#16 Carving a New Path: The Story of Ashley's Entrepreneurial Leap-Part 1

Have you ever yearned for a major shift in your life, but fear of the unknown held you back? Perhaps my good friend, Ashley, can inspire you. After years of being a dedicated teacher, Ashley took a leap of faith and embarked on an exciting entrepreneurial journey. In our heart-to-heart chat, she unravels the complexities of this transition, painting a vivid picture of her transformation from a professional educator to a successful businesswoman.

Today, Ashley opens up about her daunting journey, filled with challenges and unexpected blessings. She shares with us how a forced break from teaching due to surgery became an unforeseen turning point in her life. This was the moment when she took the bold step of  making the business plan come to life. Delving into the origins of her unique store name and the perfect selection of its location, Ashley takes us down memory lane, reminiscing about the unforgettable event she attended with her family that is essentially linked to her store's name.

In part one, we journey with Ashley through her transition story, from making the difficult decision to leave teaching, to facing the inherent risks, and finally achieving her business goals. We explore the importance of a unique business name, and how Ashley's choice mirrors her entrepreneurial journey. Ashley's story is a testament to the concept of 'No More Running.' She followed her heart and plunged into her passion, demonstrating that it's never too late to change your path. This inspirational tale of courage, resilience, and determination is definitely one you don't want to miss!

You can connect with Ashley on www.uptownmerch.com and Facebook-Uptown Merch or email her at shopuptownmerch@gmail.com and Instagram @Shop_Uptown_Merch

Would you like to do some one-one Coaching with Crystal? You can go to www.crystalloyd.com and click on coaching and connect with her on No More Running Facebook and Instagram @crystalloyd2

Music By:
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
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Transcript

Speaker 2: 0:07

Have you ever found yourself running? Running mentally, emotionally, spiritually, financially and even running physically from things in this life. This is no More Running. The podcast for women. Hello, I'm your host, crystal Lloyd, and I've been known to run and still find myself running from the things in this life. Running from God, His calling, his purpose for my life. Running from change that's within my control, that needs to be made, or any type of change. Running from hard or even good or even just simple little things in this life. And God said to me Crystal, if you will stop running and surrender, there are things that we can accomplish together. Maybe you find yourself running as I have. I want you to know that you're not alone. Let's go from running to no More Running together. Let's get started with prayer. Holy Spirit, we invite you to be a part of the podcast, the lessons, the life coaching and the sharing of our stories. Let it be known today that you are God. God, help us to go from running in this life, from whatever it may be that we're running from, from running to no More Running in Jesus' name.

Speaker 2: 1:33

On today's podcast we have Ashley, my friend Ashley, and I want to thank you so much for being a guest on no More Running podcast and she is going to teach us all kinds of stuff. But while she's sharing her story and thank you so much and I just want you to know, ashley, you are my hero. I am so excited and I love guest days. I just love it. It's so exciting, but today's kind of even special because, you know, normally a lot of times I have to meet with my guest on Zoom and Ashley is actually here physically in my office, but actually it's a corner in my bedroom and this is I'm starting out here, you know so, but I'm excited that she's in my home and she's visiting and we've taken a tour and we've looked at the view in the background the mountains, all that stuff.

Speaker 2: 2:28

So I'm just so excited and thank you for being a guest, ashley. I know we're running. Let's get started here. And you were a teacher and tell us about your teaching days, because you were a teacher, but now you are an entrepreneur, what we call as a SO Pro. You know now in the banking world, and you own your own business, your retail business. So what Ashley's going to share with you today is that how she went from being a teacher to being an entrepreneur in business for herself and having a retail shop that is very successful.

Speaker 1: 3:09

Thank you, and thank you for having me and I love the new name by the way no more running.

Speaker 2: 3:16

I love it yes.

Speaker 1: 3:17

When you said there was a new name coming, I was like, ooh.

Speaker 2: 3:19

I wonder, I love it. Yes, I love it.

Speaker 1: 3:23

I think it goes great with what you are doing also because even though you're still in, you know the banking world, you're still making time to do this podcast and all the things and you have stopped running from that. You know, scared can't do it, but here we are Right.

