Embracing Setbacks and Finding Clarity With Ashley Stahl

I Heart My Life Show

In this raw and heartfelt episode of The I Heart My Life Show, Emily Williams welcomes Ashley Stahl, the founder of Wise Whisper, who shares the incredible highs and devastating lows of her career and life journey. From working in counterterrorism at the Pentagon to having over a half a million dollars in business debt, Ashley opens up about the tough lessons she's learned and the resilience it takes to rebuild, not just financially, but personally.

Through the lens of her own experiences, Ashley shares her philosophy on the balance between urgency and acceptance, offering a deeply personal reflection on how chasing success can sometimes lead to missing critical warning signs. Her story of rebuilding—both her business and herself—is a testament to her resilience, tenacity, and faith in the process.

Now, as the founder of Wise Whisper, an agency dedicated to helping others craft and deliver TEDx talks, Ashley shares powerful insights on the value of storytelling, the importance of making intentional decisions, and how staying true to your purpose can lead to unimaginable success.

Key Takeaways:

• Urgency and Acceptance: Ashley talks about the sense of urgency that fueled her early success, and how she had to learn the art of acceptance and patience when clarity didn’t come right away.

• Loss and Rebuilding: Ashley recounts the painful experience of losing millions in revenue and falling into over $500,000 of debt and the steps she took to rebuild.

• Clarity in Career Transitions: Ashley emphasizes that clarity is not an event but a process.

• The Power of Storytelling: Now the head of an agency that books and writes TEDx talks, Ashley reflects on how powerful storytelling has shaped her career and how it can open doors to new opportunities.

This episode is packed with honest reflections, actionable takeaways, and moving stories that will resonate with anyone navigating transitions, facing financial setbacks, or simply seeking more meaning in their work and life.

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Host, Emily Williams is a success expert, author, speaker, and CEO of multiple brands.

After falling into a quarter-life crisis and struggling through a string of low-paying jobs (including serving up lattes at Starbucks), she finally decided it was time to follow her heart. So she packed her bags, moved to London (where she knew no one), and launched her own coaching business, I Heart My Life (without knowing if she’d ever make a dime). And that’s when her whole life changed course.

In her first month in business, Emily earned $442. She then went on to hit 6 figures before her 30th birthday, and—after just 18 months—successfully scaled what she'd started to a multi-million dollar empire.

Today, she remains the CEO of I Heart My Life, which has evolved into a media, educational and lifestyle brand through which she carries out her mission of helping thousands of women worldwide to create a life better than their dreams.

Connect with Emily on her websites:

I Heart My Life Website

Emily Williams Website

And on Instagram:

I Heart My Life on Instagram

Emily on Instagram

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The guest on this episode is Ashley Stahl. Ashley began her career in counterterrorism under the Obama administration, where she honed her skills in communication and strategy. These experiences, combined with her passion for personal development, led her to pivot from government service to helping entrepreneurs and business leaders develop their personal brands through impactful public speaking.

Through her Agency, Wise Whisper, she and her team help their clients craft signature talks and secure stages at events like TEDx and SXSW, empowering them to amplify their influence and create lasting impact.

Learn more about Ashley on her website: https://wisewhisperagency.com/

Connect with her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleystahl/

And be sure to grab a copy of her bestselling book, You Turn: Get Unstuck, Discover Your Direction, Design Your Dream Career, available wherever books are sold.