17 minute read
An Upclose Interview wih Ashley C. Thomas, Ph.D.
Ladies from around the world, I am pleased to introduce tttto you a giant in the Body of Christ, Dr. Ashley C. Thomas. A phenomenal woman of God who spreads the love of Christ through her Ministry of Laughter, her teaching, her writing and as an entrepreneur.
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I have watched her develop into an amazing young lady who is destined for greatness. I am always amazed at how God uses her and how she commits to God’s will in ever area of her life. As the mother of this prolific writer and scholar, I’m proud ot have had the opportunity to interview her for this issue of Legacy eMagazine. So, grab a cup of coffee, a latte or your favorite beverage, put your feet up, sit back and enjoy this inspiring, encouraging and empowering interview from a millennial. Ladies, Dr. Ashley C. Thomas.
1. Tell us a little bit about you and what you are currently doing? I’m an assistant professor of communication studies at my beloved alma mater Alabama State University. I’m trying to get my film fix the best way I can during this pandemic, so I co-directed a commercial, finished writing a feature film, and plan to write at least two more this year. Also, I’m working on a short film – music video project and would like to write, direct, and produce my own short film by the end of this summer.
2. What kind of person are you? I am an ambivert, but at my core I think I’m an introvert. If I’m around a lot of extroverts, I tend to be more reserved; however, when I’m around introverts, sometimes people think I’m an extrovert. The mind intrigues me. Sometimes I wonder if I should have studied psychology in college because I love exploring why people do the things we do. On the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator I’m an INFJ or “Advocate” (yes, I like those tests, but I’m not obsessed) and the description fits me pretty well. I’m not a fan of small talk. I’m a good listener who values harmony and authenticity in my relationships. Music brings me great joy. You’ll know something’s wrong if I go too long without singing or listening to a good song. Humor is one of my love languages – I absolutely love to make people laugh, and I think I’m pretty good at it.
3. Describe yourself in 3 words. Empathic. Inquisitive. Sincere. Dr. Thomas, Courageous Lady would like you to expound on the following questions to include in the upcoming issue of LEGACY eMagazine.
4. How do you define success? Success to me is being in the will of God. Is God pleased with what
I’m doing? If I have all the money in the world, am famous and well-liked, produce publications and blockbuster hits with rave reviews, but I’m not obeying God and He’s not approving of what I’m doing, then it’s not worth it. I think the fruit of true success is joy, humility, peace of mind, and service to others. Those are signs I’m heading in the right direction. I also believe that success is about reaching your goal the right way. If you get to your end goal, but you had to steal, cheat, and manipulate your way there, how could you truly enjoy that?
5. Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur? I think everyone has their own path and journey as it relates to being an entrepreneur. However, as my dad says, great leaders do leave clues to success, so I think there are indeed principles that can help one be successful. Always have an inquisitive outlook and willingness to learn. Keep an open eye for what problems you were created to solve. Foster your child-like imagination and curiosity through journaling, traveling, free-form brainstorming, and playing. Ask the right questions from a place
of honoring your goals rather than focusing on areas of lack. Have a genuine interest in helping others. I believe these things combined make for an entrepreneur who has staying power.
6. What is your favorite aspect of being entrepreneur? A combination of not working a “9 to 5” and the freedom to create what I want, how I want, and when I want. I do not look down on “9 to 5”-type jobs at all. I personally didn’t grow up in a house where that was truly as common, since my parents worked in higher education positions that allowed more freedom, and they also had their own businesses. This afforded me the privilege of seeing up-close the flexibility that entrepreneurship brings. I like having the opportunity to really be involved with my family, travel, and create jobs, careers, and financial freedom for others. Doing what I love doesn’t have to compete with that.
7. Who has been your greatest inspiration? Cici
Gunn, also known as “The Six Figure Chick.” She was a Millennial woman from my hometown
Montgomery, Alabama and passed away last year at only 34 years old. She would explain the practicality of entrepreneurship in a way I had never seen before – all from her Instagram page and website. I hadn’t even seriously considered developing a business plan until I started following her in 2019; by 2020, I finished a polished and thorough business plan that I presented to my family. I learned the power of baby steps. For example, she would talk about how $100,000 is simply making $1,000 one hundred times. Her free content alone helped so many people start their businesses and earn money. I honestly could go on and on about how she’s inspired me with her work ethic and kindness to her online community. The thing that inspires me the most about her is that even to this day, her business is still thriving, and her community is still growing.
Talk about a legacy!
8. What business related book has inspired you the most? I enjoyed listening to the audiobook version of How to Become CEO: The Rules for Rising to the Top of Any Organization by Jeffery J. Cox and will likely listen to it again soon. I’m a huge fan of practical steps, and we see a lot
of shirts and inspirational quotes that say, “Be a BOSS.” But I want to know what that looks like every day beyond the image of a lady in a suit sitting in her high-rise office space with an assistant bringing her coffee. Jeffery J. Cox does a great job of helping me to visualize on a macro- and micro-level what leadership and entrepreneurship looks like for me.