Speaker 2: 3:39

And from the Lord. I mean like running from the Lord, I'm just constantly running from what you know, god was telling me to do and because, well, maybe I didn't have permission you know not feeling like I had permission from others in but you know, all the permission that we need is from the Lord, exactly and anyways.

Speaker 1: 3:59

But yes, so I was an educator. I taught for nine years, nine years I have In the teaching business.

Speaker 1: 4:07

I have three degrees in education Well, tell us what those are and just like elementary education, a bachelor's, and I have a master's in teaching excellence, and then I have which is kind of curriculum focused, and then I have an administrative degree, an EDS in administration. So, yeah, wow, I'm well educated, I guess, in education. But I left the field 2021. May of 2021. And now I left and opened my store in November of 2021 and haven't looked back, wow.

Speaker 2: 4:41

So tell us what those teaching days look like for you, maybe in the beginning, and then even near the end. What did those teaching days look?

Speaker 1: 4:52

like. So I say every teacher would probably say stressful and tired for the most part. But I feel like when I started there was I don't know some spark still there and throughout the nine years of all the changes and all the just run arounds of everything happening with education, you know, not trying to get, you know political, but all the politics of education and all the state and government mandates just kind of put a damper in education. And then I think we all feel like when COVID hit that it just kind of started dwindling down even more and I was there for that.

Speaker 1: 5:38

I was there for of course, the shutdown and I went back for the 2020, 2021 school year. I will say that when I went back, it was the goal for it to be my last year. So I hate to say that you know, covid brought it on or whatever, but there were so many changes and so much going on that in that moment, it was that piece of yes. It's time for me to go. It's time for me to try something else, because my heart wasn't in teaching and I think, if you're a teacher, that's the most important thing, because, aside from all the junk that you have to go through as a teacher, if your heart's not in it for those kids, they know that and a lot of times, that you're what they need, and so it's hard to go in there every day and put your heart into something you know isn't there, and so I decided that I was gonna walk away and I did.

Speaker 2: 6:36

That's awesome. I mean that you set your mind to something and you did it. But where was your mindset during those days? And I mean, like what? I mean, how was it? I mean, did you just like have one by day and say, for you know, I'm done? What did that look like?

Speaker 1: 6:56

You know so backstory which I have a retail store now. I have like a variety gift shop. So while I was student teaching, I was in the midst of that and I remember talking to my husband and I was like I think I'm gonna store yeah, and you know how you're like okay, which I am blessed. He's supportive of all my crazy adventures, I feel like.

Speaker 2: 7:21

But my husband too, yeah.

Speaker 1: 7:23

And so I was like I'm a student teaching and I've spent all this time in college and money and you know you go back and forth and so, while I do believe that that was the purpose that I was supposed to do for that time, and I mean, who knows what he'll call me to later- Right. Because I do feel like in those nine years I grew, you know life wise, probably 20 years, if that makes sense.

Speaker 2: 7:48

And knowledge wise as well.

Speaker 1: 7:49

Yeah, and you know, just growing up in general, yes, so in that nine years I do know that that's where I was supposed to be and when I first started, like I said, it was great. In the instance of, I could say yes, I like my job, I enjoyed it. Then it got to where, the past, or the last two to three years, people are like oh, do you like teaching? No, I didn't even sugar coat it anymore.

Speaker 1: 8:17

I mean which, if you know me, I don't sugar coat a lot, but that's what I like about you actually.

Speaker 2: 8:22

I mean, that's why I think we can relate to one another and that we just get along so well. It's just because some people know me as a quiet and shy and I have been that person reserved and well then, when I was as a pastress wife, you didn't want to rock the boat, you didn't want to try and be yourself, but I'm more open and honest and I'll tell you what I think, in my opinion, and I thought that was a bad thing. But no, I like that about you. I like that you're honest and you're open. In that, well, thank you.

Speaker 1: 8:54

Yeah, yeah, I did. I just got to where I'm like I'm not going to sugar coat this. No, I'm not happy.

