Testimonials
“First I would like to say that Ashley is always so easy to talk with and keeps a smile on everyone’s face around her. She has multiple routes to take when speaking with a team and that makes her very versatile. Prior to the workshop, she communicated with the coaches about the different activities she can provide. Ashley came for the first time to work with a team of 12-13 year old baseball players. The team had struggled with the mental side of baseball and “letting it go” when something doesn’t go their way. This was also their first time playing together, a lot of these athletes knew each other but never played for the same squad. The team took a few minutes to warm up to the activities, but Ashley’s enthusiasm and encouragement to speak up or demonstrate an activity really helped the team jump into their role. As a coach, I noticed players who don’t normally speak out as much share information with Ashley. Whether that was personal or not they were still able to step outside their comfort zone. I also saw teammates who don’t normally interact start to gravitate towards each other and created a new bond. Ashley’s activities kept the team active, engaged, and committed to getting better on the mental side of the game. Through her talks and actions, she created a trustworthy environment for the athletes that continued to be felt throughout the rest of the season. Some of the highlights from this day were the athletes cheering and pushing for each other while doing exercises, cheering on only 1 teammate who was “sad and not happy about striking out,” writing and reflecting on role models, important skills we have learned and using positive talk to others and self. All in all this was a meaningful experience for the team and with reminders throughout the season, you can see that Ashley’s hard work and caring attitude made an impact on the boys.”
“I recently had the privilege of experiencing Navigating Through Quicksand facilitated by Ashley Gustafson, and I must say it was a truly motivational and empowering journey. This unique program not only strengthened our team bond but also provided an encouraging environment for personal growth. The challenges presented during the program served as catalysts for self-reflection and pushed us to overcome obstacles together. Ashley skillfully guided us, fostering a sense of unity and resilience. Overall, Navigating Through Quicksand with Ashley is an exceptional experience that leaves you feeling inspired, empowered, and more connected as a team.”
“Ashley’s workshop has played a very positive role on my season and my perspective on teamwork so far this year. The bond we were forced to put together showed us how strong we can really work as a team and as individuals. Not only as a team, Ashley’s workshop inspired me to work harder myself. Knowing my hard work individually can help the team succeed, along with pushing my teammates each and every day really inspires me. I’ve always valued teamwork; however, Ashley’s workshop did a very good job expanding my knowledge and gave me a chance to understand core values in a different perspective.””
“I recently completed a workshop with Navigating Through Quicksand, and I can confidently say it was a life-changing experience. Through the workshop I learned how to improve my self-confidence and believe in my abilities. Ashley spoke from different perspectives and created a wholesome understanding which helped me apply what I learned to my daily life dealings. What stood out to me the most was the emphasis on learning to work with each other and accepting failure. This was particularly valuable for me especially in baseball where failure happens in the game, and it is how you respond to it that shapes you as a player. The workshop helped me see the value of learning from my mistakes and using them as an opportunity to grow.”
“Leading up to the team building workshop, I was very anxious because I did not know what to expect and I did not know everyone on my team very well. Even though I grew up playing baseball with many of the kids on the team and have gone to school with them I have not had many long conversations with many of them. I am a pretty quiet person and some of the activities that we did definitely took me and some of my teammates out of our comfort zones but I realized after, the positive impact that it had on us. As a team it is very important to communicate and trust each other. Another focus of the workshop was the importance of supporting your teammates and the impact that it can have on the team’s performance on the field. Personally I have been on teams where we had a lot of talent but didn’t succeed because we never fully bonded as a team. I have already noticed throughout the first seven games of the season how our team supports each other and has each other’s backs. During the season this workshop has helped our team as we are constantly picking each other up when mistakes are made and cheering each other on when we do succeed. All in all I feel like the workshop created a great environment for our team entering the season and helped me personally improve upon my confidence and leadership skills.”
