Ashleigh Butterss is the creator, host and executive producer of Behind The Smile – a recovery podcast designed to expose and remove the stigma around mental health, trauma and addiction.
After making the decision to get sober in February 2020, Ash set out on a mission, quitting her corporate job and diving deeply into the world of self-development and recovery. Her mission is to smash through the stereotype that surrounds addiction so that other people can feel safe to show up and ask for help.
With a background in Journalism, Ash is passionate about sharing people’s stories and fearlessly believes that we can normalise the conversation through awareness, education and participation.
For more details, visit their website here.
Here we sit down with Ash, to know a bit more about her journey as host and creator.
Q. Tell us a little more about your journey as an entrepreneur – how did you get started? What inspired you?
Ashleigh: It really feels like everything has come full circle for me. I completed my Bachelor of Journalism back in 2012 and ended up taking a completely different path into the world of corporate beauty where I would spend the next decade.
It wasn’t until I got sober that I started yearning for something more. I knew that I needed to be doing something that felt more aligned with my purpose.
At first, this inner-knowing started off as a quiet voice, but it kept getting louder over a 12-month period until it felt as though I had no other choice but to quit my job and start my podcast, Behind The Smile.
Getting started was a daunting process made easier by the fact that I was being driven by a mission that felt greater than myself. Every time a challenge presented itself, I would remind myself of my mission and this propelled me forward.
Hundreds of hours went into the research and preparation of both the podcast and website and I’m still learning new things each day. My willingness to learn and grow along the way has held me in good stead. I believe the greatest leaders are those who forever remain the student.
Q. What entrepreneurial tricks have you discovered to keep you focused and productive in your day-to-day busy schedule?
Ashleigh: For me, it’s always about coming back to my purpose. I have my mission statement written out above my computer so I see it every day when I walk into my office. As entrepreneurs, we have big ideas and that’s important for growth, however, the foundations of a business need to be strong to be sustainable.
When I’m overwhelmed with tasks, I return to my mission statement and prioritise my day based on what aligns most strongly with the purpose of the business.
I’m also a very visual person and I love to use sprints when planning out my daily/monthly tasks. My walls are covered with multi-coloured Post-its!
Q. How do you stay organized with such a busy schedule? What are some time management strategies, SOPS (standard operating procedures), hires or hacks that have helped you dramatically in business
Ashleigh: Stick to a schedule! It sounds simple, but as an entrepreneur, you need to be accountable for your own time. That doesn’t mean you need to be working 24/7, actually, it’s quite the opposite. I schedule every waking hour of my day including researching, recording, exercising, meditation and rest. The more balanced I am throughout the day, the more productive I can be overall.
Q. What is the most memorable thing you’ve done since you started your business?
Ashleigh: I’m not sure I’ve had one single “memorable moment” since starting the business. Instead, it’s been a group of collective moments where I sit back and think “wow, this is my life now!”
I write a gratitude list every morning and each day I acknowledge how grateful I am to be following my dreams and living a life that feels completely aligned to my purpose.
Q. If you were to write a book about yourself, what would you name it?
Ashleigh: Behind The Smile
Q. What motivates you?
Ashleigh: Knowing that my work is making a difference in someone else’s life. Every time I receive a message from someone who has either listened to the podcast or read my work and found hope, I’m inspired to keep going. These messages remind me that the work I do is so much greater than just one person.
Q. What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made
Ashleigh: At the beginning of 2022 I embarked on a 200hr Yoga Teacher Training. I was originally drawn to this idea as a lover of the physical yoga practice. What I didn’t realise was the deep self-study and exploration that would occur throughout this training.
Second, only to the intensive therapy I underwent in rehab, the Yoga Teacher Training was one of the most powerful self-development experiences of my life.
Q. What key activities would you recommend entrepreneurs to invest their time in?
1. Personal Development – The greatest entrepreneurs are those who know themselves. The more self-aware and embodied you are, the more authentic you’ll become. As you journey down the path of self-inquiry, it’s important to explore different avenues and modalities. Coaching, seminars, gurus or shamans, each experience has its place and no form of self-exploration is time wasted.
2. Be of service – In my experience, the more I prioritise helping others, the more content I am in life. Whether this is in a business sense, or around the family home, make a conscious effort to help those around you. You might not see a direct ROI on your P&L, but your mental health will thank you for it in the long run.
3. Rest – The more you prioritise rest, the greater your creativity and productivity will be overall. While this may seem counterintuitive, especially for someone with a Type-A personality, studies have shown that rest is integral for success, health and happiness.
Q. What is your ‘one-sentence’ piece of advice you’d like to give to someone who wants to become an entrepreneur, coach, or business owner?
Ashleigh: Be obsessed with your purpose and make sure your niche is 100% authentic to you! Combined this will create the secret sauce required to build a brand with sustained success.
To keep up to date with Ash and her journey, connect with her on Instagram, and LinkedIn.