228: The Currency of Passion with Ashley Ann Odom
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Summary:
Where does your passion come from? How do you put your passion to work? Just having a passion for something is the first step. It’s then up to us to fight for what we want and take the steps to realize our dreams. Ashley Ann Odom, owner of Diamonds in the Ruff a luxury grooming salon, details her journey into the pet grooming industry and overcoming her fears. She shares how she uses her passion to reach a bigger purpose in her life and why going through tough times actually helps us in the long run. Ashley Ann also talks about what it’s like running luxury grooming salon, how she connects with her clients, and what it’s like grooming for celebrities.
Topics on this episode:
Loving the work
Using your passion
Luxury
Grooming for celebrities
Future of grooming
Main take away: There’s no “basic” service if you’re a luxury business.
About our guest:
Diamonds in the Ruff' was founded by celebrity pet groomer, Ashley Ann Odom. She is the sole owner of a luxurious pet spa/salon and has been in business for over four years. Ashley Ann is the first African American to complete her Masters at Yin Lin Grooming School in Chongqing, China. She remains as the only African American woman to do so, thus far. With the passion for caring and stylizing animals, Ashley Ann, traveled to Korea and China to study with master groomers.
For some people, the discovery of their passion happens at an early age. The minute she picked up a pair of grooming scissors at 16 years old to cut a dog’s hair, celebrity dog groomer Ashley Ann Odom felt right at home. She felt a sense of belonging and purpose that defines the work she does as the owner of the luxury dog grooming salon, Diamonds in the Ruff, the creator and host of the popular radio show, G’Rumor Has It, and a teacher for the Asian dog grooming techniques. As one of the few African American dog groomers in the United States, Odom works to break down barriers in the pet industry.
With over 15 years of grooming experience, Ashley Ann is devoted to and passionate about enhancing the beauty of pets and strives to create an environment, where both the pet and pet parent can enjoy a trip to the grooming salon without feeling apprehensive. Her mission is to provide exceptional service but also to create a fun and loving atmosphere for all pets. Ashley is passionate and dedicated about her craft, and what makes her unique is the genuine love for pets!
Links:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashley-ann-28104a198/
G'Rumor Has It: streaminginspiration.net/?page_id=33265
Ashley's Website: groomingextraordinaire.com
On Instagram: instagram.com/groomingextraordinaire/
Facebook: facebook.com/diamondsintheruff190
Email: diamondsintheruff190@gmail.com
Give us a call! (636) 364-8260
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Email us at: feedback@petsitterconfessional.com
A VERY ROUGH TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE
Provided by otter.ai
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
grooming, dog, people, salon, pet, clients, world, passion, life, groomer, industry, love, business, happy, celebrity, feel, gift, learn, luxury, purpose
SPEAKERS
Collin Funkhouser, Ashley Ann
00:17
Hi, I'm Megan. I'm Caitlyn. And this is Pet Sitter confessional, and open and honest discussion about life as a pet sitter
Collin Funkhouser 00:24
brought to you by time to pet and pet perennials. Family, passion and pets all aligned with Ashley an owner of diamonds in the rough. Today, she joins us to talk about her journey into the grooming world. What it's like running a luxury grooming salon, how she plans to leave a legacy and where she hoped the industry goes in the future. Let's get started.
Ashley Ann 00:49
By as Caitlyn, thank you so much for having me and sharing your platform first and foremost. But okay, a little bit about me the grooming extraordinaire, app, everybody calls me the bullshit groomer because I have nothing like your average man. I'm like Burma that I love to add pizzazz to my dogs. I like to add gems, nail polish colors, just really have them walking like they belong on New York Fashion Week runway. So I've been grooming for about 15 years. I started when I was 15 years old, actually. So I just celebrated my 30th birthday. Happy birthday. And thank you so much, Leo here. So I got into the industry when I was in high school. And you know, I always tell people, they say how did you start? And I said, my one my first job was at a sneaker store. And you know, I had a very unpleasant lady asked me to put her shoes on her feet. And it was just the way she said it. I was not. I was like, You know what I said, I am not doing this. And I went home and told my mom, I said this isn't for me. I would much rather work with animals. And you know, I know I meant what I said, but I don't believe I didn't think that the job was like real. I didn't grow up with dog groomers, affection Ariens and my family. So I really do not think about the pet industry. And luckily for me, my mother knew a store manager of a corporate grooming business. And he you know, he gave me an interview. I pacifying colors. And I got in and I started as a cashier, which is the funniest thing. I wasn't planning to go into the permit slide just yet. But, you know, I saw the girls grooming one day and I said, Oh, I would love to do that. You know, I would really love I got so excited. I don't know, I feel like my spirit was like thinking this is this is for you. This is for you. And I got into it. And you know, the minute I stepped foot in the industry, it was like it became an obsession. It became a passion, it became a love. It wasn't it wasn't just dog grooming, it was art, it was making an impact on the world changing dogs, how they feel, giving them you know, confidence. Like that is such an amazing thing to do to give an animal confidence. And, you know, 15 years, I started as a, you know, like I said, a salon, and a grooming salon and I decided to open up my own business, which I'm sure you're going to ask me about. And then I became this world renowned celebrity groomer as known as the grooming shed in there. So it's been it's been a super fun journey. And yeah, it's a lot.
Collin Funkhouser 03:31
Yeah, well, and I think at the core of that, it's, it's your being connected with grooming, which it sounds like is really a very creative and expression. Expressive outlet for you. Were you always interested in creating things and and working with your hands to make something come to life?
Ashley Ann 03:52
Yes, you know, that, that I that's a gift. You know, I've always been hands on, I guess. I see something I want to do it and you know, I have this gift of being able to master things. And you know, the grooming world is a very creative industry. And that's what I said it's art. It's so it's so beautiful. It's so deep. The roots are so deep in the grooming industry. A lot of people don't know about it. And you know, I've been able to use my platform to shed light to the grooming industry, you know, through my artistry or my craft, you know, through my my difference from other groomers. And yeah, it's a it's a great is, I just love it. You know, everybody when they talk to me about grooming, they're like, you just get this glow. And it's just like, you know, to me when I'm stressed. I want to jump to my art I want to get hands on it helps relieve me a little bit so I'll get the biggest dog. I seem pinata grip here nice and something Kylie and I just started scissoring and I'll get to work and it's just like it's, it really is something beautiful. I'm glad that a lot of people are now getting to see what the grooming industry has to offer and show the world.
