I've been thinking a lot about the Slow Food Snail of Approval. Do you have this in your area? I hadn't heard of it before we moved to Jacksonville, but it's a certification that many restaurants proudly display that shows their commitment to: Sourcing local or sustainably Creating a positive environmental impact Offering cultural diversity in food Being actively involved in the community Providing significant support for staff Holding inclusive business values I was joking with a friend that...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
Last year around this time, I wrote a vision for what I wanted Basis to be like in 2023. I just revisited it and am now sitting here teary-eyed. I'm proud to say we achieved 90% of the items laid out in the vision, but even moreso that I didn't waver from it: I knew myself and my desires so deeply that nothing was able to steer me down I path that I didn't proactively choose. For a Type A People Pleaser, this is huge. Some of the highlights from that document included: It’s January 9, 2024....
over 1 year ago • 2 min read
The last time I wrote a newsletter was a month ago, and I wrote about how I wished I could take a break and fix everything. While I haven't done that exactly, I have had a pretty spacious month personally and professionally, and I've experienced so many moments of serendipity during these widened spaces of time. For example, I found myself with time to skip my usual Instacart order, and instead went to the store myself and walked up and down the aisles, checking out foods I've never tried,...
over 1 year ago • 2 min read
A year ago on this day, I closed my computer lid and took a break from work for two months. I had an amazing team by my side who could keep things running for our clients, and I was very privileged to have the financial means to keep the lights on, personally and professionally. I took a much needed deep breath. It gave me time to refuel my creative energy, tinker with processes to give clients a better experience, and generally just see what it felt like to have space. It was one of the best...
over 1 year ago • 2 min read
Last week I celebrated my birthday during such a busy week personally and professionally that I barely took time to acknowledge it happened. In the span of a week, I launched three websites, played in five — wait, actually, six — tennis matches, got everyone to after-school activities mostly on time, and remembered to show up for two different kid parties this weekend. This ability to mute my life and just tune into the pressing tasks at hand has always been my biggest blessing and biggest...
over 1 year ago • 2 min read
A text I just received "Ashli, I love you, but the movie you were referencing is Field of Dreams". 😂🙈 Future reference: don't let me quote movies or use sports references. I'm terrible at it and mix up references/actors/plot lines regularly. Here's a coffee gift card you can use right now by way of apology / laughing at our mistakes together. Just show the QR code at Starbucks... it's got $25 on it and when it's gone, it's gone! Ashli Basis is an independent creative studio that believes how...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
A small business is complicated. It often involves just one or two people mixing together an alchemy of customers, processes, product, branding, funding, manufacturing and more to create this perfect little potion that resonates. That can be really, really challenging. My client Ashley at Trade Street Jam Co. recently talked on her Instagram and on CBS Mornings about the realities of small business, and reading the comments shows just how much founders struggle with this. Having a...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
My daughter was accepted into a leadership program at her elementary school. She is a TOT — "teacher of tomorrow" — which basically means she has to go to school each day by 7:45 am sharp to help teachers sharpen pencils, pass out textbooks or make photocopies. As part of the program, she has to wear a school spirit shirt every Monday, a TOT polo shirt every Friday, and maintain grade requirements. It struck me as intense for a fourth grader. My sweet little baby girl just learned to tie her...
over 1 year ago • 2 min read
I've been a perfectionist for as long as I can remember. When I feel the need to be perfect, I freeze with fear. It becomes near impossible to push "Share Screen" before showing a client a design. It's difficult to hire a teammate if I'm scared they will make a mistake (they will, as will I). It's hard to celebrate completion of work if I'm preoccupied with the one thing I didn't get done. I often imagine this as a horizontal line. One the left side is complete inaction and on the right side...
over 1 year ago • 2 min read