We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashley Thomas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashley below.

Ashley , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s go back in time a bit – can you share a story of a time when you learned an important lesson during your education?

Picture it. Summer 2010, Houston, Texas on Rosewood Street. You guessed it; “Greystone at TSU.” This day was the beginning of one of the most valuable and most impactful lessons of my life. I was so psyched to be away from home and in a new environment, but I also was greener than I imagined. I had always excelled in my studies and had always been a part of prestigious organizations, but I struggled heavily in the socio-emotional part of my life. When I transferred to Texas Southern University, what I didn’t pick up right away was that I was in search of things that would fill a massive hole that only healing could fill. I spiraled out of control and at one point, I looked in the mirror and did not recognize the person looking back at me.

This is the lesson that I learned: You have to uncover the root to understand the fruit. See the things that I occupied myself with was acting only as a bandage but the wound it covered in fact, needed surgery. Before you begin down a path where you are out of pocket and not on your journey of purpose, you have to pause and take a minute to ask yourself, “What am I really doing?” “Is it a different reason than what I’m telling myself?” When I transferred, I said or told everyone that it was because of a program when in actuality, I was running from everything that made me take a deeper look and fix some deeper issues, If I couldn’t see it and it wasn’t readily around, I can avoid it as long as I want. Take it from me, DON”T do that. Face it. Be Real and Heal.

Learning this lesson is a vital step in my programs that I’ve created and the sessions that anyone can book. It is vital because if you skip that part, you will be in a whirlwind cycle of insanity, doing the same thing and expecting different results. May someone reading this be helped and be healed in the process.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Google me! OMG! I can say that now, yes, Heap of Hope, LLC. has been officially verified by Google. My name is Ashley Thomas BUT you can call me the HopeDealer! I am HBCU educated x2, a wife, a mother of three (3 and under omg), author, certified life coach and the Founder of Heap of Hope, LLC.

Heap of Hope came about in September of 2013, but my introduction to helping people began long before that. No matter where I found myself, everyone always gravitated to me when they needed sound advice and encouragement. The acronym H.O.P.E. stands for Helping Others Promoting Encouragement. From 2013-2015, I did conferences for mothers and daughters that included mental health sessions, physical health, beauty, spirituality, and much more. The name the Hope Dealer derived from my very passion and being intricately involved with who I dealt hope to. HOPE is for everyone.

My educational background, both undergraduate and graduate accentuate and equipped me even further for this passion of mine. In Heap of HOPE, there are a plethora of services available such as book tour/pop-up, life coaching, group sessions, collaborations, speaking engagements, appearances, conferences, accountability partnerships, etc. You can book with me on heapofhope.net. ALL services are very affordable, and the hours are flexible as well. I’m designed it you in mind.

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

So many of these, but let’s choose one that will stick. The support that you receive will likely come from strangers than your family, circle or those who you “feel” should be jumping at the chance to support your business.

When you begin with that expectation, chances are you will be disappointed every single time. I’m telling you from experience and I’m telling you because I want you to skip that stage in business where you are feeling discouraged because that which you have expected has turned out to be the complete opposite.

What I will say is yes, continue to promote your business, let everyone know but know that everyone won’t support like you want them to. Support is also not just limited to monetary contributions; it can be a share, a comment, or even a referral. When you grasp this lesson, this is when you will begin to soar a little higher.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Hopedealing never stops. It is a 24/7 job because you never know who you will encounter and what you will experience in the process. When you are passionate about something, there are lengths that you travel to ensure that it remains on the path that you envisioned for it. You have to be ready to deliver at a moment’s notice.

In this case, it was the week that my daughter was supposed to be due, and I was in excruciating pain. One morning, I receive an email from an organization in Chicago stating that they needed someone to host because their person dropped out. The taping was for the next morning and the founder gave me a list that he would be talking from so that I can have some sense of preparation.

Where was I the next morning? You guessed it, talking to a slew of young ladies about sisterhood, about attitude, about success and being their own boss. This was an opportunity for God to help me do what HE has willed for the HopeDealer and Heap of Hope as a whole. If it was up to me, I probably would’ve declined but what if I missed the opportunity to change a life in the process? IF I can just reach one, my assignment that day is not in vain. There will be times that you will be so inspired by your business that it will take over and help you complete the task at hand despite any adversity or reluctance.

Contact Info:

• Website: heapofhope.net
• Instagram: instagram.com/heapofhope
• Facebook: Heap of Hope
• Linkedin: Ashley P. Thomas
• Twitter: twitter.com/heapofhope_
• Youtube: HOPE DEALER
• Yelp: Heap of Hope, LLC.
• Other: Google: Heap of Hope, LLC Tiktok: HeapofHope