Collin Funkhouser 05:07
Now, when you approach each dog, do you already envision the end result? Or is it a process of discovering what that dog is going to look like as you work?
Ashley Ann 05:18
Oh my god, I just have to see the dog's personality. You know, it's really based on our personality. So for example, if I get like a really hyperactive Yorkie or something like that, I would probably, you know, say you will look really good with a pop of color, because you just bounce around anyway. So let's, let's try some color and a cute little cut. And that's how I'll be able to come up with the styles, but it's really about, you know, like the personality like when we go to our beauticians, and we say like, do what you think looks good. They're going based off of what we look like, what we feel like our personality. And the same of the same rule applies to me when it comes to dogs. So it's usually I have to meet them first. If I see a picture, yes, I can come up with an idea. But I feel like the personality is really what helps me evaluate what kind of look I don't want to do on the pup.
Collin Funkhouser 06:08
I know if a lot of creatives they go through, they have a creative process of coming up with ideas. Does that ever get tiring or exhausting to you? Or do you get energized from constantly creating and developing new things?
Ashley Ann 06:23
Oh my God, no, I love it. You know, I live by the saying if you love what you do, it's never work. Right? And I really, I really lucked out to do what I love. So to me, it's always like, it's challenging. I said, I'm a Leo. So I'm a lioness. I like to go for the you know, go for the jungle, go for the kill. That's the type of person I am always always up for a challenge, but especially with something that I love. You know, a few months ago, I had a client come in and she said, I want I want my dog to look like a tiger. I have never made a dog look like a tiger a day in my life. And I say, Oh, this would be fun. This is this is definitely be fun. And you're not throwing my thinking cap and I went online. And I looked up some photos of artists, you know, always revert back to actual artists, not just grooming, but actual artists. And I would look at, you know, their detail and their hand movement and their strokes on how they achieved these things. And I said, Okay, I'm gonna do it on the dog. And that's exactly what I did. And it actually ended up going viral. Because everybody was like, this dog really looks like a tiger. This is crazy. And you know, it was just, to me, the possibilities are endless when it comes to my craft. So I love what I do. I'm always up to sum up, always up to something new, trying new things. So no, it never gets boring. I love it.
Collin Funkhouser 07:48
Well, I'm part of your story that I love of trying new things is that you went to a very particular school. To learn more about being a groomer, tell us about your experience traveling overseas to learn more about a different style of grooming,
Ashley Ann 08:03
oh, man, it was the best experience I have ever had in my life. And you know, I'll be very honest, with a quick background about myself, I did not grow up with diversity. I grew up in a very rough neighborhood. And you know, my lifestyle was not easy at all. And, you know, we didn't really have the opportunity more or less to travel out of state because we were a pretty big family and my you know, my parents couldn't afford that. But to travel out of the country was something that I can honestly say I never ever, ever in my life imagined doing, especially going overseas to Asia, to go to the most prestigious grooming schools. So it still to this day, even when I get asked this question, sometimes I say to myself, I actually did you know, I say to myself, Yes, you really were you expensive, but it was it was worth it. And, you know, their their quality of grooming is completely different from the American Standard. And you know, one thing about me with my pride and my passion, I want to master it. And grooming doesn't get stopped in the US. I feel like the US is kind of a little bit lower at the food chain when it comes to grooming because countries like Asia and Russia and like these areas, their grooming skills are insane. It's it's I've never seen it before. And it's like I wanted to I wanted to get my hands on that. So I ended up coming across a friend from Russia who went to grooming school in China and I said, you know Sonia helped me out. Tell me where you went. And she told me where she went and I wrote a beautiful love letter to my this house. This is my person she got there and she's actually the founder of the world. Master grooming service certification and a lot of people don't even know that you have master certification and grooming You can travel all over the world to achieve it. And I wrote her a beautiful love letter, you know, I'm the type of person, I'll make you feel good about yourself. So I was like, let me use it, let me use my skills, take advantage of it. And I wrote a beautiful love letter, and I just expressed my passion. And I guess, you know, one thing I can say about passion, it doesn't matter what the language is, what your culture is, what your religion is, you could just you feel passion, passion is like, energy, it's a currency, you feel it. And they felt it with me. So she welcomed welcomed me with open arms to China. And I mean, we were in grooming school from 8am to 2am, the next morning, and that's how intense their courses are. My first day, I spent six hours on one dog, and of course, the dogs get great, but their dogs are so trained for this, it's like, this is what they're born into. And they even have pet parents keep up with the grooming at home, I sell wish half my well groomed dogs at home in between, you know, and, um, it was just it was so much to learn, aside from the grooming, but the culture and you know, their grooming school is about two years to get your certification of first years, your written a year and a half. And then your second years is hands on when you work on an actual dog. The first year you were going just dog mannequins, and you know, I just I really just learned so much. And they opened my they opened my eyes to a whole new world of grooming. And it just really poured into important to me in a way that nothing has poured into me before. And after that I said, let me go to South Korea. Next is your pan. So, you know, I'm just I'm looking I'm checking off these masters.
Collin Funkhouser 11:43
So how do you take that intensive course and make it your own? Wherever you get back home to your own salon? What's that process in and now converting it into your own design language?
Ashley Ann 11:54
Oh my gosh. So in other words, I'm like the Michael Jordan of dog grooming, right? When it comes to my craft and my perfection, I you know, I literally eat breathe and sleep grooming, I wake up, I groom I'm about 5am I'm up till two 2am Just working and I really pushed myself to master it. So I can help bring that same craft to the United States, you know, bring that same craft into other grooming salons One thing I've noticed, which actually helped push me to going to grooming school to want to start becoming more of an educator, as people would always come and say, you know, there's no grooming psyche, there are no groomers, like, they love them. It's not like, you know, there's nobody that loves it like you, you don't. And it's because from what I've realized, I don't feel I guess from my personal experience, not to shade anybody, but I don't feel like a lot of people teach grooming with love, it's more of $1 sign and a sense or quick check, because of the pet industry is the billion dollar industry, you know, the pet industry does not get affected by, you know, decline and the economic world, you know, we are always good because people will cut off their bills for their animals. So, I saw that people weren't really teaching the way they needed to teach. So I thought it was important for me to master it. So I can start pouring it into, you know, my community and into others. And if I realize that people are being taught with love, they develop a better sense of value for themselves for their dogs, you know, for their businesses, and I'm able to make the world that much of a better place just by being able to share my passion and teach. So that is what I felt was most important for me to bring from Asia back here. And I don't only want to stop in the US, I want to bring this all over the world. You know, there's dogs everywhere in the world, I've traveled to so many foreign countries, there's dogs everywhere, okay, and the dogs that are in these countries are on the streets. And instead of having them on the streets, they I feel that we can build a communities where there's grooming salons with people that are actually learning from an academy trainer and not only YouTube channel, or on an online course because you can't learn how to groom a dog on a computer. I don't know who came up with that bright idea. But I mean, I wish you would try to take what you learn from the computer and put it on a real life to wildlife. It's not happening, you know, it's just being able to bring bring that here is again what my purpose is life is to be fruitful and to multiply. So if I can't if that's the best way I can answer that question that that'd be it.
