We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Garth and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Starting my own business seemed like the only option for me. I felt like I was hitting a wall in my career and I wasn’t happy. I’ve often fantasized about what it would feel like to work for myself, I just didn’t know how to start. I reached a point in my career when I realized that I had nothing to lose. I could continue to conform to the ideas of the corporate world, or I could take a risk and figure it out. I chose to figure it out and it was one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made. Now don’t get me wrong, I was SUPER broke the first few years. I remember when I could barely pay my rent. I was simply surviving. I even gave in and applied to a few marketing jobs, but I never found the right fit. It didn’t excite me. At times I thought that I had made a mistake when things got tough. After my third year of full-time entrepreneurship, I realized that the risk was worth the reward. I scaled to a six-figure business during a pandemic. This was such an eye-opener for me. This was a reminder to trust the process. My life has taken a full 360 over the past few years. My circle, relationships, finances, confidence, health, and mindset have transformed. I now know the value of taking risks. It is a requirement in life. You will remain stagnant if fear is the driving force of your decisons.

Now I do believe that we should remain responsible while making decisions, so it’s important to maintain balance. Coming up with a game plan has to take place first! Don’t make BIG decisions without laying out all of the details. I think that when entrepreneurs realize that failure is a part of the process, they will think about risk differently. It took me a few years to understand this. Playing it safe will never give the greatest return.

Everyone’s journey looks different, but one thing remains the same. Risk takers will always scale at a faster pace. It’s the nature of the game. Successful entrepreneurs have mastered the balance of risk-taking, and I’m excited to continue to learn how to manage fear while planning and strategizing for Garth Media.

What should our readers know about your business?
Garth Media is a social media agency in Nashville, TN. We are different because my team is truly dedicated to supporting small business owners. We will do whatever it takes to take our client’s digital presence to the next level. We listen to the needs of our clients and we collaborate to provide content that actually speaks to their audience. They are more than clients to us. We want to help them to create legacies for their futures.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Nashville has a ton of hidden gems. Yes, we are the music city capital, but I am honestly more interested in the food here. As a host, I would take my guests to some of the hottest black-owned venues in the city. Slim and Huskeys, Minerva, Willie B’s, Sinema and PH Craft Cocktails to name a few. I’d also take them to a few of my favorite spots in Printers Alley, like Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar, and Dirty Little Secret. And we would have to experience a rooftop brunch at Hampton Social!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to shout out my mentor, Tee Wilson. She is one of the first marketing professionals that took me under her wings. She has given me the tools to successfully scale my business. She has remained honest and her feedback has helped me to grow in an amazing way.

Website: www.gogarthmedia.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theashleygarth/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleygarth/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashley.garth3/

Image Credits
n/a

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