This Monthly Award is
“For the woman who takes risks, feels the fear, but does it anyway”
Ash Ambirge is the owner of The Middle Finger Project
Her Website and consulting business is about guts.
The guts to live up to your potential
The guts to do work that matters
And the guts to get out there & create something you’re proud to call your own
Website http://www.themiddlefingerproject.org/
FaceBook The Middle Finger Project
Here is the story of Ash’s Courage
Ash has been an incredible inspiration for me starting my own graphic design business. Her blog weekly delivers a strong kick in the butt to do my best work, quit whining and stay dedicated fully to ultimately live the life I have always dreamed of -
1. Do you remember the moment you decided to take the leap into owning your own business? How did it feel and what was it that made you take the leap?
Well, the first time I went into entrepreneurship was in 2006 after I quit my job in marketing – a decision I made primarily because I realized at a young age the precious value of life and its fleeting tendencies, and I couldn’t stand to spend my life doing something I wasn’t 100% engaged with. In a way, it was selfish of me, and it still is. But then again, they say that the best entrepreneurs have a bit of healthy arrogance. :) Anyway, at the time, I felt naively confident, and just certain that the universe would reciprocate. Turns out, I was overly confident, and I ended up broke and had to return to 9-5.
The second time I started my business, it just grew organically without my trying. I intended on just starting a side business, but ultimately I was so successful with it that I transitioned into full-time. That’s probably what I’d recommend to anyone thinking about going into business for themselves right now.
2. How long have you been living your dream now?
I suppose this is over 2 years now – fully – where I’m location independent and working solely from my laptop. :)
3. Do you have any regrets? what has been the hardest part of taking the leap?
I really can’t say that I do, Kim. There are days you want to pull your hair out, because you aren’t just doing copywriting, for example, but you’re also playing secretary and project manager and accountant everything in between. It can get nutsy! But I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
The hardest part has probably been just that – learning to prioritize and not get overwhelmed. I think overwhelm is, by far, the greatest thing you deal with. There are days when I just leave my inbox shut because I won’t be able to get any work done if I’m constantly in a reactive state….instead of a proactive one. Responding rather than producing. I want to produce, baby.
4. What part of taking this leap are you most proud of?
Making wayyyyy more money than I ever did in my 9-5. :) :) :) And leaving for France, Spain and Italy in a couple of days – the lifestyle I have now is something I only could have ever dreamed of as a young teenager and college student. I can’t even believe it’s real sometimes.
5. What is the best advise you have been given so far?
If you’re going to do something, you better damn well give it your all. If I take on a project, I commit to giving it my all – that means undivided attention, and a very conscious state of mind where I envision their company being my company, and try to care about it at that level, and then do good work that reflects that state of mind. This serves me in multiple ways, but namely: 1) The client is beyond happy with your work 2) The client then refers other people to you and you have a constant stream of leads 3) I feel incredibly good about myself when I know I’ve done good work – and didn’t just slack off.
Good work is where it’s at!