“As a Shrewsbury high basketball team member, I can honestly say that working with Navigating Through Quicksand was a game-changer for us. Ashley’s understanding of the mental game and how it impacts performance helped me and my teammates hold our composure and portray ourselves as strong, even during moments of adversity where we felt like collapsing and giving up. One of the things that stood out to me was the positive atmosphere she helped create. Whether I made or missed a shot, got fouled or even turned the ball over, Ashley reinforced everything with positivity. This spark of positivity was contagious. From the way we spoke to each other, to our benches etiquette, I genuinely believe that by the end of the season we were a different team. I walked away at the the end of the season feeling like I had been part of something special: a family. Looking back on that season, I can say that we wouldn’t have been nearly as good without Ashley. She helped me and many others develop the mental toughness and confidence needed to compete at the varsity level. My biggest takeaway was the importance of body language and how I project my voice. A simple hand on the hip and head tilted up can do more for your confidence and image than you’d expect. When addressing teammates, I’ve been able to grow and become more approachable by fixing my body language and usage of tone. I feel incredibly grateful to have worked with Ashley, and I know that her influence will stay with me for future seasons. Ashley, you’re amazing.”
“My experience with Ashley and her ways of teaching were spectacular. Ashley was so kind, loving, respectful, caring, and calm to all people no matter who they are, every day when I would see her I would feel motivated to do my best. Ashley taught my team countless things but mostly she taught how to be your best self. The activities she did to promote what she was teaching were so helpful to my team, these little activities made my team so much more connected, energetic, and motivated to go on with our day or practice. She encouraged my team all the time and gave up countless hours of her life to give us the motivation to be our best and give 100 percent. She wasn’t just a teacher to me and the other players, she was a coach or even a player, she was a part of the family. I benefited so much from my time with Ashley and I tell people about these tactics I learned so they can learn them too. I recommend Ashley to everyone who needs a little boost in themselves.”
“Ashley’s workshops with our winter sports teams were fantastic. She met with me prior to personalize the workshops based on each team’s needs, and kept the student-athletes engaged and moving. We had a big group, but Ashley kept the interest level high throughout the workshops. Her positive attitude, energy level, and knowledge was infectious, making her presentation resonate and stick with students well beyond the workshop.”
“Working with Gus is always empowering. She makes us think about leadership, sportsmanship, and our potential as individuals and a team. When we leave her sessions we have a new outlook on the little things. We learn that our minds have power, if we believe we can then we can. We leave Gus with a new desire to work hard, a new appreciation for our team, and the confidence within ourselves to be the best we can be.”
“Ashley did a great job engaging with our students. She was able to pull them out of their shells to provide an all-around experience for everyone. By sharing her own story, she was also able to connect on a further level with our leaders. I would highly recommend Ashley to anyone who is looking for lasting impact/training for leadership roles. She is AWESOME and you will not regret!!”
“I really enjoyed the leadership workshop. I felt that it helped me gain skills that will not only make me a better leader, but a better person. I also thought that I could connect more with my classmates and be more open/honest about how I felt. This felt like a great way to bond with people and connect on a more personal level by saying what we truly mean.”
“Last night’s leadership workshop was very productive for me. It revealed a lot about myself that I didn’t even know. Even though I can see myself as a leader, I also saw that I can be the type of person that is difficult to lead. I think the most important and interesting lesson was when we paired up and yelled at each other. Having two leaders in the same room trying to overcome the other will never work. You need to be able to work together and share ideas, but also make the rest of your teammates or classmates feel engaged. ”
“Ashley provided us with an engaging and high energy leadership workshop! Leaders were engaged with one another, and time for reflection was included as well. Ashley as a facilitator engages the audience for an interactive learning experience.”