Speaker 1: 9:00

I don't like it and, of course, you can imagine sometimes the horrible looks that I would get, or even just the wow, why don't you like it? And it's really hard to explain, I think, unless you've been in that field and also when you feel that move to, I need to do something else. Yes, I don't feel like it matters what fields you're in. If you feel like you're being called to do something else, then that's what you have to do, and sometimes it's not that easy. It's not just well, I'm walking away to today and I'm starting tomorrow.

Speaker 1: 9:31

It's a process, but I remember just being in the time of I wanted something else. I wanted something else. I wanted more. I just thought there was more. That I don't want to say for me because I don't want to sound selfish, but I just thought there was more for me.

Speaker 2: 9:46

Right, there's got to be more than just this. And, like you said, your heart wasn't in it anymore where it was before. But you know what? I believe that the Lord shifted your heart. He shifted it and he says Ashley, I've got something over here where I need you to be over here so that you can reach these people, these women, or be in this networking.

Speaker 2: 10:15

Right, because and I say this because I remember, and when we ran into each other at a tool shop, our husbands were looking, and maybe you were looking, I don't know, but I was just like I'm here with my husband, I was just with them, yeah, and they were looking at all these tools and it's inservable here, and we had not seen each other for years because we had left the ministry and we were both in the ministry both of us and you were still in the ministry as well as a youth pastor and so are youth minister, you know, and so.

Speaker 2: 10:54

But we ran into each other, we hadn't seen each other in forever. And I remember asking the Lord that day because I never feel like it's just by coincidence that you run into somebody and I asked the Lord you know why did I run into Ashley that day, why did I? And I never knew. And now I see that you've moved into being an entrepreneur and I want to go in that business of being an entrepreneur, being in business for myself, podcasting, you know, helping women grow closer to the Lord, and just all that and so, and all the wisdom and the advice that you've given me, and then I've been able to reach out to you and be like how'd you do this, what did you do, what did you? You know? And so I'm like that's why the Lord reconnected us, because he knew we were going to need, I was going to need you.

Speaker 1: 11:49

I think wisdom I'm giving you might be a little stretch, but I agree, I think, and sometimes you just need each other in those moments of changing in life. Yes, okay, I'm moving from this stage to another, or I'm adding in a new thing, because people will come in all the time to the store and they're like, do you miss teaching? And I'm like, no, no, there are some kids that I miss and I have some, you know, former students. They stop by the store and they see me and I love it. I love seeing how big they are now. Of course, most of them like tower over me, but seeing what they're going to do with their life and how good they are, and seeing that progression in a kid or a youth is amazing.

Speaker 1: 12:38

But overall, no, is what I do now stressful? Absolutely when you're I don't want to call it a one woman, you know kind of thing, because I do have a lot of help from family and things like that, but those family and friends also have jobs. So when you're a one woman kind of show doing it all, it is stressful, but it's it's. It's just a different stress.

Speaker 2: 13:00

Right.

Speaker 1: 13:01

It's a different want and feel to it.

Speaker 2: 13:04

Yeah, yeah, well, and and yes, I think that you have passed on some wisdom and some knowledge. But also too I see this too, ashley is that when your students, your former students, come in and they talk about what they want to do in life, and you can encourage them, hey, if, if they say, oh, my own business too, you can say it can so happen, it can happen. With the Lord by your side, anything can happen, you know so. So, anyways, let's go back to the days that you were in teaching and like your mental state, you know what was it like? I mean, like you were still doing really good. You were, you know, like, okay, I'll wait till whenever the Lord wants to. What just tell?

Speaker 1: 13:51

you. So, like I said, at first it was, I felt like good. And even the last year or two, even though it was a struggle and I knew that wasn't where I was supposed to be, I kind of had the peace, knowing that I wasn't going to have to be there much longer. I know that might sound crazy, but while some of the things would, I was still stressed out and it would still get to me. I knew, but this isn't where I'm going to be much longer. So that's okay, I can go another day because this isn't where I'm going to be much longer.

Speaker 1: 14:17

But I would say, in the middle of that aspect, it was rough to say that I was put on blood pressure medicine, to say that I didn't leave most days upset, not necessarily even crying, but just stress, upset, aggravated, you know things like that. And it wasn't usually even the students, it was just the general. And then I was to a point to where I didn't want to go to bed early because I knew I had to get up and go to work. And I know that sounds crazy, because then I'd get up and go to work and feel like you know I should have went to bed.

