Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Williams.
Hi Ashley, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In 2016, I founded Exceptional Services Agency as a marketing agency to empower startups and small businesses to scale to the next level. However, after a few years of unsuccessfully landing clients, I went back to the drawing board. I realized I had to identify my purpose and gifts and what God wanted me to do. Through fasting and prayer, I identified my gift and realized I have the gift of connecting. I didn’t understand it at first because I thought anyone can do that, that’s easy, so I didn’t consider it a gift. But it is, these are unique individuals who always seem to know how to help, or if they can’t, know someone who can and who quickly and freely put you in touch with them. That is definitely me! I don’t profess to know everything, but I know how to make almost anything happen. I’m able to tap into well-known networks to help expedite information flow, access to resources and the expansion of ideas and opportunities. I help businesses build bridges between ideas and actions by knowing who to ask to help get things done.
Once I figured this out (with the help of Amber, owner of The Scented Vine), I knew I had to change everything about my brand. So, I’m a Business Development Agency who helps businesses connect the dots one piece at a time! We gather all the pieces to your business and connect them, fill in the gaps where necessary to help your business thrive and grow. Once I figured that out, I began connecting with more people and resources to help my clients.
Today, I have a network of people and resources to help my clients build their brands to their full potential.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. As an entrepreneur, you have to have that hustle in you. It’s like you have a beast inside of you that won’t allow you to stop, won’t allow you to settle, and to keep going even on those bad days. I invested so much money into business with hiring the WRONG people, making bad deals, etc. and at one point, I felt drained. I said to myself, maybe I’m not meant to do this or maybe I should stick with corporate. Somehow, even with those thoughts, I still ended up back to my business.
When I first started my business, I was just winging it no strategy, no systems, and just feeling stuck! I wanted to do so much, and there was so much to think about and figure out. I used to tell myself, “am I crazy?” “What the hell am I doing?” Building a business is hard when you don’t have anyone to guide you through it all, showing you the way and letting you know that you’re doing the right thing.
At one point, I did quit when things wasn’t working and started focusing on corporate jobs because I needed money, I have a family and bills. However, every job I had I quit, something wasn’t right about the job, or I was never able to move up, and I felt like I was missing something. This led me back to my business. But this time, I took the time to identify my gift! I used the money I’d make with my corporate job and invested in the right people and resources for my business. I’d set a budget of how much money I wanted to invest into my business and made sure (by prayer) I was making the right decision. When you pray, you also have to listen and be obedient and sometimes it can be something that’s out of your comfort zone.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Exceptional Services Agency plays a major role in helping startups and small businesses achieve their goals. This includes launching new product lines, increasing customer growth, and scaling profits to new heights. Ashley is an expert as an “ecosystem builder.” She is able to take a system-level view of the innovation and entrepreneurial assets of your business, connect them, and fill in the gaps where necessary in order to help your business grow and thrive.
Hear from Ashley in her own words:
“At Exceptional Services Agency, we believe in small businesses. We all come to work every day to help small business owners solve four problems, achieve their vision, optimize performance and productivity, and increase revenue. We’re obsessively passionate about what we do and have made it our mission to provide the best solutions while building impactful relationships.”
We offer market research, business planning, marketing plans, marketing strategy, PR services, government contracting services, business credit services, and tax planning services.
What sets us apart? My team has identified their gifts and uses them to the fullest. We don’t try to do everything, we focus on using our gifts to help others. We’re willing to help, guide our clients, and be with them every step of the way of their journey.
What does success mean to you?
In my opinion, success is doing what you love, getting paid to do it, so you can be in a position to help others. In addition, having family support and everyone around you is in good health and happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.exceptionalservicesagency.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exceptionalservicesagency/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exceptionalservices
Image Credits
Photographer: Alexander https://www.instagram.com/a1media.agency/
