What does it take to build a life and business from the ground up?

Solana Lewis is a World Champion powerlifter, TEDx speaker, author of Why Women Should Powerlift, coach, and entrepreneur. But her journey didn't start with confidence or knowing exactly where she was going.

In this conversation, Solana opens up about struggling with confidence and communication growing up, discovering powerlifting, and becoming a world champion at 21. She shares how she used podcasting to develop her voice, built her coaching business through consistency and networking, and learned to keep going even when entrepreneurship felt lonely.

We also talk about why women should powerlift, how to turn your passion into opportunities, and the importance of focusing on the actions that move you closer to your goals.

This is a conversation about persistence, growth, and taking the next step even when you haven't figured everything out yet.

Follow Solana on Instagram at

https://www.instagram.com/solana_lifts/ and check out her book, Why Women Should Powerlift, and her podcast, The Power in Lifting.

Follow and subscribe to From the Ground Up with Esther for more conversations with people building businesses, pursuing their passions, and creating something meaningful.

What if your story doesn’t have to be perfect to be worth sharing?

In this episode of From the Ground Up with Esther, I sit down with Carl Michel, founder of Young Exekutive, to talk about finding your voice, embracing your story, and becoming the person God has called you to be.

Carl shares openly about insecurity, trying to fit in, learning to become comfortable in his own skin, and realizing that he didn’t need to have the most dramatic story or have everything figured out to make an impact.

We talk about faith, purpose, success, relationships, consistency, and the importance of becoming the example you may have never had.

One of the biggest reminders from our conversation: you don’t have to be at the finish line to help someone who is just getting started.

If you’re building something, finding your voice, or figuring out what your next step looks like, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Carl Michel / Young Exekutive:
YoungExekutive.com | @YoungExekutive

This episode is proudly supported by:

🚗 Detail4days.com LLC — A mobile car detailing service serving Fairfield County, CT. From full details and stain removal to ceramic coatings, polishing, and headlight restoration, they bring the service directly to you.

📱 FollowOut — An app created to help you discover and connect with local experiences, businesses, and what’s happening around you.

Thank you for supporting the local businesses that support From the Ground Up with Esther.

Follow From the Ground Up with Esther for more real conversations about faith, growth, entrepreneurship, and the people building from the ground up.

Esther welcomes Ashley, a digital creator and community-builder, who shares her authentic path from marketing professional to influential content creator. You’ll discover how Ashley transformed her Sunday musings into engaging content that encourages exploration and supports local businesses. She reveals the challenges she faced as a single homeowner in a society often expecting couples to share these milestones, and how her candid approach resonated with many.

We break down key insights around:

- The unexpected joy of community building and how Ashley’s platform encourages others to discover their surroundings.

- Ashley’s unique 321 format, where she interviews locals in a fun, engaging way, making their stories accessible and inviting.

- The importance of embracing imperfection in content creation—how Ashley learned to iterate quickly and authentically share her journey with her audience.

Understanding Ashley’s mission is crucial—she’s not just sharing her experiences; she’s redefining what it means to connect in a digital age. Ignoring these insights could mean missing out on the creativity and collaboration that can elevate your own community or content. Embrace the power of authenticity and local exploration, and see how it can transform not only your content but also your connections.

Perfect for aspiring content creators, local business advocates, or anyone looking to infuse more joy into their everyday lives. Tune in now and get inspired to reclaim your Sundays and your community with Ashley's vibrant storytelling!

Make sure to follow Ashley & Esther

https://www.instagram.com/fromthegroundupwithesther/

https://www.instagram.com/sundays.with.ash/

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

https://followout.tv/

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