Speaker 1: 14:52

But it was like you put off that last minute because you know on Sundays what people call the Sunday scaries that every Sunday it was horrible. I did not. I remember for years Josh and I would go to church we don't have church on Sunday night and then Sundays was usually our day to go somewhere. We would end up in Knoxville or Sevierville or wherever you know, just doing whatever. And then teaching happened and I got to where on Sundays, I don't do anything because I dreaded the next day so much, I dreaded Monday in the start of the week and who knows what you were going to kind of walk into. And so, yeah, there was a time. There was even a time that I couldn't tell you how much time I spent, probably looking for another job, or even the same job, just a different place, or you know, it's not that the place or the environment, but you know what I'm saying it's just you had that need to get out.

Speaker 1: 15:45

I needed something else, and I remember there was a time where it was almost like it was laid out, here's you a new position. All right, like let's go. God was like no, no, Wait, wait, wait a second this is what I want. Right, yes, this is great. This is going to solve all these problems, this is what I've been praying for.

Speaker 1: 16:06

It's going to you know what I thought solve all these problems. It's going to do this, it's going to do that, all the things. And it was like no. I mean, I had already in the process of saying I'm thinking about it, but my answer is probably yes, but just give you know, I wanted that because I didn't have peace enough to say yes, I want to take this. And he literally was like no. And I was why, why are you doing this to me? You know, and? And so there was that moment of I don't want to say that I Mad at the Lord, but, you know, aggravated, you know, or even mad at sometimes why, why won't you let me do this? Why won't you let me do this? And this is what I'm praying for, this is what you know.

Speaker 1: 16:44

I'm right, this is all the things and it's lining up and it's like he's like no, and While I was aggravated it and even mad to an extent, when I Declined it With tears, mind you. Yes, when I declined it it was kind of like okay, there's something better. I still didn't like it, I Still struggled and I think even from that moment, those couple of years probably in the middle of teaching, was the worst and after that I got. I think it's when I become more real with myself and when people would say hey, do you like to know?

Speaker 1: 17:22

I don't right you know, this is what I want to do.

Speaker 2: 17:25

Yeah, yeah, well, I am. I'm really big on and I encourage my listeners to have a conversation with God, be open and honest with God, and I know that. We both know that we can be mad and we can be frustrated and we can completely just Speel out on God, because he can handle it. Oh, and so it sounds like that's where you had got to. You got to the point where it was like Lord, why are you making me suffer and do this? Why, and like it was, did it feel like a punishment? You?

Speaker 1: 17:59

know, yes, yes, it did, and which I think I've talked with you before there was a time, because you know I've had. You know, miss carriage is in the past and I did go through the might of God. Don't want to talk to God.

Speaker 2: 18:11

No, you know that kind of thing.

Speaker 1: 18:13

So this mad wasn't okay. I don't want, I don't want to even, you know, talk to you right now, lord, I don't want you to talk to me. It was just I'm I'm upset, I'm angry, like what's the point? Like I'm your child, you're supposed to love me.

Speaker 2: 18:25

Yes, yeah do you not love me, god? And because you're making me stay, you're making me stay. This is how I feel. And why are you punishing me? Why, no, I totally get that. Actually, I can completely Understand that, and I and I believe that the listeners to you know, you know we both would encourage them to be open and honest with God and be like. You know what I mean. Maybe you are in that same bolt and you're saying I want to get out of this. I want to. I want to move in, to have a mom business. I want to. You know, I want more. There's more for me, and so and I know that God has more for me- I feel like we I don't know as women.

Speaker 1: 19:07

Sometimes I think we. What I feel like is more for me. It's okay that it's not what you feel like. It's more for you. Yes we don't have to be the same. Yes, if you feel like closing your business and becoming an educator is more, do it, go for it. Yes if you you know staying home or not, staying home with kids and I think that's a hard part too sometimes when other people are talking about Well, I want more for my life. I'm not saying that, what you have is wrong is wrong.

