Ep. 51 with Ashley Shaw | Realtor, Toronto Sothebys

What Your Dream Board Can Teach You About Success

Ashley Shaw's journey from commercial to residential real estate offers a masterclass in building a thriving business while navigating the complexities of motherhood.

Starting her career at just 21 in the male-dominated commercial real estate world, Ashley developed foundational skills in farming territories and pioneered door knocking as a strategy – something unheard of in the commercial space. Though successful, she found herself drawn to residential real estate, making a bold transition after five years to join Canada's number one team at Royal LePage.

What truly distinguishes Ashley's story is her unflinching honesty about the challenges of balancing professional ambition with motherhood. Three days after giving birth to her first child, she was back showing houses – not only from necessity but because work provided moments where she "felt herself" again during a time of overwhelming change. With candor that will resonate with many working mothers, she reveals her struggles with nursing, postpartum depression (which she only recognized retrospectively after her second child), and the guilt that comes with dividing oneself between business and family.

The evolution of Ashley's business reflects her strategic thinking. After joining Sotheby's in 2017 with a newborn, she quickly achieved the Senior Vice President designation in just nine months. When her business coach, Jim Miller, recognized her path to burnout, he refused further coaching until she hired support staff – advice that transformed her practice. This emphasis on creating systems, from scheduled client calls to her family's understanding of when she's "going in the zone" for urgent work, demonstrates how thoughtful boundaries create space for both professional success and quality family time.

Perhaps most inspiring is Ashley's commitment to intentional living. Her annual solo retreat to evaluate the year and set new goals, followed by alignment discussions with her husband, ensures their shared vision remains cohesive. Her morning exercise routine, family involvement in her children's activities, and dedicated connection time with her spouse create a sustainable framework for balancing it all.

For anyone feeling pulled between career ambitions and family responsibilities, Ashley leaves us with powerful advice: "Make sure it's aligned with your passion, because entrepreneurship is not easy. There's a lot of tough moments." Her story proves that with passion, persistence, and proper systems, checking off those dream board goals one by one is entirely possible.

Connect with Ashley:

• IG: Ashley Shaw & Associates

Contact the Host, Kelly Kirk:

• Email: [email protected]

Get Connected/Follow:

• IG: @ryh_pod & @thekelly.tanke.kirk
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Credits:

• Editor: Joseph Kirk
• Music: Kristofer Tanke

Thanks for listening & cheers to Reclaiming Your Hue!