learned to not attach myself to anyone or anything for at any moment it could be ripped away and that betrayal is inevitable. At some point, those closest to you whom you trusted, those you gave the shirt off your back for, at some point you will be disappointed. Once you understand these things in life, nothing and no one could ever hurt you or stop you. You can feel but deep down it creates this armor that truly makes you unstoppable as a human being, because at that point nobody can control your emotions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.allthingsskinn.com
• Instagram: @skincarebyashleyy
• Twitter: @allthingsskinn
• Yelp: All Things Skin