Why You Should Start Before You're Ready: Lessons from a Young Entrepreneur
When I launched Ashton Jo Marketing, I was fresh out of high school, eighteen, inspired, and barely old enough to register an LLC. I didn’t have a business degree, a huge savings account, or years of experience. What I did have was a vision, grit, and a fire in my heart that told me to start now.
Looking back, that decision changed everything.
Perfection is a Moving Target.
One of the biggest myths we’re sold is that we must “wait until we’re ready.” But the truth is, you will never feel 100% ready. There will always be one more thing to learn, another credential to earn, or a reason to wait until next month. If I had waited until I felt completely prepared, Ashton Jo Marketing wouldn’t exist.
By starting before I felt “qualified,” I gained something better than confidence—I gained momentum.
Experience Is Earned, Not Given
I’ve learned more in the last (almost) three years running this business than I could’ve imagined—about people, marketing, leadership, and most of all, myself. Experience didn’t come from reading about entrepreneurship. It came from showing up, getting messy, and figuring it out in real time. Every mistake became a lesson for me. Every client taught me something new. Every challenge sharpened my edge. My clients taught me so much that when I rebranded Ashton Jo to “Love Your Brand,” it was all fueled by something more profound: my clients. Through transforming my client’s love of what they have built and grown, I was transformed to influence every relationship I have with that motto.
Trust Yourself More Than Your Fear
It’s scary to step out before you feel ready, especially as a young woman in business. But here’s the secret: your age, doubts, or “lack” of something don’t define your worth or potential.
What does matter? Your willingness to learn. Your ability to show up. And your belief that your vision is worth chasing, even when it’s scary.
My Advice to You
If there’s something tugging at your heart—a business idea, a brand, a mission—you don’t need permission. You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need to start.
Because starting before you’re ready doesn’t mean you’re reckless. It means you’re brave.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from Ashton Jo Marketing, it’s this:
Boldness beats perfection. Every time.