“The Leadership/Team Building Workshop led by Ashley Gustafson was the perfect experience for my team to participate in at the beginning of our season. We had just been through tryouts and needed a team building activity that would help the team to get to know each other, have personalities gel, and start to create a team identity. We have a lot of new players on this year’s team and Ashley’s workshop did bring them closer together, but it also was beneficial for each of them to individually reflect on their life experiences and identify what it takes to be a leader and good teammate. This workshop is a no brainer for any team, sports, or business, that is looking to create a positive culture. Highly recommend!”
“This leadership and team bonding workshop allowed for us to create trusting relationships and built team chemistry we can use both on and off the field. I love how she motivated us to not only challenge ourselves, but our teammates as well. This workshop has taught me to push others to be their best. I learned more about my teammates capabilities and how strong they are. Ashley is so amazing and I loved hearing about her inspiring story.”
“I personally think that the Team Building we did a couple weeks back, was very effective in having us communicate with others that we might not have if not for this exercise. One specific thing I liked was how engaging Ashley was and how she had us working on mental and physical activities at the same time.”
“Overall I think the Leadership workshop we did as a team was really beneficial for us as a group, and each individual. We all learned what it takes to be a leader and the traits that are required to be one, which is very important to having a successful season. The workshop made me realize that stepping out of your comfort zone is important whether it’s on, or off the field.”
“I enjoyed the Leadership workshop we did as a team. I went into it with low expectations thinking it would be a waste of time and not very engaging, but after it was finished I was pleasantly surprised and actually had a good time. I felt like it built team chemistry and got everyone more comfortable with each other. It was a great way to start off the season building chemistry along with getting everyone on the right page wanting to compete not only as an individual but as a team.”
“Ashley is amazing and has definitely showed me the meaning of creating my own life and making memories! She has definitely helped me with my confidence and overall self! I’ve grown a lot from where I was to where I am now thanks to her!”
“Loved having Ashley speak in our High School. Her positive mindset and motivational tools left students with a positive take away that students will apply to all aspects of their life. I look forward to working with Ashley again with our student athletes and more leadership workshops.”
“I reached out to Navigating Through Quicksand because I was so unhappy with so many aspects in my life, including work and family. Things that I used to enjoy or things that once brought me joy now seemed like daunting tasks that I just needed to get through. Throughout my twelve weeks with Ashley, she helped me to identify why and how that happened throughout the years. As a wife, mother of four, and a demanding career I seemed to lose the importance of making sure I was also taking care of me. Ashley raised my awareness of the basic needs that we as human beings need to live a well-rounded and fulfilled life. I have completed my sessions with many tools to use and goals to reach and feel very confident that my new outlook and priorities are attainable. I can honestly say that without this “reconnection with myself” I would have continued on a path of negativity and unhappiness.”
“Ashley Gustafson was a breath of fresh air. Our school did a series of 3 30 minute wellness workshops back to back and I participated in Ashley’s 3rd and final workshop of the day. Her energy was as if it was the first session. She was upbeat, passionate and captivating throughout the presentation. Virtual engagement can be difficult but throughout the 30 minutes she was able to check in with everyone participating using a chat box and that helped keep me engaged rather than feeling I was being talked at. As one of the coordinators of the event we had students/staff complete surveys, as I looked through responses there was an overwhelming positivity around Ashley G. and all three of her sessions from the responses that we received.”
“When you are an educator, you always know those people in your school you’d want your own children to work with. They are caring, attentive and professional, and they never give up on their students. In my experience working with her, Ashley Gustafson is one of those people.”
“Ashley’s presentation was passionate and energetic. Her story showed vulnerability and strength. Ashley included story-telling and hands-on experiential activities making her presentation not only moving to hear but also fun to be a part of! Ashley taught us to remember to breathe through the quicksand and never forget that we have the ability to impact each person we encounter and can “Make a Difference”. Thank you Ashley for empowering us and sharing your story.”
“I had Ms Gustafson, Ashley, as a teacher in high school. Years later we reconnected on Facebook and that is when I learned about her inspirational speaking business, Navigating Through Quicksand.