9. If you were to write a book about yourself, how would you name it? She’s Made for This. – Not only was I purposed before I was formed in my mother’s womb to do the things that I do now, but
I’m constantly being refined for whatever season of life I’m in and anything that lies ahead.
10. What activities would you recommend entrepreneurs to invest their time in? Read information from credible sources, listen to podcasts and interviews, learn from the mistakes of other entrepreneurs, and sow into your character so that when you get to new levels of success you have the capacity to maintain and steward that level well, as well as those levels to come. By sowing I mean investing in your knowledge, skill set, and mindset and surrounding yourself with people who know more than you and have even done things you’d like to do. Not just taking from them but rather serving them. This could mean volunteering your time to help with a project, contributing financially to their endeavors, or connecting them to someone who can help them reach their goals.
11. What piece of advice would you give to college graduates who want to become entrepreneurs? Don’t chase money – every opportunity is not a good opportunity. Focus on your purpose and passion. Learn to ask the right questions. Be a good researcher. Find people who have done what you’re trying to do and can give you truly helpful advice. Sometimes we listen to well-meaning family, friends, teachers and others who prioritize our security over everything else. And while that’s not automatically a bad thing, if it feeds our fears more than it feeds our faith, we can become complacent and begin to make excuses for not doing our best. Good mentors, however, will know how to help you take smart risks – meaning risks that are worth taking because even if you fail, you will “fail forward.” Be kind to and patient with yourself. Be consistent and adaptable in the process. Focus on developing your character just as much, if not more- than you focus on developing your brand. Know your why. There will be times that you want to give up – and that’s with anything – so if you remember why you started, that can help you to keep going. Know what’s going on in your field. Figure out what others are already doing and find out where there’s a gap or how you can improve. There’s really nothing new under the sun, so don’t start from the standpoint that your idea is so unique that you won’t have to do research or learn from those who came before you. Lastly, being an entrepreneur does not begin once you start your LLC or have an “Open for Business” sign in front of a building; it starts with teambuilding, leading efficiently and effectively in the job or role you currently have, gathering resources, and embracing the process of entrepreneurship.
12. What ideals do you have in the works? After more than a decade of having my own copy editing and consulting business, I have begun to focus more on film and developing my online educational coaching business. This online business will provide innovative resources and specific strategies to support college students in taking control of their learning and effectively navigating higher education so they can fulfill their goals. My mom, sister, and I are also building a natural hair care community and blog. This year I’m learning to take each day and each quarter one at a time, because with so many ideas it can get overwhelming. Right now, I’m focusing on honing my craft by learning more about cinematography and storytelling and mapping out my educational workshops, masterclasses, and eBooks while testing out resources on a small scale. I’m excited about setting up websites, designing logos, registering trademarks, and all of that good stuff.
13. What motivates you? Solving problems. You have no idea how many times I’ve had an issue and thought “What if somebody did something to address this?” only for years to go by and somebody actually do something to address it and make millions. For instance, I remember getting tired of having my car wet up by a soaking umbrella and thinking what if there was a way that an umbrella could close so it didn’t do this? Then, years lat-
er, I saw a viral commercial for the inverted umbrella. I’m by no means saying I was the first one to have this idea. On one hand it’s like wow, that could have been me. On the other end, it confirms that I know God has given me the ability to create wealth and solve problems. I have to do my part and follow it through.
14. What is or has been your greatest fear and how did you manage fears? At first, I was going to say my biggest fear was trying and failing, but my greatest fear is not trying and having regret. That alone can help me manage any other fears that may arise. If
God told me to do something and I obey, He will see to it that His will happens.
15. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be an entrepreneur?
• Effective communication. Entrepreneurship involves the art of persuasion. If you can’t clearly articulate your vision and why someone should listen to you, buy your product, etc. then you likely will not see your intended result.
• Assessment. This includes self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the ability to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Learning how to assess and communicate can help you get along well with others and pull out the best in your team.
• Critical thinking. This involves not only being a good listener but also the ability to evaluate if what you’ve received meets your standards and aligns with your core values.
16. What services or products do you offer? In the area of film, I write, direct, and produce. We’re in the pre-launch phase of my online educational business, which will provide digital semester planners, masterclasses, workshops, eBooks, social media challenges, and more. I also plan to provide a financial literacy component for adults of all ages, regardless of their educational level.
17. What is unique about your business? For film, my focus is high-quality, micro-budget productions that highlight talented but potentially overlooked artists and clients. My online educational business advocates for students and is a one-stop shop for college students, helping them holistically to reach their financial, educational, and professional goals through clarity of vision and the processes to meet those goals. We will coach students on how to navigate the hidden curriculum of higher education to get on an even playing field. In addition to our affordable pricing, we will offer free tools and resources. Our competitors tend to focus on grade school or only students deemed at-risk; however, we focus attention on serving minority students, students who are underprepared, and students who fit the category of “good” academically but who want to excel.
