Chasing Dreams Interview with Ashley Beaudin: Fighting Perfectionism with #TheImperfectBoss Movement
/This interview is part of the Chasing Dreams interview series. I’ve interviewed a variety of entrepreneurs and small business owners who have chosen a different path in life in order to go after his or her dream career. Have an entrepreneur in mind you’d like to learn more about? Let me know! If you're reading this post, there's a good chance you've heard of #TheImperfectBoss campaign that's taken over Instagram more than once. Thousands of women from our community got real and raw in an effort to combat comparison and embrace authenticity.
Ashley Beaudin is the big-hearted visionary behind this movement to free women leaders from the fears and limitations of perfectionism.
See what it takes to lead and empower a tribe of women who want to make a difference.
Let’s dig in!
At what point did you know you wanted to follow this career path? How did you know this was the right direction?
For me, I don't think there was this magical point where it all came together. It has been more my willingness to do things when I get a fire for them and make mistakes, but never stop rising. From there, I've been able to look back and say, "ah, this is what I was made for." My heart to empower women to bring their gifts to the world started in my first online community and it's been strong ever since.
What are the biggest struggles you've faced while trying to achieve your dreams?
Trying to achieve your dreams is for the brave hearted.
Seriously. I always tell people that nothing will cause you to face your biggest fears and self-doubts faster than trying to make your dreams happen. It is like you suddenly become faced with yourself. I think that's what makes it powerful, but also incredibly difficult.
That for me has been the hard thing -- facing myself.
Owning your own business can be tough on the body and mind, between long days, instability and really putting yourself out there to reach your goals. How do you stay healthy? Do you have any rituals that help you stay centered?
Self care is something I've really had to learn. I am such a giver by nature and I want to pour out my everything all the time, but it is not sustainable or realistic.
One thing that has really helped me is a self-care routine at night before bed. It gives me a constant, and something to come home to, where I know I'll feel taken care of and filled up.
Speaking of putting yourself out there, overcoming rejection is a big part of chasing dreams. How do you bounce back?
When I really believe in something I'm doing, I actually don't feel the sting of rejection. In my mind, I think that it's their loss, not mine. If the rejection stings, I start to ask myself why I don't believe in what I am doing and where the missing piece is.
What do you do when you're having an off day—maybe feeling down, struggling with self-doubt, or just unmotivated?
That is so real. I give myself permission to be, to walk away from the Internet, and to do things that make me feel alive again.
I also keep people in my life who will ask me the hard questions, so that when I am struggling, I know that I can go to people who I feel safe to be vulnerable with.
What is one misconception people have about you and/or your profession?
Honestly, the one that always comes to mind, is that so often people don't know how to describe what I do.
Am I a writer or a speaker or a coach or an encourager? I am so many different things. And people often struggle to find a word that makes sense for them to describe what I do, so I just tell them that I am awesome and that's all you need to know.
What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned along the way?
Probably one of the biggest lessons I've learned is to stay true to myself, and be confident about what I am doing in the world. There's a million people doing a million things and it can be so easy to get caught up in other people's things, but I've had to learn to carve out the time and space to sit with me and bring the magic from that place.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow a path similar to what you have?
I would probably tell them to be willing to get messy.
Get over your fear of failure as fast as you can. Be willing to try a million things over time. Don't put your success in someone else's hands, keep it in yours.
And love people. That's the priority. Loving people.
When do you feel the most inspired, alive and the most like YOU?
When I'm speaking or mobilizing people into The Imperfect Boss, I live for that stuff. I love the moment of inspiring someone and bringing people together. It's just like pure gold to me.
What people, books, music, etc. inspire you?
I don't really intake a lot of stuff because of what I've talked about before as it messes with my creativity. But I love fiction, I probably read 2-3 books a week. And I love personal development as well like Brene Brown or Danielle LaPorte. I almost only listen to instrumental or worship music, it just gets my heart pumping.
Describe your favorite moment or accomplishment in your career so far.
My biggest and most favorite moment has definitely been The Imperfect Boss movement. In the last campaign, reaching millions of impressions and hearing stories of women who finally feel like they are not alone in this crazy business journey -- just unreal for me. It makes it all worth it.
What’s the most exciting thing going on in your life right now?
I am hitting my two year anniversary of being in business full-time! It's been so long and so quick, all in one! I am so thankful for the journey and so pumped for what's to come.
About Ashley Beaudin
Ashley is a heart encourager, speaker and coach to heart-led women entrepreneurs. She is the visionary behind #theimperfectboss; a movement that is liberating thousands of women from perfection. Ashley is passionate about empowering women to create powerful lives and businesses using more heart, vulnerability and community.
When she's not out there loving, inspiring and leading women, she's likely writing some good words, going heart eyes over bright colors or dreaming up big ideas. After spending time with her, you will feel believed in and empowered to give, to love and to lead wholeheartedly.
