Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashley Cherney. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ashley, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Hi, I’m Ashley, and I am from a small town in Wisconsin and also attended college at The University of Wisconsin-Madison, living my first 22 years in cold weather, competitive figure skating, and big coats. Growing up, I always talked about moving after college, even changing my major to focus on film and taking summer courses to graduate college a year early. As I realized that my creativity drove my life choices, I set my eyes on Los Angeles as the next jump to explore myself and my creative ventures. I knew that to find the self-fulfillment I so desired, I needed to be in a place that uplifted my personality and opened doors to new opportunities that were not available to me in Wisconsin. In August 2022 I packed everything I owned into my car and drove over 2,000 miles from Wisconsin to Los Angeles, road tripping through the corn fields and mountain ranges on a four day adventure of a lifetime. This life changing risk has brought me immense self-love and self-discovery. The joy I feel from being surrounded by creatives, the plus of the gorgeous weather, and adopting a cat solidified my love for Los Angeles. I have now been living here for two years and I can say that I finally feel right at home.

Ashley, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

When I first arrived in Los Angeles, I was unsure where I would fit in, but my goal was to try something new and go from there. Beginning my creative journey in LA as an Executive Assistant to the CEO of a Beauty PR Agency really helped me dive head first into the offerings of the city and gave me insight on what I liked and disliked about various industries. While working at this agency I had the privilege of traveling to NYC multiple times to assist with media previews, New York Fashion Week shows, and larger than life events. These experiences led me to connect with new skill sets, amazing people, and above all, the connection with myself, leading me to question what I wanted to accomplish in this lifetime. Gaining two promotions in less than a year and solidifying myself in the Beauty PR space felt sensational and I even left this position to work for even larger beauty brands at another agency, as I was succeeding in this space and my accomplishments gave me unwavering pride. Although I had an amazing job and a beautiful office I loved working in, I continuously questioned if this is what I wanted to do long term. After many months of thought, I decided to leave the PR space to find where I was able to express myself and my creative direction in my own way. The next month, I attended a job interview for a travel company, and learning what the travel industry has to offer that in July 2023, I decided to open a travel agency of my own.

This is the origin story of ‘Your Travel Agent Ashley,’ a full-service travel agency with myself as the leading face and force of the business. Although I have always considered myself a leader, I never would have guessed my life would accumulate into becoming an entrepreneur, but the flexibility and creative control of owning my own business was exactly what I had been searching for in Los Angeles. I work with single women, couples, and small groups, specializing in travel to France and Spain. I create custom itineraries that combine cultural, adventure, and unique experiences while taking care of all the details to ensure my clients receive the best value and experiences possible! I specialize in European travel, but I help my clients book travel all over the globe including The Caribbean, Asia, Africa, South America, and any other destination you can dream of, as well as booking cruise services and the best rates on all-inclusive stays. When you book travel with me, a travel agent, you enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that your trip is planned with YOUR preferences, not just something the majority of people want to see or do, while also eliminating the hassle of a trillion tabs open on your desktop or having to worry about having enough time between your connecting flights, for example.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The best general self-help book that helped me discover the strength I needed to take the next step into owning my own business and growing independently was “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz. This book helped me break free from my self-limiting beliefs, find inner peace, and create a life of authenticity. “The Four Agreements” provided me with practical insights and exercises that helped in my recent personal and professional transformation. Along with this book for my personal life, I also love the book “Tapping Into Wealth” by Margaret Lynch which has aided in boosting my entrepreneurial mind. It is also a self-help book, that combines traditional wealth-building strategies with Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), also known as “tapping.” By exploring how my emotions, beliefs, and past experiences can create barriers to financial success, this book has empowered me to uncover and shift my unconscious beliefs about money, ultimately allowing me to tap into my true wealth potential! I highly recommend these books for anyone feeling lost or looking to make significant changes in their lives.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Leaving the security of my full-time job was a step into the unknown that filled me with both fear and anticipation, yet, deep down, I sensed that I was capable of so much more than what my current environment allowed. My decision to change career paths marked a major turning point, one that demanded adaptability and resilience in the face of uncertainty and pushed me to explore my passions in search of true fulfillment in my life. Although this transition has been nothing short of transformative, it has opened doors to opportunities I hadn’t dared to imagine before. Now, my life is infused with a sense of purpose that empowers me to tap into hidden talents and strengths, while the happiness I now experience is a testament to the fact that I made the right choice. I am happy to say that I’m not just excelling in my career, but thriving in various other facets of my life with a newfound drive and motivation to achievements that I once thought were beyond my reach. Reflecting on my time in PR, I am grateful for the invaluable lessons it bestowed upon me. The challenges I navigated and the experiences I gained have become precious resources that armed me with a wealth of knowledge, skills, and insights that I now channel toward steering my business aspirations and lifestyle. This leap of faith not only enriched my life but also set me on a course to fulfill my true potential.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yourtravelagentashley.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourtravelagentashley
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095681611396
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/your-travel-agent-ashley-west-hollywood
• Other: [email protected] (424) 438-0230

Image Credits
Eva Gondelman