The ultimate quarantine project is complete: I sold my social media and digital marketing agency, The Modern Connection!
11 years ago, I created a business from a sliver of an idea in an industry that didn’t fully exist yet. I was a bright eyed recent college grad unhappy with the job market with unlimited ambition and eyes set for the stars. I hustled, burned that midnight oil, made 1 million mistakes and built an agency from the ground up in what is now a billion dollar HUGE industry. And I loved it. It brought me so much joy, even after the super hard days (because entrepreneurship is often a lot more of those than people think).
I have worked with some of the best and brightest in the industry, and have met so many wonderful people over the years. The clients we’ve served are wonderful examples of hard working and intelligent business owners and professionals, and the team of people I have hired are truly the cream of the crop. The work we’ve created and the results we’ve shown our clients makes me straight up proud.
So Why Did I Sell?
Even with a booming business, an amazing team, a gorgeous office and wonderful clients, I still felt something was off. I knew deep down that this chapter of my life was only that: a chapter. And I was ready for the next, whatever that may be.
As you can imagine, I struggled with the idea of releasing the only “job” I ever really knew. During my entire adult life I have owned and operated The Modern Connection. It was a huge part of every fiber of my being. It was my identity. It was who I am, or so I thought.
What I realized was that in my eyes, instead of it being a good part of my identity, I felt it to be a bad part that was holding me back from what I really wanted to be doing.
So I did something I’d never done before: I prepped and prepared to sell the business. It took years and lots and lots of work. But along the way and with divine timing, I found the absolutely perfect buyer.
Meet My Buyer
The reason why I hung on to TMC as long as did is because I cared. I wanted to find the perfect fit, and I refused to consider other options until I did.
I didn’t want my 11 years of hard work, my amazing team and my clients to go to waste or to go to just anyone. I wanted my team to reach their full career goals and maintain the passion and love for the work they do in a positive and supportive environment. And I wanted my clients, the businesses who put their faith in our services, to work with the best of the best.
Enter TargetMarket: a marketing firm based in Summerville, SC. I have known Nick Nydegger, owner of TargetMarket, a few of their team members and their work for years. We have even shared some clients over the years. But what I was so thrilled to uncover was the shared vision for the future.
The Modern Connection is now TargetMarket Inc, and I couldn’t be more proud and excited for all that means and all that is to come.
What’s Next For Me?
And here’s the hard part: I want to set my team and my clients free. I want to let them grow on their own without me. I don’t want to journey to the destination together any longer, and I know my time is now. While I will stay on as a consultant for a short while, I am not a full time team member.
I mentioned divine timing earlier, and the timing could not have been more perfect. My daughter Harper is starting Kindergarten this year, and I am {forever gratefully} able to fully homeschool her. It’s been a goal of mine since she was born, and I never felt like it was possible for our family as long as I owned The Modern Connection.
And to be clear: I am NOT saying that you can’t be both a mom and a successful business owner or that you can’t own a business and homeschool your kids. Because you CAN (and my most successful years have definitely happened since I’ve been a mom). BUT if your heart is not in it, and you’re wishing your time and energy could be put in a place that means more to you, THEN it’s probably not going to work (which is the case with me).
I also am excited to have more time to dedicate to my blog. I have a vision for what this space of my online world to be, and I’m super excited to be able to bring my vision to life.
Make sure you’re following me on Instagram and are subscribed to my email list to stay in the loop for some exciting things to come!
After all, I’m just getting started. 😊
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Ashley, I’m so happy and excited for you. It’s delightful when pieces fall into place and you know that it’s right. I can’t wait to see what you’ll be up to next.
I’m homeschooling Rosie as well. We started about a month ago. Here’s to sanity and new adventures!
Author
Thank you so much, Krista!! π I loooove that you’re homeschooling Rosie too – so amazing! You’ll rock it!! xoxo
Congratulations on the close of a beautiful and inspiring chapter, Ashley! Thank you for being a stellar role model for women in the marketing industry! Can’t wait to keep up with you via the blog!
Author
Such a sweet thing to say! Thank you so much, Maggie!! π