The Hidden Struggle of Stay-at-Home Moms: "I was giving all of myself to my children, but there was nothing left for me. And my very creative, active brain had no outlet. Right? I had no intellectual stimulation outside of my children, and I suffered, I think, because of that and I think a lot of women, you know, do too." - Ashley Jordan

Julie Smith and Glenn Harper are joined by the insightful and relatable Ashley Jordan. An attorney, public speaker, journalist, and author of "Unhappy Achiever," Ashley shares her journey from a small rural town in Marengo, Illinois, to becoming a full-time writer and advocate for women's empowerment.

Ashley’s story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and relentless pursuit of passion. Raised in a working-class family and inspired by strong female role models like Gloria Steinem, she initially followed a conventional path by attending law school, despite knowing it wasn't her true calling. Her experience as an assistant district attorney revealed the emotional toll it took, prompting her to pivot towards her real passion—storytelling.

Ashley discusses her superpower: the ability to connect and inspire through her authentic voice and storytelling. You'll hear about her journey, her book "Unhappy Achiever," and her dedication to mentoring women and aspiring writers. Ashley also opens up about the challenges of balancing creative pursuits with family life, the loneliness she faced, and how writing became her sanctuary.

This is a candid and heartfelt conversation that underscores the importance of pursuing a career that feeds your soul and the incredible impact of sharing your story. Whether you're a working mom, an aspiring entrepreneur, or simply looking for inspiration, Ashley Jordan’s journey will resonate and empower you to follow your own path.

Empowering Moments

04:51 Passion for empowering women through advocacy.

07:38 Passion for justice began in early school.

10:33 Making family proud dictated educational choices.

14:14 Chose law due to outside influences, unhappy.

18:15 Innate gift in writing; developed legal skills.

21:45 Brenda Quoddy inspired through dedication and passion.

25:01 Motherhood led to isolation, sparking creative blogging.

29:52 Fitting writing into daily life, inspired by mother.

32:44 Pursuing a career eased her profound loneliness.

38:36 Loneliness overcome by supportive circle of friends.

40:36 Mentoring women to inspire, share, and support.

44:32 Show up for your passion and yourself.

50:12 Empowering others to pursue fulfilling career paths.

51:46 Honoring strong family legacy through uncertain paths.

54:54 Storytelling to inspire and serve women purposefully.

This episode is brought to you by PureTax, LLC. Tax preparation services without the pressure. When all you need is to get your tax return done, take the stress out of tax season by working with a firm that has simplified the process and the pricing. Find out more about how we started.

Empowering Takeaways

Embrace Your Superpowers: Ashley Jordan underscores the importance of recognizing and leveraging your unique skills, such as storytelling and authenticity, to inspire and create impact.

Pursue Passion Over Expectations: Ashley's journey reveals the importance of pursuing careers and endeavors that nourish your soul, even if it means going against external expectations or traditional paths.

The Role of Mentors: Having strong mentors like Brenda Quoddy can be pivotal in shaping your career and inspiring you to follow your passions, even in challenging fields.

Balancing Family and Career: Successfully balancing family responsibilities with personal goals is possible through dedication, time management, and supportive relationships.

Importance of Authenticity: Sharing genuine and personal stories can be both empowering for the storyteller and inspiring for the audience, creating a ripple effect of empowerment.

Leveraging Adversity for Growth: Ashley's journey through law school and challenging jobs taught her valuable skills and brought clarity on what she truly wanted to pursue.

Writing as a Meditative Practice: Dedicating time to creative pursuits like writing can provide emotional and intellectual fulfillment, serving as a crucial outlet, especially during lonely or challenging times.

Support Networks: No large community is necessary; a small network of wise, supportive individuals can provide crucial mentorship and encouragement, helping you reach your true potential.

Continual Self-Reinvention: Ashley exemplifies that it's never too late to pivot career paths and that finding joy in what you do, even if it means starting anew, is essential for long-term fulfillment.

Small Steps Lead to Big Achievements: The significance of taking small, consistent steps towards your goals is highlighted by Ashley's ability to fit writing into her busy life, illustrating that persistence and time management can lead to success.

Ashley Jordan, J.D., is an author and speaker. Ashley has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, Woman’s Day, Teen Vogue, and more. A former attorney, she lives in Milwaukee with her three children.

www.MsAshJordan.com

www.unhappyachiever.com

Instagram: @msashjordan

Twitter: @msashjordan

Running a business doesn’t have to run your life.

Without a business partner who holds you accountable, it’s easy to be so busy ‘doing’ business that you don’t have the right strategy to grow your business.

Stop letting your business run you. At Harper & Co CPA Plus, we know that you want to be empowered to build the lifestyle you envision. In order to do that you need a clear path to follow for success

Our clients enjoy a proactive partnership with us. Schedule a consultation with us today.

Download our free guide - Entrepreneurial Success Formula: How to Avoid Managing Your Business From Your Bank Account.

Glenn Harper, CPA, is the Owner and Managing Partner of Harper & Company CPAs Plus, a top 10 Managing Partner in the country (Accounting Today's 2022 MP Elite). His firm won the 2021 Luca Award for Firm of the Year.

An entrepreneur and speaker, Glenn transformed his firm into an advisory-focused practice, doubling revenue and profit in two years. He teaches entrepreneurs to build financial and operational excellence, speaks nationwide to CPA firm owners about running their businesses like entrepreneurs, and consults with firms across the country. Glenn enjoys golfing, fishing, hiking, cooking, and spending time with his family.

Julie Smith, MBA, is a serial entrepreneur in the public accounting space. She is the Founder of EmpowerCPA™, Founder of PureTax, LLC, COO for Harper & Company CPAs Plus, and Co-host of the Empowering Entrepreneurs podcast.

Named CPA.com's 2021 Innovative Practitioner of Year, Julie led Harper & Company's transition to an advisory-focused firm, doubling revenue and profit in two years. She now empowers other CPA firm owners nationwide through consulting and speaking, teaching them how to run their businesses like entrepreneurs. Julie lives in Columbus, OH with her family and enjoys travel, coaching basketball, sporting events, and the occasional shopping spree.

Copyright 2025 Glenn Harper

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

Raise Your Kids to Know Their True Identity

TGC Podcast

Introduction

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