Collin Funkhouser 14:40
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Collin Funkhouser 15:09
If you are looking for new pet sitting software, give time to pet a try, listeners of our show can save 50% off your first three months by visiting time to pet.com. Forward slash confessional, you sound and you are somebody who has really tapped into their passion and is turning it into actions to change the world around you. What advice would you give to somebody who's not sure how to turn their passion into into the manifestation into actions and around them?
Ashley Ann 15:39
Oh, man, oh, gosh, there's so many pieces of advice I could give. I think the biggest piece of advice that I would give is to really believe in yourself because you know, let's face it, right, Collin, we're in a world where there are going to be people. That's not to say you can't do it. And that's going to be family, that's going to be friends. It's just part of the territory. But you have to be so confident within itself, right? To where you'll be able to make these decisions and be able to manifest the only way you can manifest something as if you know, you're going to get it. And only way you know you're going to get it as if you're working for like that's the kind of manifestation it's like it's wishing upon a star, it's actually putting the work in putting the work in. And knowing it's the happen and trusting in the universe, for it to just give you what you need. And I feel like when people listen to naysayers, and they're not that strong, or they're not that grounded, they'll get diverted from their, their purpose and their path. So I always say I didn't tell any of my family that I went to China until the night before my flight, literally, even my mother. And so less than 12 hours before my flight. And you know, I didn't tell anybody because I knew, they will say, Oh, why are you traveling by yourself, you're a young woman, you don't know these people. And it ended up being the best experience of my life, it changed my entire world. So me just being a walking testimony, I just I just tried to tell people, go for it. But make sure you're doing what you love to do. If you're not doing what you love, you're not gonna really fight for it, right? You won't fight for a marriage, if you're not happy. You know, you won't fight for your, for your, for your family, if if you're not 100% in there, and you need to be 100% in and dedicated to whatever it is that you're asking for. So you can do what is necessary to bring your purpose to life because you owe your dreams as well. Right? If you were given that vision, you owe it to yourself to bring it to life. So I just say stay with naysayers, and keep your mouth quiet. moulden Stay quiet.
Collin Funkhouser 17:43
We're Where did you learn to fight like that, to fight for your passions and to keep moving forward.
Ashley Ann 17:49
Um, my life experiences, you know, I I'm always gonna say I'm a Leo. So I'm very stubborn. And I learned, I learned the hard way. And again, I you know, I just had this conversation with a couple of my girlfriends. And I said to them, I do feel like if my household like my parents were more focused, instead of working on issues from childhood traumas that they were still going through, I think I would have had a better guidance and light and direction with light, you know, but because they weren't focused on me, I kind of had to learn on my own. I kind of did. And I was also you know, the oldest, so I was more of a parent, because our parents will be upset, I will have to take care of the kids. So nothing was easy for me. I had to learn everything the hard way. And, you know, it got it got to two points, right, it got to a point where I really got tired of like kicking my behind. And then I also got to a point where I knew I deserve more, and I had to fight for it. So when I started putting two and two together and started focusing on myself and focusing on my dreams, and focusing on my goals, I started realizing that I was doing the right thing. It's the law of attraction, you know, for every reaction, you have an equal and opposite reaction. So it's like you have to make sure what you're putting out, you're going to get back. So I really just, I made a promise to myself to just challenge myself and better myself. And that's that's how that fight. Amen. Because everybody makes mistakes, we all have to grow, you know, nobody's perfect. That's what I say we're all born like this, this, this, this person, right? And then we learn as we're growing. And a lot of the times we're not always learning just from somebody telling us what to do. Like there's no blueprint to life and how to do it you just you learn as we go but you do have pieces of advice you know, and I like I'm very big with my faith. So I usually go to my Bible if I ever need guidance on what I need to do and I'm usually leads me the right way. So I just realized, if I want this abundance if I want to change the world if I want to be this i On and if I want to leave generational wealth and legacy I have to do it the right way. So you know, that gets it gets created a different type of monster. I never thought the lioness in me and I guess I don't stop. I don't.
Collin Funkhouser 20:17
Well, part of that was when you are going through this journey you you stepped out on your own to open up your own salon. How did that work in? Did you have any fears as you stepped out to go out on your own?
