Episode 72: How to Create an Aligned Business and Life with Ashley Strong Smith

Jul 3

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Conquering Workflows & Systems for Bookkeepers & Accountants podcast with Alyssa Lang, founder of Workflow Queen and Magnetic Bookkeeping & Consulting and Ashley Strong Smith, Intentional Living Coach, Author + Host of Living an Intentional Life Podcast. Episode topic: How to Create an Aligned Business and Life with Ashley Strong Smith

Alyssa Lang interviews Ashley Strong Smith, Intentional Living Coach, Author + Host of Living an Intentional Life Podcast. Alyssa and Ashley dive deep into how to align with yourself, your business and your friends and family without burning out and how to live an intentional life.

In this episode you’ll hear:

How to align with what you want in business, life and for friends and family
How to pivot when life takes you down different paths and allow it to unfold in front of you
What practical steps you should be taking to know that you’re living in your truth
Why doing the internal work is one of the most important things you can do for yourself

Resources mentioned in this episode:

💻 5 steps to discover your dreams FREE masterclass

📖 Creating a Heart-Centered Foundation Workbook

📚 The Code of the Extraordinary Mind by Vishen Lakhiani

Listen to the Full Episode here 👇🏼

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This week, we have the incredible Ashley Strong Smith — a passionate entrepreneur, coach, and all-around inspiring human being.

Ashley and I crossed paths at a women’s business meetup right here in Lake Arrowhead, California. She’s someone who has truly aligned her life and business, and today, she's here to share her journey! From teaching English in Tanzania, to becoming a coach helping women find their true path, Ashley’s story is nothing short of amazing.

Feeling overwhelmed in your business or personal life? Ashley gets it. She’s been there and found her way through. In today’s episode, we’ll dive into practical steps to align your business, personal goals, and everything in between. Whether you’re looking to pivot in your career or need strategies to stay true to yourself, this episode is packed with actionable advice.

So grab a pen and paper, and get ready to transform your life with the wisdom Ashley brings. Ready to take the next step in aligning your life and business? Let’s dive in!

Meeting Ashley

So, funny story about how I met Ashley. It was at a women’s business meetup in our beautiful hometown of Lake Arrowhead, California. My friend Nicole, who many of you know from our yoga sessions, invited me to this women’s group for entrepreneurs. I thought, "Why not?" and decided to go. That’s where I met Ashley, and we just hit it off. She’s truly amazing and so passionate about what she does. Today’s conversation dives deep into not just business strategies but also personal growth and alignment.

Filling Your Own Cup

In this episode, we explore how to fill your own cup and let the world unfold in front of you. Ashley shares practical steps to align your wants and needs in both your personal and business life. This is essential for living in your honest, full truth.

Ashley’s philosophy is all about making sure you are taking care of yourself first so that you can show up fully in all aspects of your life. She says, "We’re not just going to talk about the business stuff, guys. We're going to dive into things we need to internally focus on to truly align ourselves with our lives and where we want to go."

One of Ashley’s key messages is the importance of self-care and self-awareness. She talks about how we often neglect our own needs while trying to fulfill our responsibilities to others, whether it’s in business, family, or friendships. By focusing on filling your own cup, you make sure that you have the energy and clarity to pursue your passions and support those around you.

Here are some practical steps she shared:

Start Your Day with Intention: Ashley recommends beginning each day with a routine that centers you. This could be meditation, journaling, or simply having a quiet moment with your coffee to set your intentions for the day.
Set Boundaries: Learning to say no and setting boundaries is crucial. Ashley shared a personal anecdote about how she used to say yes to everything, which led to burnout. She now prioritizes her time and only commits to things that truly align with her goals and values.
Nourish Your Body and Mind: This includes eating healthy, exercising, and engaging in activities that stimulate your mind. Ashley mentioned how she incorporates yoga and outdoor walks into her routine to stay balanced.
Regular Self-Check-ins: Take time to regularly check in with yourself. Ashley suggests weekly reflections to assess what’s working and what’s not, and to make adjustments accordingly.

Ashley’s approach to self-care is about making small, intentional changes that collectively lead to a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Ashley’s Journey

Ashley’s journey is incredibly inspiring. She met her husband while teaching English in Tanzania, on a small island called Mafia Island. They’ve been married for 13 years and have a hilarious five-year-old daughter. Ashley’s path wasn’t straightforward. She initially studied accounting but soon realized it wasn’t for her. Through various explorations, including a significant stint teaching English in Africa, she discovered her true calling.