18. What made you choose this type of business? It brings me great joy to merge the things I love.
That’s why I enjoy music videos because I can combine my love for film and music. With my online educational business, I’m combining my love for education and communication and will use it to help students to be more successful on all fronts - not just from a teaching perspective but from a coaching perspective also. My family really values financial literacy and wealth building, so being able to add that component to my businesses in a way that helps others is also what drew me to these types of businesses.
19. If you had one piece of advice to give to someone just starting out, what would it be? I’m going to use a few quotes to drive the same point home. Napoleon Hill once said, “Do not wait. The time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand, work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.” Zechariah 4:10 says, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” Lastly, business mentor Michael Pittman wrote, “Consistency compounds.” In other words, write a clear vision of where you’re heading. Then, chart the steps that it will take to get there. If you take each day one at a time and stay focused on that, and you value the process – not just the destination - you will get there at the right time. What seems like a little training here and a little writing there adds up to be a finished prod-
uct – a script, a website, a brand. It all requires discipline and making use of the time, talent, and treasures you have available to you in the moment.
20. Why does entrepreneurship matter to millennials? We grew up hearing that we can be and do everything we wanted and that it would all work out; then, life slapped us in the face when it was time to graduate from college with student loans galore, and getting a job wasn’t as simple as filling out an application and showing up for an interview. I believe those in my generation have had to stand up for ourselves on the other side of empty promises because we realized people won’t always stand up for us. I don’t mean that in a cynical way; we’re just not waiting around for handouts. Millennials also are more critical of how society arrived to where it is today, and we are reflective and open enough to discuss how we can use our observations and resources to do better for future generations. This has led to a lot of cause-related entrepreneurship that isn’t just about making money but is also about giving back – whether through addressing environmental issues, providing scholarships, engaging in social activism, or other means.
I think one of the biggest challenges for a Millennial entrepreneur is the temptation to feel like you have to do everything on your own, to want to see a quick turnaround in results, or to feel that if you don’t have a certain number of followers or a certain image then you’re moving too slow. We’ve also been inundated with these “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” and “Eat. Grind. Repeat” catchphrases that leave out the need for rest, reflection, and relationship with others. I have to remind myself to balance not resting on my laurels but also not minimizing my growth, accomplishments, and support system. I believe that by focusing on developing our character and work ethic, understanding our purpose, and appreciating the entrepreneurship journey, we will reap our rewards at the right time.
Whenever you are discouraged as an entrepreneur, remind yourself of why you started your business and commit to never giving up!
by: Christine C. Thomas
Ahley C. Thomas
Ashley C. Thomas, Ph.D. is a filmmaker, speaker, entrepreneur, communication scholar, and copy editor from Alabama.
Ashley is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Alabama State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Communication from George Mason University (2017), her M.S. in International and Multicultural Education from Florida State University (2012), and her B.A. in Communication from Alabama State University (2011).
Since 2005, Ashley has provided copy editing, writing, and consulting services for universities, non-profit organizations, religious organizations, motivational speakers, leadership workshop series, and more. She values helping people to express themselves clearly and freely through writing and speaking, and her work has been featured in college textbooks and magazines with international reach. Her research interests include communication as it relates to learning and behavior in the areas of identity, motivation, and persuasion. She desires to merge her love for communication research, education, and film to empower students and faculty and make new knowledge accessible to the masses. Ashley also provides training in leadership, effective teaching, diversity and inclusion, and public speaking strategies for universities, businesses, and non-profit organizations.
In 2009, Ashley made her directorial debut with her stage play He Made It Right, and since 2015 her “Ministry of Laughter” comedy sketches have garnered thousands of views on social media. She also edited a short documentary, Social Work Leader, Advocate, & Champion (2018) for the Tuskegee VA Medical Center’s Social Work Department in honor of Social Work Month. Her love of music inspired her to write, direct, and produce the music video "Difference" by wensdaynight (2018). In 2019, she was a camera operator for the award-winning documentary short film Hobson City: From Peril to Promise.
Her previous ministry experience includes serving as praise and worship leader at Word of Life International Ministries in Montgomery, Alabama, as well as a director for youth and young adults for Christians Equipping Christians for Outreach (CECO) Fellowship, Inc. She is a community service advocate through her Purpose Pouch initiative, which provides hygiene items, clothing, encouragement, and support to those in need.
Family is very important to Ashley. She enjoys traveling, and her international travel experience includes studying abroad in Asia, Europe, and Central America, as well as touring the Caribbean. Ashley also takes pleasure in singing, event planning, and making people laugh. Ashley is also a proud third-generation ASU Hornet and a member of ASU’s 50 Under 50.
In addition to her consulting work, Ashley promotes her business The Cheat Code Academy, which provides innovative resources and specific strategies to support college students in taking control of their learning and effectively navigating higher education so they can fulfill their goals. Ashley’s upcoming film projects include directing a TV commercial and filming several short films to submit to festivals and for distribution.
Social Media Handles Linkedin.com/ashleycthomas04 Instagram.com/directedbyash Facebook.com/directedbyash
