Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley D’Amico.
So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born and raised in a small town in far north Texas and moved to Dallas in 2002 to attend SMU. I loved the city so much, I decided not to leave after college and started working in a variety of corporate roles over the next few years. In 2015, I joined a direct sales company (mostly to score free stuff) and looking back – that was the day my life completely changed course. I continued to focus on achievement within my corporate role but I still felt that something was missing so in August 2018, I attended Younique Convention. I was a little skeptical, as most people are, but I thought it couldn’t hurt to see what all the hype was about. I was absolutely blown away and for the first time in a long time (maybe ever), I realized that my purpose was so much greater than what any corporate role would ever be able to provide. I came back from Convention a changed person and made it my mission to become my own boss.
Now that my entrepreneurial fire was lit, there was no turning back. Enter – event planning. I had been planning events for years for friends, family, corporations, etc. but it wasn’t until I started planning my own wedding that I had an idea. Driven by my frustration with the process, I was certain there had to be a better way. So, in April 2019, Grace Ventures was born. I wanted the name of my company to reflect who I am at my core, a follower of Jesus. I believe that it is by grace we have been saved through faith and I really wanted that daily reminder to be at the heart of what my brand is about. Most of my friends also think my fur baby, Gracie, had a little influence on the name.
When my dad passed away in early 2019, I was struck with the reminder that life is too short to not spend it pursuing your passion so, in May 2019, I left corporate America. I remember leaving the office that day and feeling so many emotions. I felt free, excited for my new chapter and… terrified. I was so excited to pursue what I was passionate about and deeply loved but I was also terrified at the idea of failure and what that would mean for my family. No more 401k, cushy benefits or corporate perks. I was in charge now and that scared me… a lot. But, over time I chose to dive into personal development and teach myself how to be an entrepreneur. I became a sponge to the teachings of all the greatest entrepreneurs I could find and this continues to be part of my daily practice. I definitely don’t have all the answers but I believe that everything is figure-out-able.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Throughout my journey, I have faced bumps in the road both big and small. When I left my job in May, I was supposed to start working with a lady who was starting a nonprofit focused on female empowerment and community involvement. I was so excited to find something that fit into my brand (and candidly, was going to help me pay the bills) that I jumped in and started working on building the infrastructure out. All was going well until it came time for the first paycheck. She never paid me and I haven’t heard from her since. I am sharing this story because I think it represents the struggle a lot of us face. There are going to be hurdles that you can’t predict in your business. Learn how to navigate through them and try to learn something from each one.
Advice for other women:
You are going to hear a lot of no’s. You are going to hear people say that your ideas won’t work or that you can’t handle your goals or that your dreams are too big. My advice – ignore what those people say. If you have a dream, figure out how to make it happen. To paraphrase one of my favorite people ever, Rachel Hollis, “Someone else’s opinion of you is none of your business.” There are going to be questions and struggles along the way. My advice is to find a tribe of people who lift you up, pour into you and are running hard after their goals in the same way you are. Listen to their advice but know that ultimately, no one is going to love your business as much as you do so at the end of the day, you have to decide what is best for you/your company. Be firm about your goals and flexible about how you get there.
For women who are just starting their journey?
If you haven’t started a business yet, my best piece of advice is to join a direct sales/network marketing company. I have heard leaders, speakers, etc. say this for years but now I really understand why. This field is a wonderful way to learn how to run a business with very little risk on your part. For me, it taught me so much about being a leader, marketing, building relationships and a client base that are all necessary skills for me in my event planning business. I think I would have had a much harder time getting Grace Ventures off the ground without the foundation I started with, thanks to Younique.
However you decide to start, just remember that consistency is crucial. Show up every day and do the things.
Please tell us about Grace Ventures and Younique.
Even though my companies are still new, I have big plans for the future and I am abundantly blessed to be at the stage that I am in life. During the day, I get to spend my time working with In My Shoes, a local nonprofit that helps women who are pregnant and homeless or run the risk of homelessness while I continue to build my brand. My businesses are not “side hustles” to me. They are at the core of every decision I make and I am so glad that I have found a tribe of women who are pursuing similar goals.
Through Younique, I am able to teach women how to build a successful business that they can be proud of and show them that they are able to determine their own income, whether it is a career or hobby. I love getting to know my clients and understanding what their concerns are so that I can help create solutions that fit their needs.
Through Grace Ventures, I am able to help people celebrate all of life’s victories, milestones and sweet moments. We specialize in month of/day of coordination but we also offer full-service packages. The most important thing for me is catering to my client’s needs and creating a solution that works best for them. We work on all event types from weddings to birthdays to launch parties to client appreciation events. Nothing is off-limits!
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?
Absolutely!! A woman with the right mindset is a force to be reckoned with. I believe that a woman is well-positioned for any opportunity that she is passionate about and willing to work for. I am not saying it will always be easy but I think any successful woman would agree that you have to start with a strong work ethic. If you are willing to dedicate yourself to an opportunity and really put in the time and effort – I believe that you will achieve what you set out to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.youniqueproducts.com/AshleyDAmico
- Email: ashleyedamico@yahoo.com
- Instagram: @ashleyedamico
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/abeallsarris
- Twitter: linktr.ee/ashleyedamico
- Other: www.facebook.com/graceventuresevents
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