Ashley Ann 20:33
Oh man I am. I'm spontaneous fun fact. So I I've had there's, I've learned that things are non existent. But there's also it helps pushes you right? It helps encourage you to move differently, it helps you to think more effectively helps you to become more strategic. And when I opened my business, I just had my daughter, and I was you know, I was a single mother at the time. And misbelief but, you know, opening a business and having a baby. I think that that was the craziest cliff that I ever dive you know, I think I guess I think I just dive right in. I was like, you know, cannonball and I just jumped. And it was rough. I'm not gonna lie. It was rough. It was it was scary. But I know a few things. I knew I was damn good at grooming. I knew I was, I was a hustler. I've made it my whole life by myself. So I've always taken care of myself. So I knew I think I could get money. As long as I make these dogs look, the way they look. And I have this personality, I'm gonna get paid accordingly. And that's what happened. But, you know, three years, and I started realizing I had a way bigger purpose than just being a salon owner ended up becoming, you know, I became the celebrity on Instagram, I started having HBO and Hulu, and ABC reaching out to me, I started having people writing me stand letters, people popping up to my salon to you know, leave me flowers. So the whole thing, just it, it, it was a curveball for me because I wasn't expecting this. But now that my storm kind of pass, or I've adjusted to my storm a little bit more, it's the blessings are coming. And you know, the light, fun part of this is coming down. But let me tell you something, the first three years column, but I was on my knees. But you're not doing what to show anybody that but it was, it was hard. It was really hard. But it was a heart that was good for me. You know, it molded me into a woman that is really making an impact on the world. So it was fun. It was like hangover, part three. That's what that's what it was like,
Collin Funkhouser 23:00
Oh, man. So in those times in those first three years, which I think is a really pivotal moment, for a lot of people in business, those first three, maybe five years of really trying to get your feet under, you understand what you're doing and get all your processes in place. And just try and figure it out. I know you have these these dreams, these aspirations making an impact in those moments of those hard times where you were down on your knees, trying to figure out what on earth is going to happen next? What was it that made you take that next step? And then the next and then the next? Oh,
Ashley Ann 23:33
the fun answer to that let me is where I kind of come into, like my faith. It got to a point in 2019, I hired a PR, this was my second PR, my first PR I had a it was you know, it was people taking money and not doing what they were supposed to do. In other words, and, you know, it really affects me because like I said, I'm a single mother, I must I don't come from a rich family, you know, so all of my money I've honestly made as I got a 401k when I was 15. And you know, all the way through up, I was able to work and do it. And then you know, the last car that I had in 2019 took, you know, 15,000 for me. And she, you know, she quit out of nowhere, five minutes before I was supposed to go live on air on ABC and Virginia. And she didn't even show up. And when I say that, that moment broke into my core, you know, I was strong. You know, I was able to go through things. But that moment because I really thought that she was going to be the one that get me where I needed to be. And it was so devastating. And I had to suck it up. Right because I was about to be on ABC I couldn't cry. You know, and I think that that was my real awakening moment. And that's kind of when I got you know God's attention a lot. And he kind of put me into a place in LA Activists happen. And I know it was him because it was just the people that I was with was an exact example of what I saw myself. So, you know, when you kind of get to the point in your world where you you've had so many failures, who else can you look back at? That's where I was, and it just came down to God. So I feel like my faith is what really started getting me together, building me back up putting the pieces back together, I was able to start, you know, understanding that the flesh is gonna disappoint, I was able to understand that everything happens for a reason, I was able to understand that I may go through something that I don't want to go through, but it's necessary for me to go through it. And that's what all of my experiences thus far has been. So when I really developed that spiritual relationship and confidence in God, and you know, the divine and the universal, whatever people prefer to believe that, that when it was like, Alright, you're good, you're good. You got this, you know, so I guess that's when that fear just became non existent.
Collin Funkhouser 26:08
Yeah, when you believe that things have a purpose and a reason. And it's, it's hard, a lot of times, and most of the time, when you're in the middle of it, to see that purpose or fully understand why it's going on. It's usually not till years later, where you can look back and go, You know what, that is really critical to made me who I am today. And that, because I went through that I'm able to face these other things, because I went through that, I'm able to now do more than I ever thought I'd be able to.
Ashley Ann 26:35
Exactly, you know, and that's that's what I was saying. Everything has a purpose, right? Everything you go through, it's a reason why you're going through it. And again, you have to be careful to not let your your trials and your losses and I don't like to use the word losses. I prefer to use lessons. But you know, some people like they're not lessons, they're losses, however you want to take it, but you can't let that defeat you. Right, you can't let it back you into a corner because that's when that's when you're losing your that that's when it's the last when you're backing down and you're not fighting, anybody can fall. But you can always step back up. But as long as you just always try to remember that the purpose is bigger. This is just a storm, this is done to pass like, you'll be fine. And I agree exactly what you just say sometimes it takes years. I've been in business for six years now. And you know, the last three years has been the most challenging years for me because it's been like, you know, okay, I have the talent, I have to get the why am I still going through all of these struggles? You know, I'm dedicated I give 100% Why do people still complain about things, you know, it's like, now I'm able to sit back, step back, reevaluate everything and understand that I don't need to take it personal that that's the key to life, don't take it personal. Do what you need to do. So you can get where you need to get and when you when you're able to start moving like that you really are more efficient and achieving your goals.
Collin Funkhouser 28:05
You run a luxury grooming salon, and I'm very curious to know what the word luxury means to you and how you make that part of your your salon.
Ashley Ann 28:17
So luxury to me is Elizabeth Taylor, right. Diamond glamour. Marilyn Monroe, you know, I'm just I really am. I can't say it enough. I really am. bougie you know, I like my dogs to look as good as I look, you know, they I can't I can't have them looking worse than me and I can't have them looking better than me. We always have to be on common ground. And you know, I love I love I love elegance. You know people love to say oh, you love the finer things in life. And I do. I love it and I want to give the finer things in life. So I give that to my salon. You know people walk into my salon and they think that they're in some you know, I don't know where some some erotic place you know, just with flowers and lavender smells and diamonds. It's just it's so it's so beautiful and it's peaceful. Also, you know, it's a wellness environment. My dogs are comfortable, my pet fair. So some of my pet parents don't want to leave I have to pick them out. But it's like that that to me is luxury luxury is is showing love to what it is you're doing and what it is you're giving. And that's that's why my salon is diamonds in the rough. They come in rough, but there are diamonds and send them out shining as they should be.
Collin Funkhouser 29:36
I love that definition of luxury. It's showing love to somebody and giving them this experience that they never thought they'd have possible. Do you find that that's or how do you get that messaging across to potential clients and your community?
Ashley Ann 29:53
I talk a lot I'm very straightforward. You know, I don't have to run around a bush fix you I'll tell you what it is right then and there I always I read I listened common people love because I'm honest I'm very straightforward. You know I this is one thing my easiest way of doing it when people come in and and they say it's just a dog I don't even want to be sick and I say well this isn't the basic salon. Okay, this is a luxury pet salon. You see the walls, I use that to buy high quality products. Rose rose hip oil, keratin oatmeal, you know, luxury products, they walk out with pearls, they have diamonds, I do I look basic to you, I don't look basic. So we don't do basic in here. You know, I love your pups away, I love myself. So when people walk in, and they see my dog, my dog look like he belongs on the cover a cosmopolitan or something like that, or both, you know, and I want to make your dog look like that as well. So always, like I said, I tell them straight forward, they'll come in actually think basic, because I'm not giving that to you, you could go down the street to another, if that's the case. But if you come into here, you're going to get luxury, you're going to get a beautiful experience, you're going to get an experience you're going to tell the whole world about you know, and that's, that's my goal. That's That's why I am like three, you know, so that's why I pour into you what I am. That's it?
