I’m the Birthday

If you could go back to your childhood, before life happened—before disappointment, responsibilities, heartbreak, fear, rejection, and reality started telling you what was practical—what did you imagine your life would look like?

What did you want to become? What did you believe was possible?

I’m Ashley Banks—a disabled U.S. Army veteran, human resources leader with 16 years of experience, author, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and creator. I spent 11 years in the Army, became a Drill Sergeant and Chief Warrant Officer Two, earned three degrees, built a successful career, and accomplished things I’m incredibly proud of.

But somewhere along the way, I realized something: a “successful” life and a fulfilled life aren’t always the same thing.

I’ve battled depression and anxiety, experienced family rejection, loneliness, unhealthy relationships, workplace bullying, and the difficult identity shift that came after leaving the Army. As I approached 40, I had to confront the fact that despite everything I had accomplished, I was not living the dream life I had imagined as a child—being a talk show host, speaking on stages around the world, and waking up every day living a life that felt aligned with my soul.

I kept waiting. Waiting to feel ready. Waiting for the right opportunity. Over the last year, it started to feel like I was living the same day over and over again—my own version of Groundhog Day. You know the saying: nothing changes, if nothing changes.

Eventually, I realized I could spend another year imagining a different life, or I could start creating one.

That realization became the foundation of my two frameworks: Become Before™ and The One Move Rule™.

Become Before™ is about becoming the person your next chapter requires before you have the external proof that you’ve arrived. The One Move Rule™ is how you begin: make one intentional move in the direction of the life you want.

September 17th wasn’t the 40th birthday I imagined. I was lonely, sad, and didn’t feel celebrated. But after months of procrastination and hesitation, I still made one move.

I launched my brand Ashley Banks.

That is why this first newsletter—and this week’s podcast episode—is called “I’m the Birthday.”

In the episode, I share what turning 40 forced me to confront, why I stopped waiting for my life to change, and what I’m doing differently as I build my next chapter in real time.

LISTEN TO “I’M THE BIRTHDAY”

I'm the Birthday

Sep 18 · The Ashley Banks Podcast

12:03

Every week in The Ashley Banks Newsletter I’ll share real talk, practical tools, personal insights, and research to help you Become Before™ and change your life with The One Move Rule™.

Now, let’s go back to the question I asked you at the beginning.

What did your dream life look like before life started lifing?

You don’t have to figure out how to create all of it today.

Just make one move toward it.

—Ashley Banks