I invited Ashley to come and speak to my 5th grade students in Worcester about positivity, motivation and lifting others up. When she came she blew me away with her ability to captivate such a young audience. We had two days left in the school year (which means that all of the kids were in summer mode) and Ashley took them all in. She conducted hands on activities that got each child up and out of their seats. She had each child think deeply into how they make the world a better place and to recognize others who help make their world a better place.
The lesson that she left us with will be everlasting for both the students and myself. I would recommend Navigating Through Quicksand to anyone! Ashley is truly an amazing human being and will be able to connect and make a difference with anyone.”
“It’s hard to think on where to start… Life throws you many challenges and its up to you to be able to navigate through them. It’s up to you to decide how you do that. I am proud to say I have seen and been through my fair share of heartbreak and challenges. I felt I had hit rock bottom and needed to figure out a way to stand tall once again. I have had the pleasure of having Ashley in my life, to show me who I really am and what I can overcome. She gave me many challenges, opportunities, goals, and overall great support that I needed. This overall experience has given me the tools and advice I needed to overcome and make myself a better me !!”
“This past spring, the Shrewsbury Softball program had the opportunity to work with Navigating Through Quicksand. Our experience with NTQ was nothing short of exceptional. Ashley provided a workshop for our program that helped athletes unlock their potential both on and off the field. Ashley has a natural ability to connect with people, build relationships and observe the ‘little things’ that greatly impact student-athlete mental and physical success. Ashley truly went above and beyond for our program attending practices, connecting and building relationships with the athletes and coaches. She even connected us with Kyle Brodeur and his family, including a customized piece of his art! I would encourage any coach looking to give athletes an opportunity to improve their team culture and student-athete’s mental and emotional resiliency to sign up for a workshop with NTQ!”
“The Navigating Through Quicksand workshop was really beneficial for me and for our team. Not only did we learn a lot, but it also helped us bond as a team and make new connections. We all got to participate in different activities that required us to work together, communicate and push each other. Through this workshop, we were able to get to know each other better and understand more about each other. It was really cool to see how we could come together and accomplish things as individuals and how we could work together as a team. Thanks for such a great workshop and helping us become better friends and teammates.”
“This workshop was definitely beneficial to our team. Not only did it allow our players to gain more confidence in ourselves, but it also increased the confidence in each other. We have seen an increase in positive attitude during both games and practices. Our team has been much better at communicating since we met with Ashley as well. I also feel that everyone feels more motivated to produce for the team after this bonding experience. Ashley showing us to give everything we have every play will have a positive impact on our season. I would definitely do the workshop again and would certainly recommend it to other teams looking to improve.”
“I thought Ashley’s workshop was super beneficial not only to us as individuals, but as a team. It taught us to get outside our comfort zone and work with one another no matter the circumstances. This is very important in baseball specifically because there are so many ups and downs throughout the games, off the field, and throughout the season. Down the road, this will be super beneficial as we become more of a team on and off the field. Ashley’s workshop not only taught us lessons in sports but also lessons in the real world which will be very important to have experienced. Overall, I highly recommend Ashley’s workshop to any team that is interested.”
“Ashley came to Shepherd Hill to motivate our players while speaking about the importance of accountability and responsibility. The players immediately took to her energy while learning a great deal about their teammates and themselves. Some challenging team building exercises proved to bring the players closer together in achieving our ultimate goal of competing together as one.”
“My experience with Navigating Through Quicksand has been truly remarkable and so unique. As a captain of the Shrewsbury boys basketball team, I learned many leadership skills and I’m extremely thankful to have the opportunity to work with Ashley. Everything that I’ve learned throughout the basketball season with Ashley and the activities that we did were so beneficial to me, I believe they really strengthened my mind and made me believe in myself more than I ever could. All of the activities we did taught me that no matter what, my confidence has to come from within. Through it all it really made me realize that when you succeed with yourself, it inspires others. When you are giving your all in everything that you do, it inspires others to give their all in everything that they do. If you never give up, you’ll probably inspire someone else to never give up and I never knew that. We all have the ability and the potential to give our absolute 100% in everything that we do which includes going as hard as you can in all of your sets when you work out, it means pushing yourself through sprints at practice, it means cheering on your teammates even when you don’t get a lot of playing time, and it also means taking a deep breath and getting back in the drill and finishing it. I will never give up.”
