ASHLEY STAHL

Author// Podcast Host// Become a PRO speaker+ skyrocket your brand!// Helped 100s of clients craft their greatest talk+ get booked on the world's biggest stages

[ASHLEY STAHL @AshleyStahl]

The YOU TURN book is out in 4 DAYS!!!!! If something feels like it's missing in your career, you're tired of the Sunday night scaries, and you're ready to get clear on your next move, visit https://t.co/O5HbvyAnfr!

[Craig Clemens @craigclemens]

3 Weird Things I Learned in 2025:

1. How to break an addiction or bad habit


I’ve struggled with nearly every addiction or bad habit you can imagine. The latest is embarrassing - a few years ago I began getting dandruff spots on my head. I'd scratch the f out of them then they would scab then I’d scratch again - rinse repeat the next day, and because of this manic scratching they would never heal. 2 years would pass and I’d still have the same sores on my head!

So I’m in an ayahausca ceremony and I go to scratch one. A phrase comes to me…

“What happens if I don’t?”

I realized that nothing would happen.

Nothing bad, nothing great either. But certainly nothing disastrous - I wouldn’t bleed to death and the spot didn’t actually need a scratch. I realized i had a weird fear that if i didn’t do the action, I’d be missing out on the. oddly satisfying scratching sensation - but also... that the scratch sensation really did nothing for me.

So, I didn’t scratch, and sure enough I soon forget about it. Later I get the urge to scratch again, so I ask myself the same, “What happens if I don’t?”

“Nothing.” And again I don’t scratch.

That was in early 2025 and all the spots on my head are now healed.

The next implication was even bigger. Later that same night the ceremony ends, we get our phones back.

And now I am so ready to do what all ayahuasca bros long for after being phone-less for 4 hours:

I must check the price of bitcoin.

But this time I ask, “What happens if I don’t?”

Again, nothing would happen. I’d simply find out the price at a later time. What happens if I do check it now? Well if the price is down, it’s not like I’m gonna panic sell @ 3am. And if the price is up, same - maybe I get a little dopamine hit seeing my monies up, but I’m not selling. So again, nothing is going to happen if I check the price.

So I don’t. And I sleep much better that night.

The next week - I’m on X and going down a rage bait rabbit hole. 2 big influencers who I never liked anyways are in a fight. And one of them has just dropped 15 min vid blasting the other, that the whole timeline says is fire. So I gotta watch it, right? I click, then catch myself…

“What happens if I don’t?”

Nothing. I don’t miss anything relevant to my life. I don’t actually care about the influencers, let alone their beef. I move on and save myself 15 minutes.

This little phrase has now helped me quit excessive snacking, feed scrolling, overly-checking email and texts - the applications are endless.

Before you mindlessly take any action, try to stop and ask yourself, “What happens if I don’t?

2. You only get 80% of what you want

My wealthiest friend is looking for a new pad in NY. He’s complaining that some are too old, or not great view, or great view but shitty entry, etc.

I say, “Bro you are rich af - why not just pay up and buy one that has everything you want?”

He says, “You don’t get it - when buying a house, you only get 80% of what you want. This is true no matter what you spend, and at all income levels. The only way it’s not true is if you buy a lot and build your home from scratch, but then you have to wait 4 years and that is never what you want. So you need to pick your 80%."

I’ve begun applying this 80% model everywhere, and I’m amazed at how often it fits.

Choosing a partner, a city to live in, a place to vacation, a school for your kid - turns out, it's extremely rare in life to get more than 80% of what you want.

So your job when making a decision is now simple:

Figure out which 80% is a must for you, and focus on getting the best of that.

3. You only get 3 billion prompts

There is a house I wish we would have bought in 2019. It was perfect, but we couldn't afford it until our other house sold. Which took too long, so someone else bought the dream house.

Now every time I drive by, I find myself going into fantasy land… “Would we have liked the neighborhood? I wonder if the streets are nice for walking. Would we have redone the back yard? What would the kids have done with that big tree?”

I have probably driven by this house 20x over the last 6 years and every time I would do this mind larp of “What if we had bought that house?”

Then I read somewhere that your brain is like an LLM, and based on time alive for an average human, you only get 3 billion “prompts” of your own brain.

You can use them to ponder the future, further enjoy the present, or “what if” about the past.

But once they are gone, that is it, and you do not get more.

So now, when I find myself bemoaning about a house I didn’t buy, a 100x investment that I failed to make, a 4x investment I failed to take profits on and now it’s worth zero, etc etc -

I remind myself that I only get 3 billion prompts, and that I should either use them to focus on the present, or improve my future.

I hope these 3 learnings help you prompt your own brain for a better 2026.

