Hello Ashley, we are excited to share your story with our reader. Please tell us a little about your story and your work.
I am a depressed queer girl who grew up in Catholic school in Texas. I spent so much of my life being told the way I was wrong, that I was “freak” and a “lesbian”. While both of those things are very true, it’s a hit to a little 12 years old figuring herself out, so I hightailed it out of Texas and found my way to NYC. One of my close friends in the city was, and still is, a witch and joined her Coven. This was during an especially challenging patch of depression and I realized magic was the antidote to my hellish symptoms. I met the magic pulsing in my veins and began deepening my intuitive abilities. Now, I am a psychic and spiritual consultant who teaches depressed and stressed babes how to manage their symptoms with magical modalities.
What are 3 tips you can share with our readers as it relates to your industry?
Ashley Collom: Here are some hot tips for making it in the world of digital spiritual entrepreneurship:
- Share your best stuff for free. I regularly offer free readings in my group and in other forums as a way to let people get to know me and my work without a financial investment. This is a great way to get more eyes on your content and let people see how talented you are.
- Create a community who loves what you do and create LOADS of content that is just serving, not selling. They will eventually become a “funnel” but I look at my Facebook group (which is called the Magical Mind Coven) more as sisters on the same sort of spiritual quest I am. They are my internet friends and people I love dearly. The bonus: the eventually buy from me.
- Show your scars. My business boomed when I began sharing my own struggle with mental illness and chronic health issues. People buy from people, not businesses. Be a human being first, brand and boss second.
How do you differentiate yourself from others in your field?
Ashley Collom: I am unabashedly queer and deal with serious mental illness, and talk about it, openly. No one wants a spiritual advisor who is stuff and feels like they have it all figured out. I tell my clients when what I am suggesting they work on, is something that I am working on. I tell my clients when I did not take my intuition’s advice and how it turned out (generally with me crying and fussy). I am transparent and do not pretend to be perfect and happy all the time. The vulnerability attracts people who are dealing with the exact same sort of issues I am. Luckily, I’m a few steps ahead on this journey and I can help guide my clients through similar struggles but skipping the whole crying bit.
Who is your hero and why?
Ashley Collom: My mother is my hero. She is an entrepreneur too, and I am so grateful that as I was growing up I had a successful female entrepreneur in my family to look up to. Knowing how hard she has worked, and the incredible success she has amassed, really leaves me gobsmacked and hungry for the sort of success she has found doing what she loves. I am so grateful for her personal and business influence in my life.
What 3 books would you recommend every entrepreneur read?
Ashley Collom: I also work as a literary agent, so I have to weigh in on solid reading material!
In no particular order:
- You Are A Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero
Metaphysical approach to making money, honey!
- Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
This books just made me feel empowered. If Rachel can do what she has done, starting where she did, I can do what I hope to achieve.
- The Power of Vulnerability (Brene Brown) This is actually an audio recording of one of her presentations, but is must-listen-to-content. When I’m having a bad day, I’ll just randomly press play for some of Brene’s brilliance.
How can you be reached if someone is interested in your products or services?
If you are interested in working with me, please check out my website at www.magicalmind.co
You can also find me on Instagram at www.instagram.com/