She shared a touching moment about how her journey started with small, intentional decisions. Ashley said, "The younger version of me never thought I was smart enough or pretty enough or good enough or rich enough or whatever the 'enough' story was. But through a lot of exploration, pieces of me started to make more sense."

Finding Your Path and Purpose

Ashley emphasizes the importance of small, intentional steps. She talks about how aligning with your true self and understanding your values can guide you towards your goals. She shared a method she calls the Heart-Centered Foundation, which involves answering questions about your values, joys, and curiosities to build a life that aligns with your true self.

Ashley said, "Creating a Heart-Centered Foundation is ultimately understanding who you are when no one is looking. Who is this soul that is moving you through this world? Some people call it their intuition, some call it their inner voice."

Aligning Personal and Business Goals

A big part of our conversation focused on how to align your personal and business goals. Ashley shared that it’s essential to understand what success means to you and to make small, consistent efforts towards that vision. This involves being courageous and taking steps that might be outside your comfort zone but are necessary for growth.

Ashley said, "Just focus on what the next step is, because just as you take one step, how to take the next step will reveal itself."

Practical Steps for Alignment

Ashley provided some actionable advice:

Create Awareness: Understand where you are in life and what is serving or depleting you.
Intentional Actions: Focus on small, daily actions that align with your larger goals.
Release and Implement: Simultaneously rid yourself of what doesn’t serve you and bring in what does.

Aligning with What You Want

Ashley discussed how to align with what you want in business, life, and for friends and family. It’s about understanding your core values and making sure that your actions and decisions reflect these values. She emphasized the importance of asking yourself what success means to you personally and professionally.

Pivoting and Allowing Life to Unfold

We talked about the necessity of being flexible and allowing life to unfold in front of you. Ashley shared that while it’s important to have goals, it’s equally important to adapt and pivot when life takes unexpected turns. Trusting the process and staying open to new opportunities can lead to unexpected and fulfilling paths.

Ashley mentioned, "All too often we want to know everything. But the truth is, we will never know even what B is if we don’t take the single step to start with A."

Living in Your Truth

Ashley highlighted the practical steps you should take to make sure you’re living in your truth:

Self-Reflection: Regularly assess your values, goals, and actions to ensure they are aligned.
Set Intentional Goals: Break down your larger goals into manageable steps.
Seek Support: Don’t hesitate to ask for help and build a supportive network around you.
Be Courageous: Take bold steps towards your dreams, even when it feels uncomfortable.

The Importance of Internal Work

One of the most profound messages from Ashley was the importance of doing the internal work. She shared a personal experience with breathwork that helped her uncover deep-seated emotions and provided clarity for her business. Internal work is crucial because it allows you to remove barriers and connect deeply with your true self, ultimately enhancing your personal and professional life.

Ashley shared, "Internal work can significantly impact your external success. It’s about getting out of your own way and realizing what’s holding you back."

Encouragement and Connection

Ashley’s message is clear: you have everything you need within you to live your highest, most aligned life. It’s about taking small steps, shedding layers that don’t serve you, and being intentional with your actions.

I’m so grateful to have had Ashley on the podcast. Her insights are invaluable, and I encourage all of you to take the time to do the internal work. For more from Ashley, check out her podcast, "Living an Intentional Life," follow her on Instagram at @ashleystrongsmith_, and download her free Heart-Centered Foundation workbook.

Thank you for tuning in, and remember, aligning your business and life starts with aligning yourself.

About our guest:

Ashley Strong Smith has spent the past 15 years living in expansive inquisitiveness. Eagerly asking herself lives deepest questions, intentionally + courageously creating the space to live the very honest, vulnerable, raw, life-enhancing answers.

Ultimately bringing her to a deep place of passion and purpose, intentionality and authenticity, vulnerability and courage. Finding her place in this world, where she finally feels she truly belongs.

She is a multi-passionate woman - An entrepreneur holding space for three expressions (Intentional Living Coach, Author + Host of Living an Intentional Life Podcast), a fire-wife to a South African immigrant who she met in Tanzania, a mom to a four year-old radiant soul + 2 big puppies + 2 cats, a certified yoga instructor, a mountain-dweller, an adventure seeker, a connector and traveler of this world - living in 4 countries, visiting another 10, and an additional 15 States.

She is a pursuer of dreams writing her first book, “From Seed to Soar : A guide to connect to your heart, nurture your dreams and cultivate inner belonging.” Mostly, she is an insanely curious soul letting the parameters of this very curiosity, know no limits.

After-all, she believes we are limitless.

Connect with Ashley:

Follow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/ashleystrongsmith_

Listen to her Living an Intentional Life Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/living-an-intentional-life-podcast/id1648573252

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