Allie Hershman

Decided to kick off these inspirational stories with a friend of mine; Allie Hershman. I met Allie when I started teaching a local cycling studio and when I met her/ followed her on instagram, I knew she was a hustler.

Who is Allie?

Allie is from Branford, Connecticut, and growing up she always thought she was going to become a teacher. Throughout her schooling she fell in love with psychology and decided to pursue it. She got her undergraduate and graduate degree at Suffolk University. Allie wanted what most people want but, in all honesty is hard to achieve- a job that allows flexibility.

Getting Started:

Looking at Allie’s instagram you see all of her success, and the perks of doing what she does. My and I assuming many others’ question is- how did all of this start?

In July of 2017, she took a leap of faith with a beauty company, Monat. She started as a market partner, reaching out to people, and posting instagram stories. I knew it could not be easy to jump into something like this especially with all of the controversy surrounding a company like Monat. “It was scary. When I first started going live on instagram, I only had 3-4 viewers. People made fun of me, and people were asking me what I was doing”. Allie admitted even she was skeptical when she was first presented with the opportunity. After she became educated and got in touch with the inspiring community of girls, she realized how the company could open doors for her, and quit her full time job six months in.

New Opportunities:

Allie was able to give her instagram value and turned it into a business tool. She started out with 800 followers and now has almost 16k in 2020. Having the will to learn, get out of her comfort zone, and being unapologetically herself allowed her to make a stable income and open her own private practice in February of 2019.

Now having two jobs, Allie practiced therapy strictly online- allowing for flexibility and better time management. She practices general counseling with a focus on relationships and couples counseling, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, in June of 2019 she started a CBD trading company. Having an interest in CBD and a family who is familiar with this type of business allowed her to take advantage of yet another opportunity.

You’re probably asking yourself… what can’t this girl do?

As mentioned before, I met Allie at my local cycling studio. Allie has been teaching since 2015 after she fell in love with riding. Post college, she got her certification and mastered the skill of teaching (I personally love Allie’s class- her energy is contagious). It is important to consider the fact that with this hustler mentality she and anyone else could tackle any opportunity that is thrown her way. One of my big questions was- why not a large chain studio like SoulCycle? Allie made a point to emphasize the benefits of working at a small studio. At the time she started, she was doing a lot and going through a lot. This was the point in her life where she was depressed, lost, and on top of that going through a tough breakup. Joyride Cycling Studio (where she teaches), allowed her to train privately on the side, and gave her the time she needed. Allie emphasized how important it is to work for a company that values your well being.

How does having this background in therapy play a role in your own relationship?

Allie having this knowledge in therapy in a way gives her a foundation for a healthy relationship. “We fight- like anyone in any relationship, because no relationship is perfect. But, both of us are willing to work”.

Allies tips for a healthy relationship:

-Communication

-Respect

-Willingness to work through things

Do you have any advice for young people or college students?

“Pick something you’re interested in and work in that field. Being in the field is most important because you learn more rather than sitting in a classroom. I loved school, but it is not for everyone”.

How did you stay motivated during the pandemic/quarantine?

“When I woke up in March and saw that there was a mandatory quarantine, I knew that there were two ways to look at this. I could either complain about it, or use this time to work on myself and my business. I learned how to to work on the days I didn’t feel like it. I continued to get up, show up, and force myself to be productive.”

Allie made the most out of her quarantine and 2020 happened to be one of the most successful years of her life. She hit Senior Executive Director for Monat which is the top of the company. She emphasized how important it was to stay consistent and to keep doing what brought you to the top.

Current outlook on life:

Allie was a victim of life 3.5 years ago. She was burnt out, was not in a good mental space, and felt like everything was happening to her. “I am grateful for my past and the journey because reflection is important. Now, I cheer everybody on, and want everyone to succeed”.

What motto do you live by?

“You only have one life. Don’t watch from the sidelines, get in the game”

Do you have any regrets?

“I have no regrets. I learned how to put my ego aside and learn from my failures. At one point I was doing what I wanted, and I learned from it- it’s a process”.

Follow Allie’s journey!

Instagrams:

Main @allie_jaie

Therapy @alexandriahershman

CBD @nchtrading