Collin Funkhouser 31:14
Well, a part of the part of that is, you know, you know that you are luxury. And I think part of understanding who we are and what our business represents is what we represent the things we don't represent. And I am luxury, I am not basic. And that really helps solidify the position and the messaging and keeps you consistent to write whenever you are purchasing products or whenever you're hiring people or when you're going through this process. You know what you are and you know what you aren't and that really helps steer you in keeps you going on the right path.
Ashley Ann 31:46
So well hey, listen, can you will hear me say 10 million times self love. Self Love is the key to your success. And it's like because if you really love yourself, you want the best if we break down the definition of love, love is love is Healthy Love does not hurt. You know what I'm saying? It's like and and people don't get that and when you when you love yourself when you feel compassionate to yourself, when you when you put thought, you know, when you don't subside what you think you deserve, or what other people feel you deserve. You really want more. And that was the that was the funniest part about me as a groomer. You know, I was always a groomer, even at 15 I've always been a diva always. You know, when I came into the salon, I would have my hair done, my nails are done. My eyes are done by the glittery and shiny. You know, I love my glitter. And why you're coming in, in a salon looking like that? I mean, what do you mean? Why are you putting a smile like that? Why are you worried about me looking? Go? Why do you look like that? You don't? You know, though? How dare you say that? But honestly, it's it's an honest question. I look like this because I feel good looking like this. If you feel good. Look, I look that's your business. But if I if I want to come into mine, and look good that you know what that does that give my customers confidence, you know, all of my comments on on Facebook, or Instagram or social media, the first thing people say is I know my dog is gonna look good, because she looks good. And if I look good, because I love myself, so it just pours into what I do. And as long as you're able to love yourself, you could pour into whatever, it doesn't matter, you could be a janitor, I bet you you have the cleanest porcelain Kuntala it does not matter what you do, as long as you love it and you love you, you're going to be successful. So you know, I've always knew who I was. And you know, people always have pushback, you know, why do you charge so much Roman because I use good quality products, try to get the like, I will say look at the shampoo I use, your dogs will never have skin infections, their skin will never dry out. I use omegas you know, I use what need I use what I need on your dog, and I make sure that they're healthy eating cats, they look good, they feel that they smell good, they act better. So it's just like, you know, I tell people look at the difference. Look at somebody that doesn't want to spend money on a gallon of shampoo, your dog's skin is gonna probably be falling off due to reaction, anything that we don't put on our bodies healthy. We react to it the same with dogs. So, you know, I just like I said, Kevin, I talk a lot, okay. And I just make sure you get the point with me. That's it, you know, if you don't get it, you can't say I didn't say I'm happy to let you go about your business. But other than that, you know, people get it. And that's why my clients love me so much. And that's why you know, I'm going in the direction that I'm going with my business so far.
Collin Funkhouser 34:30
Yeah, well, I think it's, it's, they see that they see that consistency in who you are, and that you are the business and the business is you and they really see your personality and that you're not just promoting this stuff, you're actually living it in you. You want it to be part of not just your life, but their life as well. So whenever they see all these things that does match up and I think immediately it sets those expectations for the client and they immediately know what to expect and as you said, both in how you communicate both and how you're dressing and presenting yourself in And then how you have your salon set up, it's all giving the solidarity message that the clients are going to be able to pick up on. So that they they know what to expect. And you mentioned that you get feedback sometimes on on, or comments about products or prices or things like that, how do you handle that process? either negative or positive feedback
Ashley Ann 35:21
when you get it? Talk a lot
35:27
better here.
Ashley Ann 35:29
Okay, I feel like giving an occasion is key, you know, you can never say you don't know what I'm saying. Because I say it all the time. You know, and I tell people, I'm not free, I get it, everybody does not want to spend $200 on a dog. So I'm not, I'm not here to service you then if that's not what you, you know, it's just the people that want to pay me and then I have two people that aren't interested, but you have to understand their grooming salons all over the world, they're there 10 salons within a five mile radius of my salon, you know, I don't have anybody finding contracts to come to me, you can come to me if you want. You don't you know, I don't I don't force you here. Now. I also don't put in any, you know, as I don't ask the people to come, I don't do anything like that. So for you, most of the time people come in because they're attracted to me, right? They are attracted to what it is that I offer, they're attracted to my dog, they're attracted to, you know, my salon. So it's just, if that's what you want, then that's what you pay for. So I'm always just very straightforward to people, I never get offended. You know, I really don't, I've learned not to get offended anymore. In the beginning, I'm not gonna lie. Because when you're so passionate about your craft, it's a little bit, it can be a little bit offensive, right? When somebody says, Why do you charge this and I can spend over 5000 to go to school in Asia? Okay, so, to me, it's like, what are you talking? What are you talking about, I just invested a lot of money in this. So you know, but also know that everybody they don't know, and a lot of people are unknowing, they don't understand that that's a bit. And that's where it comes into me talking a lot. And I'll just, okay, this is why I charge this, this is for these products, you can go ahead and try here. This is what you receive from there. But this is what I can guarantee you here. So you know, it's, I always tell people, I'm not a negotiation, I was supposed to be a lawyer, you know. And I decided to go to grooming school. Instead, I said, You know what, I'd rather be in grooming school, and it's much more happier. But I definitely have that million spirit. So, you know, I'm always ready to talk and explain to you communicate the black and white of how it works.