Speaker 1: 19:37

Yeah, because that's hopefully perfect for you, but for me at the time and, like I said, I grew up I feel like I grew up a lot in nine years and I needed that, but at the time it wasn't what I wanted and what I felt like was right for me. Yeah but if that's what's right for you, then that's what you.

Speaker 2: 19:57

Yeah, that's the thing right and do it right. Yes, yeah, okay. So then what was the breaking point when you got to work, you know you said to God, you know, I've got to go, I've got to go. And then you've said to your husband, I've got to go, I've got to get out of this, and then start making plans To get to move, you know, from teaching into your own business. I mean, like, what was that breaking point? Or was there a breaking point sort?

Speaker 1: 20:29

of so in Before COVID, yeah, I was teaching middle school, I love middle schoolers.

Speaker 2: 20:36

I know most people are like no, I don't, I love middle schoolers and you're thinking are you talking about like sixth, seventh, eighth grade?

Speaker 1: 20:41

Oh yeah, that's a hard age and so, and I loved the subjects, I love the kid, that was great, but I still felt like I needed more. And then there was other things that just kind of came about in life. And then COVID happened and I'm just gonna be honest, I said, and I listened to other teachers and I know what we post on Facebook sometimes is just for other people and not how we feel, but I listened to other people and I saw a post on Facebook or on the news you see all the stuff, okay, of teachers missing their classroom and missing their students and what one want to know about this with them or one you know, not them to be behind or whatever. And don't get me wrong, I cared about the kids but I didn't, I didn't miss it.

Speaker 2: 21:31

Yeah, I didn't miss it at all. Yeah and so that's.

Speaker 1: 21:33

That is when you knew, yes, something has to change probably you know when, when the world shut down I guess I was like a better word, but that's how it felt, at least for years. When the world shut down, of course, what we were going I was as a teacher we were going and doing, we were doing mills. So almost every day we were giving mills out, they were pulling up and we were giving them you know, the kids mills or the family mills and things like that. So sometimes I was still going to the school house to work and sometimes I was working from home and things like that. But I didn't miss it and honestly, at that part point I thought I don't care for ever. Walk in the classroom again. Yeah, I don't care if I have to change the date on the board again. I, this is not what I want.

Speaker 1: 22:17

And so then we had kind of been leading to that. But at that moment it was a serious conversation of okay, so you, what can we do to get you out of teaching, and how, what's the earliest? You know, what can we do financially and is the business what you wanna do? Because it has been what I was talking about even before I was teaching, and so that's kind of what spiraled it about, and most people probably wouldn't decide to open up a retail store in the middle of COVID.

Speaker 2: 22:49

But hey, if the Lord's called you to do it, you know he's gonna bless it, he's gonna have his hand in favor of on that, and I believe he has, without a doubt. So, okay, so you've made the decision, I'm leaving at the end of the school year and this is what I'm gonna do. But what's the next steps? What did you do? You mean, did you just leave it? And then just you know, just hey, you know.

Speaker 1: 23:14

You know how, when things start happening, it feels like all well, when it rains at pores, all bad things, and then sometimes it starts happening in your favor and you're like this works out, this works out, you know those God things.

Speaker 1: 23:26

That's all it was. So, of course, the school year started back up in August. We went later, but I think it was still August, the end of August of 2020. And I went back. But I went back knowing, okay, this is what we're gonna work on, and so I started just researching. I have a good friend that has a boutique, so she was, you know, helpful. Bless her heart. She was probably like stop texting me.

Speaker 1: 23:56

Like I do you you know, but not at all though. But she was, you know, great and we had talked for years about that too. So she knew that and so she was great. And then I just started looking into things, which my husband has his own business, so that was helpful as far as knowing some of the things, because I didn't have you know what falls, what forms to fall. You knew that. I didn't have a clue, so we started kind of just let's work really hard on looking at what exactly I want. Right now I hate to say I had a business plan, because I didn't. It was just like informal plans.

