GIRL BOSS SINCE '93

I think it's now the right time to tell you all incase you didn't know already. Last Summer saw me landing myself a job in Beauty PR, but that little yellow brick road has now come to an end. As much as I really enjoyed everything about the job and managing the blogger outreach side of things; it was time for me to move on for a lot of different reasons.

Working in PR was an amazing experience and definitely a path I would love to wander down again one day. I can't explain how rewarding it was to be so positively recognised in the blogger community and known not just as Ashleigh Dougherty the blogger, but also Ashleigh Dougherty... that girl who sends cheery PR emails on those dreary Monday mornings.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLIE CHILD

JACKET: C/O BOOHOO*

DRESS: C/O BOOHOO*

BOOTS: MISSGUIDED

I have always loved writing since I was a child and if you told me when I was 11 that writing would be something I end up doing as a career, I would have probably screamed my head off with happiness. Does that even make sense? No, but that's the beauty of writing. 

I am now back to being my own boss, working full time on all things Being Ashleigh and right now am very happy with my life. I had to say no to a lot of opportunities due to my full time job, but I now have the complete freedom to say yes to more, but also be a bit more in control of what I am saying yes to.

I feel like I am one of the oldies in the blogging community as Being Ashleigh will be celebrating its 6th birthday in July. I remember when blogging was just a hobby of mine alongside both college and university and I had no idea that at 24 years of age, I would be able to call this my job. 

It still makes no sense to me that so many people want to read about my life. I mean, I love reading other people's blogs and finding out what they did on the weekend and what food they ordered in Wahaca on Tuesday. However, it's overwhelming to think that people are genuinely interested in reading about those kinds of things on my own blog.  I guess that writing a blog consistently for 6 years, has meant the opportunities that land in my inbox are things that people want to read about. I'm just lucky that my job is fun, creative and allows me to do whatever the heck I want. 

I don't know where I am going to be by this time next year. Of course if there's a dream job that lands in my hands, then that will be a completely new journey for me to begin. However, right now at this very minute, as I sit at my desk in an oversized sweater, with my glasses on and a chocolate milkshake to my right; I am content with my career aspects. This has definitely been my favourite job without a doubt since I started working at 17 years old.

To sum things up, working for yourself is one of the most amazing things and I am so very happy and blessed with everything right now. Of course it can be hard if you're lazy or having an unmotivated day, but we all have those in any job. It's just about constantly brainstorming new content, thinking ahead and working out the direction you want your content to go in.

To put it simply... if you work your ass off, keep your head down and don't let distractions get in the way; you'll be a girl boss too. Or man boss... depending on who's reading.