Collin Funkhouser 37:26
Yeah, I think that's absolutely critical. And it's a lesson that I think more of us need to start learning and implementing in our lives is that communication really does get through a lot of those situations. In scenarios, you set those expectations early by communicating them, you work through those issues, by communicating through it, then you follow up by communicating, and it's not going to hurt you by putting yourself out there and letting it be known who you are, you're only going to attract the clients that you actually want to be working with, and are gonna help support into your on your business to
Ashley Ann 38:00
Absolutely, and that's you know, that's the thing I was in a lot of groomers get so frustrated, right, because they hate grooming Matic dogs. And to me, I tell people, you know, I don't grow metadata. My Salon, when I started, I did I realized they were a liability. I don't want to struggle, because I know I could just put my dog make it look pretty and be happy. But when you're bringing your dog because you you are being neglected and you you aren't being a responsible pet parent, you're not bringing them in on a routine, your dog can't calm itself. So I'm definitely not going to blame your dog. So you know, you come in, I get upset because I say I have to shave your dog or you come in and get upset because your dog gets nicked because he's uncomfortable with me tried to rip Matt off of his skin. You know it to me it was you know, I like to talk but I don't like to feel like I'm repeating so much to the point. It's a form of insanity. So when it comes to I feel like I'm crazy. I kind of just cut it off at that point. So I made the decision to stop taking a mad dog. I say you know, groomers maintenance. groomers aren't even supposed to be service and mad at dogs that are more severe condition of the coat because it's a higher risk of incident. That's why mad dog should go to a veterinarian that has a groomer on staff. So you know, when I stopped taking a mad dog, a lot of groomers, they were like, Wow, you really inspired me to stop taking a mad dog because it's a liability. You know, I tell people they come in when my dog is mad and you're just shaving it. Well, you didn't go to prom in school. You don't know what it is for a dog to be mad at. Because if you were educated on the topic of matting your dog with MPLS conditioner witty, you know, so people that I'm a lawyer college I'm a lawyer and I'm a mother to a five year old. So I'm pretty certain I get the point across but it's just, you know, I'm not here to pour my energy into into into the low vibrations, right? I always tell clients I like high vibrational clients. I like happy people and that's what I attract. I started cutting my clientele base down I started telling people you know, that weren't suitable For me, I still think my sanity is very important, honestly, before yours is because I'm the one grooming your dog. So I'm not saying your dog is in danger. So I think you want to make sure that I'm happy, I'll put a scissor to your dog, you know, and that that just can't, you know, I just think that that's common sense. I don't want to make anybody upset that's cooking my food or grooming my dog or my child, I want to make sure we're on the same page. And, um, you know, but that's just me, you have humans in this world that will argue with a waitress and then tell them to bring back their food
40:30
for their living life on the edge is what they
Ashley Ann 40:35
do, you know, and I tell people, don't do it with me with your dog. So, you know, I made sure that I made it my mission to be happy with my crap. Because, you know, when I was dealing with the stress, and I was dealing with the liabilities, I wasn't happy, and it was affecting my performance at work. So I had to sit down, and again, challenge myself and say, Hey, Ash, what is it that you can do to make you and put you in a better place? You know, like, of course, you can't turn everybody away, of course, you're not going to have everybody coming in when you want. And of course, you may lose clientele, because a lot of them may not be a good fit. You know, when I purchased my business, I had an entire salon clientele and I have my clientele. So it was like, night and day, you know, my clients were angels, and then the ones that I purchased. Wait a minute, like, what did I sign away? You know, and it was like, I had to act like cleaning up house because I wasn't happy. And I was stressed, and it was affecting my performance. So I always tell people, it doesn't matter what you do, you have to understand, especially being an entrepreneur, it's a risky, it's a risky job, being an entrepreneur, you have to build your clientele, you have to build your relationships. And that's the most that's the most important thing to successful businesses have unhealthy relationships. Everybody doesn't even know the CEO. But if people have a good relationship with the company, they're happy when they go there, they're happy with the service, your business will be successful. But when you have nothing but negative and low vibrational things that you're dealing with on a frequent basis, like it's, it's, it's just, I just think it's a fire waiting to happen. So I like to I like to keep my peace I'm I tell people, I'm like I'm dealing with your children, okay, I don't want to deal with you to be nice, I'm gonna make the dog look happy. And we're gonna go about our day. That's it. Yeah.
Collin Funkhouser 42:23
I used to really a key word there build, you have to build your clientele. And I think I tend to forget that it is an active thing that I as a business owner have to do. I don't just passively allow clients to come to me or people who need services to come to me, I need to be out there. Building that getting the ones that I want and working my business so that it's meeting their needs. So they continue to come back. And when we get more passive about it. I think that's when we look up a couple years down the road and go, What is going on? Like, why is this such a such a mess right now? Because we didn't we didn't build it. We just let it happen to
Ashley Ann 43:02
us. Yeah, accountability, accountability. And accountability plays a major role and self love too. Because again, when you start being accountable for things, you start fixing it, you start fixing areas of opportunity, you know what I'm saying? And we're human, you know, nobody's perfect. Like I said, there's no blueprint to life. You're not going to get it right all the time. I'm not somebody that gets to the right. I'm somebody that really like I went through the hardest lessons for me to finally get it right. So you know, when you learn to start challenging yourself, and you learn to start, you know, bettering yourself and saying like, Okay, I'm miserable, because I'm not doing this, you know, forget that. Forget the middleman, forget the consumer. So get that part where the clients, ultimately you are the reason for your happiness, anger and happiness. And you know, sometimes think about it, getting your, whatever happiness you require, it may be a little more work than the next, you know, everybody tells me there's no way I would have been an entrepreneur. Ashley, I cannot do what you do. Because I can't send customers that complaints a corporate. So I make sure I don't take customers that complain, right. I know, I've mastered my craft. I know I'm phenomenal at what I do. I know I give 110%. And I know for a fact, there's nothing that you can complain about when I do your dog. And I know that for a fact, I communicate actually what you want. I have my receipts, I have my master's degrees, I've done more. So it's like I know where I'm at. So if you're somebody that likes to come in to blame, or be upset that I can't service you, you know, because I can't make you happy. You got to find a happiness within yourself. So yeah, it's a life is it? It's simple, but yet it's not. You know, we have the, the rules. It's simple because we know what we need to do. But it's not simple because it's hard to do what we need to do and I always tell people, it's not easy, so just make sure whatever you're doing you're doing it because you love it. You know actually They, those are the only people I know that break a bone and jump back on on the field because I'm telling you when a dog bites me, I'm ready to quit. I'm like, I'm done. I'm finished. I don't want to do this. But I go back because I love it. You know, I love it. So I've only been built three times in my entire career. And I plan to keep it like that. I don't want any more dog bite. But and there's always been a Yorkie, a poodle, and a Chihuahua, always them. So it's yours. You're not mindful with them now. But I always like I said, I love what I do. And if you love what you do, you'll be able to get a little bit further. And you know, you'll have more questions to fall back on because if it may not make you happy, what you have to go climbing a mountain is not easy. It's who said climbing a mountain is easy, but everybody wants to be at the top of the mountain, right? So you have to do what you need to do to get there to enjoy that bliss to have that Excel. It's a process and as long as you're willing to call yourself a gown, countable, love yourself, put in the work, do the effort. Do your due diligence. Be honest, do over love you'll get there. It's not going to happen overnight. But at least those things will help you stay dedicated so
Collin Funkhouser 46:08
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Ashley Ann 47:29
Ah, so that that has been I think that's been my biggest lie because grooming celebrity dogs have really shown me that I am a celebrity. Because it's just like, I fit in that world so perfectly. I stand out actually. And it's like, it's been so fun, because they don't treat me like, you know, a dog groomer. It really is love, I go to their houses, I hang out with them. We build relationships. And it's also you know, they learn and it's safe for me, as you know, I learned and I take from them. So being a celebrity groomer has definitely opened so many doors for me. And it's it's also helped me, I keep myself love because I have one client with a private debt. And I'm like, Yep, this is gonna be me. So this is definitely gonna be mine. And they'll laugh and they'll say, you know, I can see you getting it. I see Ashley, I'll go into the matches, I say, Yep, this is gonna be mine. And then as I see it as and it sounds like they have definitely had they've been very supportive. Most of my celebrity clients are the reason why I'm, I'm pushing with TV and all of this stuff, because they're the ones that say like you can do it, you can definitely do it, you have the face where you have the personality for it, you have the inspiration for it, like people want to listen to you, and they want to talk to you. So it's just it's been super fun. I've had so many benefits, I've gone to concerts, I've been backstages I get a lot of places for free, I love to eat, so they eat great. I just, you know, I'm living. I'm living a dream right now. And, you know, it's been I've been, I've had any nasty celebrities, I haven't had any experiences like that. So, you know, it's been it's really been a very healthy journey for me so far, transitioning into the entertainment field. So it's been fun.