Speaker 1: 24:34

And then in January of 2021, a building in our area came available for rent and it was located actually beside a store that my husband co-owns, so that was just kind of one of those there it is. We went and looked at it. It needed work, obviously. It was just one of those how perfect, right when it's at. So we rented it in January of 2021. No one but Josh and my probably immediate family knew that I was even gonna do this Nobody. And we heard of building rented and so it started kind of from there working out. And then in March of 2021, I had been taking sick days here or there, like to use them up. I had to have a total hysterectomy, uferectomy, all things and she wanted my doctor wanted me out of work for at least four weeks, so I took every sick day that I had to finish it up.

Speaker 1: 25:43

Yeah, I was out of work, which she wanted me to take the time off because it was a lot for the surgery, but I took, I think, five and a half weeks off and I took every sick day I had. So I went back right before testing in the end of the year.

Speaker 1: 26:00

During that time, though, when I'm home and can't do anything, I fall for business lessons, all that stuff that, honestly, if I was teaching I couldn't have, I almost couldn't have done, but it would have been a lot, because if your teacher, you know that's your main focus.

Speaker 2: 26:18

You know, I mean you're constantly thinking about the children and the lessons and the things that you have to get done for the next day. You know grades and then checking work and I mean I get it, I get it. So you are. I mean it gave you a to actually, hey, actually, this right here is what the Lord did Through that surgery. He put a stop to your running and he gave you a time of you know, just maybe rest there and he was like, okay, I need you to slow down so that you can focus on on what I have for you next. Oh, I love that.

Speaker 1: 26:56

That's so good and it was just like perfect as far as I Honestly felt after the surgery. I felt good, I felt really good, so that was a plus. As far as you know, I wasn't miserable as I, but you still can't do anything and and I was able to I started looking up Companies and things to sell in the store and how to get a hold of Pete. You know all the stuff that I needed to do. Of course, our goal when we ran it in January January was to open more of the summer, but then I was out of commission, like with work and doing things for, you know, at least six weeks roughly, so it did kind of put us off. And then we battled just the Delays and then the products not having products, because COVID put a hold on a lot of stuff.

Speaker 1: 27:46

There was so much that products, that places didn't have. So when we're trying to, you know, rip up Carpet and and paint I mean just the little things that you didn't think about actually kind of put a wrench in it, but it also still worked out perfectly, you know right, yes, yeah, well, I mean it just sounds like you moved in To it at the right time.

Speaker 2: 28:07

Even though we say that it's delayed, it was maybe a divine delay, you know, because I've got a podcast out there and, yeah, you know, spill perfume and divine delay and how we just think you know it's just a delay. But God is like, well, okay, you know the time, the time is is coming, but not quite yet. And then I'm delaying you for a reason or you know, to get this done or to get that done, or even to grow in our wisdom. And her knowledge, as you know, looks like you were, you know, getting your business license. You were looking up and getting knowledge on how to do this or that or whatever, and then also setting up your shop as well. So, but I remember you telling me that you and your family had went to an event.

Speaker 1: 28:56

So tell me about that, because yeah, from the name of my store.

Speaker 2: 29:00

Yes.

Speaker 1: 29:01

So my story is called up till merch and and the name kind of came about with a merch. Part of it came about in 2019.

Speaker 2: 29:11

Wow, 2019, even before I mean, any of this is in the works.

Speaker 1: 29:16

Before COVID, before all of this and really it was an inside, more of an inside joke between some people at a conference and the fact that they always called the shirts and the CDs and all the stuff it was a women's conference merch. Of course. It was some young, young girls on the on the stage and I don't know they like abbreviate everything.

Speaker 1: 29:38

I feel like it's a merch and all these older ladies. What is she talking about? What's much, much, much, much. And so it. The whole conference was just funny because of merch. And Then, while we're sitting around trying to think of names, merch just kept coming back. Merch merch, merch merch, because nothing fit. I Didn't want to necessarily say gifts, I didn't want to say it. You know those kinds of words, but then Names that I locked were well used, so I tried to find something that was more unique that I wouldn't get confused with other other places.

Speaker 1: 30:17

But I also tried to find something during all that time at home I researched how to pick a name and you know they say like quick things, you know what's something that's right? 15 words long, Cuz, nobody's like okay, let's.

