We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley Neville a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I have been a business owner for three years. I have learned a lot of things not just for myself but from others who are just as or if not more successful than myself. My biggest lesson is to surround yourself with people who inspired you to be GREAT. Collaborate with others in your industry. Stop competing with those who could help you. This is why you shouldn’t gossip or partake in unnecessary drama. Most business-minded individuals only discuss success, how to accumulate more income, and what’s the next business move! Lastly, I attended profitable networking events. It will help if you connect to key influencers in your industry and your target market. Start relationships that will lead to strategic alliances, joint ventures, and referrals.

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?

Hi! My name is Ashley Neville. I’m dedicated to partnering with business owners to help them reach the elevation in their business through branding, photography, strategy, and design. I’ve always had a passion for innovation and creativity. I’ve been drawing since I was five years old. Years later, I was obsessed with computers—this fascination with my interest in graphic and web design. I’ve worked for agencies before; however, I felt I couldn’t be expressive in my work. So I left and created a company of my very own. It was the scariest decision I had ever. However, I am thankful I took that risk. Long story short, I enjoy what I do. I sincerely enjoy seeing my clients excel after their business has been rebranded. I started my company three years ago and have developed a successful business in the design industry. I’ve worked on over 350+ logo designs as well as rebranded companies. I successfully managed graphic design projects from corporate to individual organizations. My team and I work closely with clients to create a vision and conceive design concepts that you will love. Our motto is to effectively build, motivate, and create unique designs to establish your brand. I have 6+ years of experience in design. In addition, I hold a degree in Graphic and Web Design from The Art Institute.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Learn from your customers. As an entrepreneur grows, you will do incredibly well but possibly make mistakes. However, it’s imperative to listen to feedback from your customer base. This is crucial. Both positive and constructive criticism can help you excel in your business. Prioritize your customer support. Make sure you are responding to email and social media responses promptly. Make it known if you prefer to be contacted via email or website. This is how you build trust. Being attentive allows your business to turn unhappy customers into loyal ones. Finally, be sure to find BALANCE. Working long nights and early mornings will decrease your performance. However, do not be afraid to outsource and ask for help. For example, hiring the right people to take over specific tasks and functions allows you to focus solely on building the brand.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson I had to unlearn was thinking entrepreneurship was glitz and glam. It is not rainbows and sunshine all the time. You will make it far if you are disciplined, consistent, and dedicated. So, if someone is interested in becoming an entrepreneur or business owner, these are the hard truths you must prepare for. Healthcare is expensive, and many entrepreneurs go without insurance. You are paying out of pocket because you no longer have a job that gives you coverage. You also need money to make money. You will make A LOT of money, but you will spend just as much! You will spend A LOT of your time on your business when you start. You won’t have flexible hours all the time. You can become easily stressed and want to quit 100x. It can take an emotional toll on YOU. You may not earn much in the first six months of business. You do not have a guaranteed income when working as an entrepreneur. You can have 15K months and then 1k months. You may experience financial instability. You are establishing proof of revenue and profit. You may encounter industry and client backlash. To function, you must obtain the correct licensing requirements, permits, and regulations your new business venture must follow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.creativelivinwithashley.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashlainedesignsagency/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshlaineDesignsLLC/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-neville-61347168/

Image Credits
John Brown | Photographer