Collin Funkhouser 49:13
I think that may be intimidating for a lot of people to see somebody like that walk through the door to get that call to come take care of this famous person's pet, but to hear you telling it, it's really motivating to you to see that and to go you know what now this is this is my next level. This is where I'm shooting. Yeah. And to start to start operating in that. Absolutely. You
Ashley Ann 49:34
know, that's why also they you know, another thing I like to listen to a lot of motivational speakers like Zig Ziglar Jim Brolin, like I love listening to them. But one thing that Zig Ziglar always says that you have to discover new ground, you'd have to meet new people that can probably see something in you that the people you grew up with never saw and you you know, oftentimes we stay where we are, we're kind of enabled at that point because you're not covering new ground. When you cover new ground, you see new opportunities, you see, you see new possibilities. And a lot of the Sanger kind of go by is people would rather live in familiar house than to explore unfamiliar heavens, right. And people rather stay in the hell because they're used to it. That's what they know. And a lot of the times, yeah, heaven is going to be a biggest blessing. So it's scary, because you've never seen it before. Like, I like I said, I've never had a celebrity friend, I did not grow up in diversity. You know, it was five years and one bedroom. It wasn't, it was never easy for me. So for me to come to this, I guess, maybe it gave me a different type of hope. And it gave me a different type of inspiration, maybe because of my experiences, why I look at it like that. Or maybe because I'm a Leo, I don't know, it could be one or the other. But I feel like a little bit, a little bit of both. Like, I know, I deserve good things in life. That's why I decided to move, you know, when I turned 15, but my mother so I can, my parents were divorced. So I was living with my father. But when I was 16, I decided to move my mother to Montclair, and that's when, you know, I started having different friends with different ethnicities. And, you know, I realized that I was adaptable also. So it's like, I'm just an adaptable person, I could be in China, I could be, I could be in, in Brazil, I could be I doesn't matter. I'm just so adaptable. And that's, I think, a gift that I've learned that I have. And it's fun. I told you, I'm spontaneous. I really am. I, my five year old has gotten that for me. So I'm trying. Now I see everybody's nerves a little bit when it comes to me, but you know, I'm ready to dive with her. So if I have to grab her back really quick, I'll grab a bag. But it has been really, really enjoyable, being able to hang out with these, with the celebrities and just seeing a whole new world.
Collin Funkhouser 52:02
Well, you mentioned your five year old there, you're your mom, you're a CEO, you've got these big aspirations. And I know one of the things that you're really passionate about is making sure that you, you leave a legacy. Why is that important to you? And and what does that mean to you?
Ashley Ann 52:19
Simply because I love my baby so much. You know, like, the type of love I have, I offer the the loves where I want to pour into you and make sure you're good. Like if you've ever watched the lion in the jungle, take care of their family, if that's me, in human form. And, you know, I know I'm not going to be here forever, I know my daughter is gonna have children, I intend to have more children, and I know I'm gonna have grandchildren. And you know, just coming up from struggle, and, and, you know, difficulties and, you know, not having money or resources like that, I don't want my child to go through that, you know what I'm saying. And as they often say, like when you when you're poor, and that's not a word that you want to use. But when, when you're in that state, and you finally get out of it, you never want to go back to it. And that's me. And that's why I want to make sure none of my family has to go through it. You know, I am the generational curse breaker and my family, I am going to be the first you know, billionaire because I'm a skip over millionaire, we're going to first billionaire, in my family and in the industry that's ever done this. So it gives me a sense of peace, knowing that when my time comes in, it's not going to be for another 100 years. But when my time comes, everybody's good. And that that's the whole point of life of living. Like we're supposed to have fun, yes, we're supposed to, you know, live our fullest and, and have friends and have family. But ultimately, we're here to do something. That's why they say you are fulfilled once you complete your purpose here, you know, nobody can say they're fulfilled completely because they're not done. You know, you can say I'm fulfilled at the moment with what I'm doing. But I know I have more to go. But I know I'm going to muscle, it's going to be fulfilled when I know I can lay my I can lay my head down and close my eyes and my family is forever good. So that is what legacy is to me. And I want to change the world. Like my family is big too. But just being able to really change the world colonists something like it's like a different type of high. You know, it's like, whoa, you really, you really have people in China that know you like you really have people in Russia that know you people that women that are saying you you make them want to be better you're giving them hope you're giving women that cry you like is is is different, you know, it's different, and it feels like I'm doing it right. So I want to just be able to make sure I share my passion with the world and allow the world to fall in love with it and just make it a better place because we live in a crazy world right now and I really do just want to make it a little bit better. So that if I can answer your question, that's what legacy is to me.