“Ashley is a shining star in my book, that is so upbeat and passionate for what she does. Her knowledge to connect with people on a personal level is top-notch. I hired her to coach my daughter as I felt she needed some guidance with her life in general-college, work, and relationships. I have to say it has to be one of the best gifts I have given to my daughter.
Since my daughter has been meeting with Ashley one-on-one she has grown so much and has a better outlook on life and more confidence in herself along with mental and physical skills that will impact the rest of her daily life. Ashley has shown Taylor that she is the one in charge of creating her memories and her life’s happiness and in the end, this has made her a more well-rounded person. She will have these tools for the rest of her life.
Thank you so much Ashley for coming into our lives, I could never repay you for all that you’ve done to make my daughter’s life a more well-rounded enriched one.”
“The workshop Ashley presented to our track team was an awesome bonding experience. The activities reinforced us all to work with those we might not automatically think to work with. It encouraged us to go out of our comfort zones and talk to new people. This was great considering our team is rather large and sometimes it is difficult to create these bonds and relationships with new team members or simply those who do different events. I think the workshop also taught us a lot about empathy and that we should always be trying to uplift those around us.”
“The workshop was fantastic! As a coach, it was awesome to observe the girls get thrown into different scenarios and watch how each one reacted. I learned a lot about the team! Great ice breaker as it pushed everyone to get out of comfort zones and embrace their authenticity. Ashley’s energy is unmatched and I was very impressed by her ability to instantly connect with the team. Would highly recommend and repeat each year with the different teams!!”
“Through the Captain’s Summit, we learned so many valuable and important lessons that we will take with us throughout our season. Ashley has great energy and had an immensely positive impact on us. She helped us gain confidence, understand the power of a positive mindset, as well as remind us of the power we have in cultivating a welcoming and supportive environment. The activities were well thought out and each one had a clear purpose that related back to a specific topic or point that was being talked about. We really enjoyed spending the day with Ashley and would definitely recommend it. We left feeling motivated, inspired, and even more excited for the seasons to come.”
“I thought the leadership workshop was awesome! It was super inspiring and motivating. Also, the lesson(s) weren’t necessarily predictable and it was enjoyable and fun! I would definitely recommend attending her talks to my friends. It was really cool how it all tied up at the end to what we started with. I keep my sticky note on my dashboard driving to and from school, sports, etc. Overall 10/10!”
“The leadership workshop was very interactive and I think it helped me really get to know my teammates and new friends. This workshop really showed me what a leader is and how people look up to us as a group. The biggest thing about the workshop was when we wrote down a good and bad leader and then talked about how some days we won’t be 100 percent because we are human but it helps to have others to at least help you get through the day. This is what a leader needs to do we need to be that helping hand. I think it was majorly beneficial for not just the group but for our entire school because as leaders we are going to pass around these motives around the school.”
“Working with Ashley was an amazing experience and I would do it all over again if given the opportunity! The program Navigating Through Quicksand helped our lacrosse girls gain confidence, enthusiasm and an understanding of roles a person has in different situations on and off the field. This program allowed the girls to be open and expressive about obstacles they have overcome and how they can now assist others in similar situations. Ashley does a fantastic job with encouraging and pushing athletes to become better not only on the field but off as well. She pushed our girls to step out of their comfort zones which allowed them to step away from the program with a new and more positive outlook not only in athletics but in life.”
