See the story "Meet Ashely Bates - Professional Organizer and Designer"
We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Bates and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Ashley Bates, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Taking a risk was truly the only way I got a reward in my business. Before I started OCD, I was the Director of Marketing for Dunkin' Donuts. I loved being creative in my role there, however starting my own Organizing and Design business was my dream since I was a little girl. My mom was an Interior Designer and I would watch her and think to myself “One day, I want to make homes beautiful like this,” (so I guess you can say I was born with it, and it runs in my genes.) With that being said, during Covid the restaurant world was shutting down, and I knew this was my time to start OCD. I wanted to feel fulfilled each day and finally take the risk so I left my Marketing Role, and never looked back. Within one week I had my first Organizing Project, and within one year I had done over 60 projects. Had it not been for that moment of me facing my fears, and taking the huge risk of starting my own Company I would never be where I am now. I was certainly nervous to take the leap of faith, but I always had faith in myself and my dream, which is important for anyone to be successful.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a professional Organizer and Designer, and OCD is my Company. However, I knew I wanted to help people, that was something that has always been important to me. I didn’t want to just show PERFECT pictures and homes. I want to be real and authentic in my business and show my IMPERFECTIONS. The times we are in with social media and more, its easy to get lost in thinking everything is pretty perfect. Being that I have a very mild case of OCD myself, I wanted to help others with this, as I knew there were many people out there with the same, and more sever cases. When I would get anxious I would clean and organize until it passed. Sometimes this wasn’t always fun, but I turned my case into my Company. My goal long-term is to help others, raise awareness about OCD, build a positive community around this, tell people’s stories, and to have a portion of my proceeds go to an OCD Charity. This is what would sets me apart from other Organizers and Designers. I want to use my business to help others with OCD, and this is what excites me.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Dallas is growing so fast, and it’s true everything is bigger in Texas! We have so much to offer here. Any visitor should check out the Katy Trail, and stop at the Ice House for a Burger and Beer. (It’s also super Dog Friendly.) There are also newer places with beautiful and intriguing interior, great ambience, entertainment, fabulous food, and many of the Milkshake Concepts I have visited check all these boxes. They have brought so much to Dallas in the hospitality space. Stirr, Harpers, and Vidorra are a few of my favorites! The art attractions are wonderful too, such as; The Sixth Floor Museum, The Dallas Arboretum, Perot Museum, and the Dallas Museum of Art are all worth visiting. Dallas is obviously known for its hot summers, so visiting some perfect pools is recommended. A few stand outs are The Adolphus Hotel, Fairmont Dallas, Hilton Anatole, and The Statler.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have so many mentors, family, and friends that are such a necessary reason of why OCD has been a success, that I may run out of space for this! OCD operates in multiple states such as (Dallas/DFW which is our home-base, Chicago, and Ohio.) Before I had employees I was our only employee, and I was traveling to our territories for projects all on my own. I had friends that opened their homes to me as if I was family (I was just starting and I couched surfed when I had to, and they spread the word to others and referred OCD which got me business in each state.) I have many friends to thank, but Kaitlyn Glass RN. was one of my first friends in Dallas, and from the beginning she pushed me to start OCD with no fear. She promoted my business everywhere, she was always proud of me, would listen to me and talk me through all the hurdles I had to jump while starting my own business. Another great shout out is for Sally Michael, who is a lead stylist at J.Hilburn in Dallas she is a very caring and crucial mentor to me. I actually met Sally on the plane the day I was moving from Chicago to Dallas. I could feel her positive energy and it was contagious. We kept in touch and she became a mentor to me not just in business but in my life. She was so sweet she knew I was new to Dallas and would invite me to her home to chat and have coffee. I look up to her work ethics, her awesome style, and who she is as a person. As I already mentioned I can’t thank everyone, I would run out of room. However, I will say I lived in Ohio, Chicago, and now Dallas and from every person I met and made a bond, connection, and friendship with, somehow years later when I started OCD those connections are what gave me the lending hand, listening ear, and support I need to get me through on the rough days and also celebrated with me on the great days! You need support starting a business, and I am so grateful I have it.