Collin Funkhouser 55:06
Oh, yeah, it's looking forward. And it's trying to leave something better than you found it or better than you had and working to that end. And I think too often we get stuck in the here and now, and not looking down to the road. And that's as simple as sometimes of saving for the future or investing for something better. And then you can go into this, I want to change the world, I want to leave the entire place better because I was here and do something with my time. And that means a lot of different things for a lot of different people. So as far as the the grooming industry goes for you, where do you want the the grooming industry to go? And what do you want it to look like in another 15 years, or 20,
Ashley Ann 55:51
and another 15 to 20 years with the grooming industry, I want to see more acceptance. And I want to see more respect, because like I said, I feel like the grooming industry is a very overlooked industry. And I feel like my my little purpose in this because I don't only stop with grooming, but this was my stepping stone to my complete purpose. But dogs and cats really are our life source, right? Some people can ever have children and ask why they have dogs or cats. Some people have lost loved ones, and their dogs help them more and get over it. Some people have mental disorders where a dog helps calm them. And in the grooming salon, these animals, they still have to get groomed, right. And they should be handled with love and care the same way that we would have with them at home. And I feel like my purpose is to teach people that and I want to build an army of groomers that are just bougie you know, that, that see luxury, you know, that I see life and that loves what they do that want to be passionate about it, you know, and that's what I want to do with the industry. I love how TV shows now we're coming out with dog competitions. And I don't really feel like she gets focused on dog competitions. But I can focus on the livelihood of groomers as well. You know, behind the scenes what we go through, just so people can have a more understanding and people can be more appreciative of us. You know, people can value us more some people literally they say I one thing people know not to call me as the groomer, don't ever call me the groomer. Because that is not my name. And that is not my title. If you want to call me a title, comedy grooming extraordinaire, but do not call me the dog groomer because me you might have to have a conversation. It's this, I want people to look at us past that, you know, we're like your therapist, or your dog's therapist, we got to listen to the mouth for hours, we have to deal with them pooping a pan on us, like we have to deal with a lot of stuff. So you know, just me just showing my life, being who I am teaching, pouring into other people's cup that is ultimately, you know, where I see the grooming industry becoming like a lot of knees, but in their own ways, but with the love and the passion and the dedication. That's what I want to see with, you know, the grooming industry. And definitely, in less than 15 years, I'll have my own master certification that I'll be able to give to my students. So I'm excited. Yeah,
Collin Funkhouser 58:34
that is really super exciting. And if someone's listening to this, and they are feeling inspired, and they're saying, oh, you know what, maybe that is my passion. What are some early steps that you would recommend somebody take if they're interested in getting into grooming or offering that as a suit as a service to their clients?
Ashley Ann 58:52
Oh, absolutely. So what I will say is definitely you know, if it's a calling, I get it if you if it's not a calling, try it out first you know, go to animal shelters, go to adoption spots, just try to socialize with dogs for a little bit get to know them thoughts and cat pet, get to know him a little bit to make sure that this is something that you want to get into because again, you know dogs are just as important as children are and it's a very it's a very it's a job that you need to be extremely responsible for. So you know if it's something that you see you can be responsible for dedicated to then I'll say, you know, your next step is going to corporate salon seeing if you could apply as a bather, go to private salon, see if you can intern or shadow somebody, you know and just just allow yourself to fall in love with the craft and allow yourself to fall in love the passion, but most importantly like this, drain yourself, you know, absorb yourself with the knowledge make sure you want to learn about grooming learn about dogs, just be dedicated to it. I always tell people you know you can't do this if you're not passionate about it because your dogs are gonna walk out Can lopsided. I just feel like do you know make sure you love your dog come on, I just don't feel like a dog should walk out with a head bigger than this body. I just, you know, you gotta love it a little bit more. So, you know, make sure you're very, very interested in learning your craft developing your craft. And, you know, I'm here, you can always reach out to me, I'm happy to answer questions. I'm happy to tell you a little bit about it. But most importantly, it's just a journey that you're going to be able to appreciate as you go through. Once you enter into the grooming industry.
Collin Funkhouser 1:00:36
Ashley, I really want to thank you so much for coming on and inspiring us telling you about your story in how we can better be connected with our purpose and live that out in the actions that we implement in our lives and in our business. But there's a lot more here and you have a lot going on in your life. So how can people get connected and follow along with everything that you're doing these days?
Ashley Ann 1:01:02
Well, absolutely. You can definitely follow me on instagram grooming extraordinaire, I'm on Facebook as well. Diamonds in the Rough as are you FF I want to tick tock my handles are making sure there's well, my email, feel free to reach out to me that's diamonds in the rough 190 at gmail.com. And then you can also catch me on a couple of TV shows HBO Max hot dog Episode Seven, ABC seven the pasture with Dr. Katie. Oh my God, there's so many of you guys be seeing me on Hulu soon. Once I'm able to legally talk about it, you will definitely be able to hear about it by February 2022. I'm bringing something to the screen that nobody's seen before. So I'm like super psyched about being able to collaborate with the producer, that Hulu to bring this show to life. So guys find me that way.
Collin Funkhouser 1:01:55
Awesome. Again, a lot to look forward to let's open the future. So I'm definitely need to have you back on to talk about how all of that goes. Ashley again, thank you so much. I really enjoyed this conversation.
Ashley Ann 1:02:06
Carla, thank you, you are great. Thank you so much for sharing your platform, it was an honor.
Collin Funkhouser 1:02:12
Passion is a currency that you fill. I think this is a really important reminder to us who are in a passion industry, we are so passionate not just about caring for pets, but about the excellence with which we do that. And passion can run out sometimes, and we have to recharge ourselves, it's important to remind ourselves that nobody else is going to recharge us. Nothing external is going to be able to do that for us. We are the ones who have to go out and refill ourselves through however that process looks like. And when we discussed luxury and what that meant to her and how she communicates that to her clients. I love when she said there's no basic cut, because this is not a basic salon. That is a very important reminder that as we run our businesses as we set our prices, and we decide what niche we are going to go into, by going into certain niches we are thereby excluding certain other ones, and excluding price points and excluding certain clientele. That's that process of saying no, we've talked about that a lot about how we say no, both in our marketing, in our messaging on social media, through our website, and through our operating procedures. But as we know and understand our business more and more, it gets easier to say no to the clients that we don't want and the price points that we don't want either. We want to thank our sponsors today time to pet and pet perennials. Make sure you go and check them out. If you're interested in a new pet sitting software or sending a sympathy gift to a client who's recently lost a beloved pet. And we want to thank you so much for listening and for sharing the episodes and for showing up here every single week. That means an awful lot to make it an I am we are so glad and happy and thrilled that you're getting something out of this podcast. We hope you all have a wonderful rest of your week and we will be back again
1:04:10
soon.