[Trung Phan @TrungTPhan]

Scott’s “skill stacking” essay completely changed my perspective on work

[ASHLEY STAHL @AshleyStahl]

@bookauthority I’m so honored! Thank you 🌈

[BookAuthority @bookauthority]

Well done @AshleyStahl! "You Turn" made it to the list of best Personal Transformation books of all time! https://t.co/f3gk2wRjXR

[Million Podcasts @MillionPodcasts]

🚀🎙️ The Top 100 Career Development Podcasts of 2025 Are Here! 🔥🎧

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📢 Ready to level up your career? Check out the full list now! 🚀🔗

[StoryBuilders @mystorybuilders]

What's the most common mistake people make in their keynote speeches? @AshleyStahl - bestselling author, hit podcast host, and TEDx keynote speaker - filled us in at the StoryBuilders Summit. #storybuildersummit

[ASHLEY STAHL @AshleyStahl]

Lack of clarity in business and life? It’s like driving without a destination—frustrating and exhausting for you and everyone around you. When you’re clear on your vision and purpose, you can take intentional steps forward and inspire those around you. 🌟

[ASHLEY STAHL @AshleyStahl]

Overcommitted? It's a struggle we know all too well—balancing yes’s in both business and personal life. But here’s the truth: saying no isn’t selfish; it’s strategic. 💼✨ #WorkLifeBalance #Boundaries #Leadership

[Neil Devani @neildevani]

VC podcasts should be about fundraising, investing, and building. Too many are about politics, the news, or other propaganda. So I made my own.

Check out E1 of Money Moves w/ @mhdempsey from @compoundvc about hitting 100x multiples feat. @kesarvarma from @upfrontvc

[Jeff Lerner @thejefflerner]

🎙️ NEW EPISODE TOMORROW 🎙️

Join me for an exciting episode of Unlock Your Potential featuring Ashley Stahl (@ashleystahl), a TEDx speaker, career coach, and former counterterrorism professional.

Catch the full episode tomorrow on my YouTube channel!

[Jeff Lerner @thejefflerner]

"Don't do what you love."

In this clip with Ashley Stahl (@ashleystahl), we challenge the conventional advice of chasing your passion. Ashley shares why it’s more important to pursue a path that aligns with who you are and your natural skillset.

📺 https://t.co/fa98SbAW2y

[ASHLEY STAHL @AshleyStahl]

One of the biggest mistakes speakers make is standing still like they're waiting in line—posture slouched, leaning on one leg.
Be intentional: stand tall, avoid unnecessary hand movements, and don’t pace nervously.

#BodyLanguage #SpeakingEngagement #ProfessionalSpeaker #TEDxTalk

[ASHLEY STAHL @AshleyStahl]

Speakers often focus on content over delivery. Remember, body language matters.
You're as much an actor as a speaker. Practice hard so on speaking day, it feels effortless.

#ProfessionalSpeaker #PersonalBrand #TEDx #TEDxTalk #SpeakingEngagement #Acting

[ASHLEY STAHL @AshleyStahl]

Want your TEDx talk to go viral?
The key? Write the best talk of your life.
First, focus on your title. It’s like a gift – it needs to be something people want to open.
Next, the opening story of your talk is crucial.
#GoViral #TEDxTalk #ProfessionalSpeaker #SpeakingEngagement

[ASHLEY STAHL @AshleyStahl]

If you're aiming to be a professional speaker, remember, you're as much a writer as an actor.
Speaking is performing, especially when you're making a significant impact.

#SpeakingEngagement #ProfessionalSpeaker #TEDxTalk #TED #Speaker

[ASHLEY STAHL @AshleyStahl]

Agents aren't always the key to success in business.

Many assume that highly successful individuals always have agents, but that's not always the case.

#SpeakingEngagement #TEDx #TEDxTalk #ProfessionalSpeaker #BusinessAdvice

[ASHLEY STAHL @AshleyStahl]

Creating a speaking reel is easier than you think and crucial for showcasing your message.
This reel puts a punch into your brand, showcasing who you are and what you offer. Anyone can do it.
#TEDx #TEDxTalk #SpeakingEngagement #ProfessionalSpeaker #PersonalBranding #SpeakingReel

[ASHLEY STAHL @AshleyStahl]

The hack to being a booked speaker is delivering the best talk of your life when you get the chance.

Whether you're speaking to 100 people or 50, never underestimate the power of who's in the room.

#TEDxTalk #ProfessionalSpeaker #TEDx #PersonalBranding #Entrepreneur

[ASHLEY STAHL @AshleyStahl]

If you don't have a speaking reel yet, getting one done is easier than you might think.

It's a powerful tool to define your brand and show your expertise.

#SpeakingEngagement #PersonalBranding #Entrepreneurship #TEDx #TEDxTalk

[ASHLEY STAHL @AshleyStahl]

Hiring isn't just about skills; it's about finding those who bring a full range of emotions and experiences to your team.
Hiring isn't just about filling roles—it's about nurturing talent and honoring their strengths.

#CreativeHiring #TEDxTalks #Hiring #Recruitment