“Gus was a former teacher, mentor and coach of mine. She was always the teacher checking in with her students just to show how much she truly cared. I reached out to her after learning she stopped teaching to become a motivational speaker. I needed to bring her energy, motivation and liveliness to my team because it is contagious. Every activity throughout our two workshops had a purpose. That purpose related back to sports, but more importantly it related to life outside of high school. PSHS Girls Lax was very appreciative of her time, and will take away many lessons learned from Ashley Gustafson.”
“I really enjoyed doing the Leadership workshop for many reasons. I appreciated moving around and doing some exercises and then seeing how she connected them to what she was trying to teach us. The main thing I took from it was learning that in many cases actions speak louder than words when it comes to being a leader.”
“I liked the Leadership/Team Building because it helped me get to know my teammates better. As a freshman I didn’t really know my teammates as well before the Leadership/Team Building, but after I was more comfortable and learned some things I didn’t know. Also, I feel this has benefited our team, bringing us closer and creating more of a family that everyone will remember as we leave Shrewsbury and go on with our lives.”
“Ashley Gustafson’s BRING IT! Workshop was a true inspiration for my high school soccer team. My team needed something to BRING IT for. Ashley came in and showed us exactly who we needed to BRING IT for. She reminded us that every day we needed to BRING IT for our teammates. Ashley gave us the positive mindset to BRING IT that we needed in order to have a successful rest of the season. I am incredibly thankful for the inspiration that Ashley gave my team.”
“Ashley has been a huge part of our program at Shepherd Hill ever since I became the head coach. She was my JV coach for a year before she embarked on her Navigating Through Quicksand journey. She has found her niche and has become an integral part of our season with her monthly visits. The girls love when Ashley comes in for a session or two to work on their confidence as a team and trust in one another. Her workshops work off the previous one so that the players learn how to develop their abilities and challenge themselves as individuals to be better teammates all around, not just as players. Ashley has impacted so many young people and I know she will continue to do so with her energetic self!”
“Ashley is a true teammate and advocate. She encourages everyone around her to be the best that they can be. As a teacher and co-worker, Ashley supported my students and me both in and out of school. She leads by example and truly wants what is best for everyone around her. “
“Ashley is a super presenter. Her energy and enthusiasm lights up a room and engages all ages in her story. She explains her life experiences in a meaningful way which helps others learn to turn life’s challenges into obstacles that can be overcome with a positive and grateful attitude. She walks this walk with her positive energy and cheerful attitude.”
“Ashley Gustafson was our keynote presenter for the annual Varsity Athletes Above Substance Abuse (VAASA) Conference this fall. Ashley captivated this group of 200 high school scholar athletes with her story of risky choices, personal vulnerability and profound resilience. Ashley’s retelling of events from her own adolescence is both alarming and inspiring. She reminds us that even the brightest and most talented young people may be struggling with family, emotional and substance use related problems that are costly in many areas of a young person’s development. She taught our students to tap their own inner strength while humbly seeking support and remaining grateful for the kindness of adult mentors in their lives. Ashley galvanized the crowd with energizer activities and facilitated a lively “Owning the Room” communication workshop. Most important was Ashley’s message about making a difference, whether standing up for a friend, or sincerely asking about how someone is doing. VAASA members are tasked with making a difference by acting as role models for younger students. Ashley Gustafson is a role model for our students!”
“I had the pleasure of having Miss Gus as a teacher in high school. To this day, I can still hear her yelling after us in the hall “Be safe, make good choices”. Later in my life I had no idea how much I would still remember those words as I help mold the lives of my adolescent clients. Reconnecting with Ashley in a different role was incredible. I have worked in the social work field for almost 10 years, 9 of which have been in an adolescent girls group home. It dawned on me that everyone could benefit from a little Gus in their lives. Ashley was able to come in and talk with my clients and share with them some of the events that took place in her life and how she got through and decided to make a change. She was able to touch the lives of 6 teenage girls, and break through again to her once student, now life long connection. I couldn’t be more grateful for Ashley and all of her words and positivity.”