Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in public relations but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ashley Graham, CEO of The Conscious Publicist, LLC., located in Laguna Niguel, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

The Conscious Publicist is a boutique concierge that helps Conscious Media Archetypes™ achieve success and recognition through public relations, communications, and media activations. Our team supports organizations, industry leaders, and visionaries with various services, including public and media relations, communications planning, leadership consulting, media training, and executive contributor activations.

Our goal is to raise the recognition and credibility of conscious voices and leaders who inspire transformation by publicly sharing stories and methodologies unique to them and their expertise. With our full-service approach, we help our clients go from ideation to transformation through the media, crafting their ideas into meaningful and impactful initiatives.

Tell us about yourself

I have always been a dreamer. As a child, my imagination was vast and wild, sparking ideas that led me to many passions and hobbies that I still hold near and dear to my heart. I have always visualized myself as a writer and leader, using stories and messages to express what was floating around my mind and spirit. A part of me has always known that I wanted to make a difference in the world, to inspire or evoke change by helping others in any way I could, whether through my writing, stories, or passions.

For me, my entrepreneurial journey is the realization of that childhood dream. Through this journey, I discovered my true purpose in advocating for a more conscious and mindful approach to communication, guiding others in sharing their stories to make a real impact in the world. I am living the dreams I've had since I was a child, and every day I am reminded of the power of dreaming, imagination, and the incredible experiences that can come from it. I allow myself to meditate and visualize the dreams and opportunities to come, and the ideas that come from this are the driving force that fuels my daily life and business.

I have always believed in the power of ideas and their ability to inspire action and change. This belief led me to my career in public relations and media relations, where I can use my skills and expertise to advocate for a more conscious and mindful approach to communication. As a leader in this field, my team and I are committed to bringing authenticity and awareness to our work and helping our clients share their stories and messages with the world. Through education, strategy, and a focus on authentic storytelling, we can inspire meaningful change and transformation in the lives of others.

Our clients are courageous individuals and organizations dedicated to embracing new beginnings and finding opportunities for growth and expansion, even in the face of adversity. By sharing their experiences through storytelling in the media, we hope to create a positive ripple effect and inspire others to find their path to transformation and growth.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest success story and accomplishment so far as a business owner is the raving reviews I have received over the last year from our clients. Strong relationships are crucial to success in the PR industry, and having clients who speak positively from their experience working with you can be highly beneficial. You can read a few of our notable testimonials from our clients below. They speak for themselves.

“Ashley is a master of connection - she finds the right people, creates a genuine and authentic connection, and then extends the connection to us and our work. We start our relationship with the podcaster, news media, or publisher already strongly in place. This is not our natural strength, and we rely on the foundation for connection that Ashley builds on our behalf. In one year, we have gone from unknown and unpublished to a press page full of podcasts, publications, and success stories. She has great instincts for the right publications and positions us for success efficiently, so we get maximum return for our investment. And Ashley is a total joy to work with both personally and professionally.”

“Ashley is a wonderful publicist partner for me. She is very different from her peers in the business in that she is extremely conscious about putting her clients in situations that protect and build on their established reputation as expert thought leaders. She is conscientious, thorough, strategic, and a great collaborator in writing. Engaging Ashley has helped me share even more of who I am, as well as increase my impact in my market. Additionally, I'm excited to see how Ashley grows her own business and impact over time. She's an important part of my team. Ashley has my highest recommendation to anyone considering working with a strategic publicist.”

“Ashley was such a pleasure to work with. Her commitment to not only understand you but ensure the world does, too, is part of what makes her incredible at what she does. It's not just what she does, but how she does it.”

There are even more to come… Stay tuned!

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

One of the biggest challenges we've faced as a startup has been finding and onboarding the proper support for our business. It's been a challenge to carefully choose the right long-term support and ensure that our business operations are structured to provide the best onboarding experience for our team. We are taking several steps to overcome this challenge, such as creating more efficient workflows, systemizing our processes, and constantly reviewing and improving our onboarding procedures. By accepting these proactive measures, we aim to streamline the onboarding process and ensure that our new team members have the support and resources they need to succeed.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Have a strong determination to succeed. Starting, running, and growing a business requires aligned work and dedication. It's essential to have a strong determination to hold onto the vision and success of your business through the ups and downs. Determination means having the grit and perseverance to push through obstacles and challenges and not give up on your dreams.
  2. Make passion for what you do a priority. Passion for what you do is essential for running a successful business. Your passion will drive you to put in the extra effort and support to achieve your desired success and objectives. Passion for your work and business will also help you stay motivated and energized, especially during natural evolutions and pivots.
  3. Lead with a desire to support global initiatives. As a business owner, you can positively impact the world by offering something of innovation or value. By aligning your business with global initiatives that support sustainability, advocacy support, and other causes, you can make a real difference in the lives of others. A deep desire to support initiatives that impact the lives of others not only helps to create a sense of purpose and meaning in your business but also helps to attract those who share similar values, building a loyal community of supporters.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://theconsciouspublicist.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theconsciouspublicist/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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