09/10/2026
I used to sit in class convinced everyone else had it figured out. I’d freeze up when a teacher called on me, watch my classmates get higher ACT scores, and quietly wonder what that meant for my future.
What I didn’t realize back then was that the things I was actually good at, like connecting with people, coming up with ideas, and being creative, weren’t really things you get graded on. I got my associate’s degree and decided a bachelor’s wasn’t the right next step for me. Starting Ashton Jo Marketing young wasn’t some big master plan. It was me taking a chance on what came naturally and figuring out a lot of it as I went (and honestly, I still am).
School gave me a foundation, but it didn’t define what I was capable of. If you’re young and have an idea you keep coming back to, you don’t have to have it all figured out or be the smartest kid in the room to start. Most of what I know about running a business I learned by doing it, asking questions, and surrounding myself with people who were further along than me.
Life doesn’t have to read like a textbook. If you’re feeling behind right now, give yourself some grace. Your path might just look a little different, and that’s okay. 🩶