Meet Ashlie Churchill | UGC Creator & Brand Builder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashlie Churchill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashlie, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Before starting my business as an independent creative, I was a hustler in the tech sales world. Work hard, play hard was my motto, until that lifestyle led to a severe chronic illness. After recovering from 2 years of bed-bound sickness, I knew I wanted to pursue a career that allowed me to work on my own time and give me the freedom to be as successful as I could be.

Learning to move slowly has been one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned. My secret to work-life balance has been listening to my body. On days where I need to rest, I will rest, and on days where I feel energized, I will take full advantage of it. Rest is a key part of productivity, and not pushing yourself to burnout is a lesson I had to learn the hard way.

Starting your own business requires lots of hard work, especially in the beginning, and it takes a unique strength to stay above the temptation to work 24/7. It’s much more difficult to create balance when working for yourself, but if you’re able to do it successfully, it is incredibly rewarding.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My journey with UGC is a unique one – it started as a “stepping stone” back to traditional work while I was recovering from a bedbound chronic illness. 2 years of sickness & unemployment meant I needed a path that was flexible and allowed me to work however much (or little) I needed, and UGC offered me that. However, the more I did it, the more I fell in love with it. Leaving the world of 9-5 and pursuing a business of my own has been one of the most empowering things for me as I regain my health.

As a UGC creator, I work closely with brands to create video content for them to use on their social media pages or in their paid advertising. The learning curve as a freelancer was high – it took me 3 months to learn how to consistently create content that performs & converts for brands – but the rewards of being able to work for myself and embrace creativity has been so worth it.

Along the way, I’ve learned how important it is so be authentic in your content. Consumers will see right through overproduced energy even through the screen. While filming can sometimes feel unnatural, learning to get comfortable with it has been a major key to my success.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love this question! I am still relatively new to San Diego, so discovering new spots has been one of my favorite things to do. As a major foodie, my ideal day includes lots of eating and a little bit of hanging at the beach. Here are some places I’ve found that I would love to show off:

Casual brunch at Claire’s on Cedros or Stratford Court Cafe
Beach day at Windansea (of course)
Shopping at Westfield UTC & happy hour at Raised by Wolves
Dinner at Communion in Mission Hills or Queenstown Village in La Jolla
Dessert at An’s Dry Cleaning

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to shout out so many people in my life for how they’ve impacted me, but my biggest influence is the most cliche – my parents. They’ve instilled so many strong values in me from a young age, and when I fell severely ill with chronic illness 2 years ago they dropped everything to come get me and move me back in with them. Their unconditional love, support, and guidance has helped empower me to chase my dreams and never stop reaching for what I want.

Website: https://ugcbyashlie.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ugcbyashlie/

Other: Business email: ugcbyashlie@gmail.com