Speaker 2: 30:30

For example, you know, my first podcast Podcast was gather around the table with a spiritual purpose. That's a long name. And then in others would encourage me, you need to shorten that name. And I was like I'm really stuck on that name. I don't know, you know, I just couldn't let go of it. But then no more running. It was like that's it, that's it. Yeah, we can easy, yes, you could remember it right and others can remember it.

Speaker 1: 30:55

So when you're trying to talk to somebody else about it, which merches still one of those things I get, as far as people mark merchandise right, well, yeah, yes, march, actually just merge. But it's easier for people when they're kind of conveying it, because if they were saying, gather around the table with a, yeah, you know that's a lot. And so what I did was we After church on Sunday, sometimes we would go to my aunt's and eat or whatever, and we would just make memos of names and merch kept coming back, and so I went home actually, and I put all these names on my bathroom air. So I run on my bathroom here all the time with Expo marker.

Speaker 1: 31:34

I run on my mirrors, actually with Expo marker Because you can just erase it. It's, it's easy. So I have verses or just encouragement or whatever. We write notes each other, just things like that. So my bathroom mirror was full of names and from there what I would do, because you see your bathroom mirror all the time, you know.

Speaker 1: 31:52

Yes as I would see a name that I either maybe had researched and thought, well, there's like three within you know, an hour's drive, or I don't really like that. I don't. I don't like that, you know, I don't want to answer the phone, that name, or you just see it. Enough in your note. That's not it and as I dwindled it down it the last one standing was and everybody was in my family, especially my sister and my aunt, who was at the conference they're like it has to be merged. It has to be merged and it's funny because you think about how that was in 2019 and kind of was a joke, especially with, you know, older people.

Speaker 2: 32:34

Well, you know, and don't you feel like the Lord just planted that in 2019? And you know, sometimes God plants things in our life or in our minds and thoughts and dreams and all of that, and, and we wonder, and we even think and forget about it. And but you know, the Lord planted that for a reason and sometimes even, like you know, when I ran into you, why, lord, did I run into Ashley today? You know, and, and, and I didn't know too later, why we don't know too later, why the Lord and why something comes into our life.

Speaker 1: 33:08

And here is the merch, you know, and it's perfect uptown merch, I love it and it was funny because I told a lady she was a young teenager my name, I was checking out at Hobby Lobby actually, and she said something about my store name and I said uptown merch. She's uptown merch. Oh, I like it, oh yeah. But of course Josh laughed or whatever, because that was kind of the joke of, you know, shortening everything in the younger Generation gets that yeah and so I'm not gonna say my store is all geared to Well, okay.

Speaker 2: 33:47

So this, you know, makes me think of something else. Okay, another question here that I didn't think about. I don't even have all my notes here, but when you were telling the Hobby Lobby lady about your business, how did you feel? Like you like, yeah, yeah, I got a business. Or or was there like, yeah, I have a business, yeah, it's called uptown merch. You know, like, what was your feeling, like your mindset there? You know, cuz, sometimes when we have a business and then we tell it to somebody and they're just like, okay, you know, and they don't quite understand it. So, you know, tell me, oh it was just happy, I guess.

Speaker 2: 34:30

Accomplishment, without trying to sound no, that's good to go good.

Speaker 1: 34:35

Yeah, yeah, I know Again, or whatever right think right now, but just I done it, you know yeah.

Speaker 2: 34:42

I done it and Of like accomplished, wow, yeah, this is happening, this is real, this is, you know.

Speaker 1: 34:50

Yeah, I don't know if it'll be around for 10 years, 20 years, two years, I don't know, because I feel like when you go into things, hopefully your mind usually is this is what I'm gonna do. But I feel like I've been in that place a couple times and then Now I'm here and I love it and I honestly can't see myself doing anything else. Right, but it was that accomplishment of I did it and we're doing this.

Speaker 2: 35:18

Yes, this concludes part one of Ashley Spurgeon's story, but stay tuned. Listen next week for part two of Ashley's story. Hey, don't forget, you can sign up for the no more running email list at info at CrystalLoycom and make sure to like, share and follow. We would love for you to leave a review for the podcast. This helps us reach even more women who might find themselves running as well. Gotta run.