Meet Ash Waters | Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ash Waters and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ash, how do you think about risk?
With every high gain there is always a high risk. My whole life I’ve taken risks and high risks, and I gotta tell ya, most of those risks did not paid off. As I mature and I finally get a clearer picture, the risks become “better evaluated”. Growing up I had an extremely hard time controlling my emotions. These emotions would ultimately be the reason my risks wouldn’t pay off. As I have ripened and have learned and better understood how to control my emotions, that then put me in a much better place to win big with my risks. Every day we all take risks, especially with the pandemic we all face. For my brand the biggest risk is obviously failure. The biggest risk for failure is simply “not showing up”! My mentor once told me, “Ash, all you have to do is show up!” “The rest will fall into place” Oh and Ash? “DON’T GIVE UP!” From concept of my first product Kontrol Make up Primer by Jackrabbit Bodycare Cosmetics, was when the first wave of discouragement tried to weaken me. People don’t truly understand your vision that early on and so there isn’t a lot of support. I of course knew I was onto something serious when after 2 years of production for Kontrol I tried my primer on a makeup artist friend of mine. The results? Kontrol literally changed her life. Then the next 200 people tried Kontrol and all across the board it was “the holy grail of primers”! I already knew (in my heart) that the branding was fabulous and with such amazing reviews I knew I had something different than anything or anyone else and better! Now was the time for high risk and to most importantly not give up! I was now seeing the payoff for when I “Just showed up”! Month by month and in the next couple years I worked extremely hard. I had so much to do and was learning so much about the biz along the way. Patents, trademarks, shows, business plans, executive summaries, the search for investors, research, networking, spending money wisely while creating new ideas for future products. At one point I even got super close to having Grammy Nominee artist SZA possibly working with me, or at one time I had a multi millionaire show interest in backing me. These are just a couple of things that can get your heart racing and your mania peaking, but then they fell through. It sucked but NO MEANT NEXT! At times you question yourself, you feel like giving up. The market is so huge and crazy and you’re fire sometimes gets low and cold and this is when 99% of people give up. Not I, I kept reading about brand startups and success stories. I remind myself I am realistically where I wanted to be 4-5 years ago. I’ve gone to far and way too many lights have been green for me to quit now. By the way… my hero is John Paul Dejoria and I keep telling myself that I AM JUST LIKE HIM! At the end of the day If you think you have a great brand and you don’t know anything about the biz… then trust me your brand is weak and it counts on you in the coming time to learn and build “your brand” to be protected, strong, appealing and DESIRED! With that you the. create a motto to fit with your amazing brand, then you project to your market. My motto is “transparency and care”. Trust me if you can genuinely put a smile on your customers face then you’ve created magic. That magic is called return customers. This is when you start to win. As you go along the timeline and learn and grow with your brand you become one breathing unit. You have the most trust and vision you’re self cause you built it. Now it’s easy to RISK IT ALL cause now you’re spewing confidence and people who matter are catching your vibe. It really is a crazy journey that comes full circle with all kinds of amazing opportunities with wonderful people. Ps. If you have the mindset and energy vibrating into the universe then you have already claimed it and you have already won… you’re just waiting for the arrival. I have risked everything with Jackrabbit Bodycare Cosmetics. Thousands love the first product “Kontrol Primer” which by the way was in the 2019 Holiday Season of VOGUE! Get ready for the next billion dollar beauty company all from just “showing up”! “Risk? Hold my drink and watch this! -Ash Waters

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My values. Everyone DESERVES good health, fair opportunities and a restoration of trust and faith in big corp. I aim to be that company that gives you what you deserve. I was diagnosed at an early age with ADHD and with that came a shit load of trouble. But on the bright side ADHD comes with superb attention to detail. My mother and father both installed into me fairness, passion and love. When I eat an amazing meal that meal will only be amazing because I will pick up the love put into it. If that lotion makes me fall in love… it’s because someone paid special attention while creating it. Because of my super sensitive attention to detail my products MUST always be nothing short of amazing. For me there is no settling with “less than” when my passion is involved. Thank you universe for the amazing and passionate people that know how to scratch my need for detail.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would go downtown and watch the homeless… I would get deep into my own Philosophy and assessments… I would then use that data to find someone that would actually benefit from my help. That’s always a wonderful investment for me. Then we would go for a hike/run up Runyon Canyon- Hollywood. Next we would grab some amazing street tacos at Brothers Cousin on Sawtell and National, followed by some fun dancing and drinks at Melodys Bar and Grill on Sepulveda/LAX. Perhaps a strip club or drag show sprinkled in? Late night we would race up to Château Marmont for chamomile tea, good conversation with great music and ambience. Next day would be fun to feed the homeless, then most definitely go get A Covid 19 test. Uggggh! After all you need a parachute to go skydiving twice…

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Abso-fucking-lutley! First off the highest praise goes to my severely disabled daughter Madison, if it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do what I love. Being a single dad does have its perks! Thank you to John Paul Dejoria for being transparent about your story, thank you for your lessons and candor. Mad love and respect for you! Thank you to my seed donors; Latino celebrity Daniel Zacapa, makeup artist Lucy Tu (Beauty Unveiled) and entrepreneur Julian Vargas for believing in me. A special thanks to Jeffree Star. I used to watch him pull into the clubs in his really high, hot pink, Hummer and hustle for the future that became the giant it is today. Jeffree Star Cosmetics.

Website: www.jackrabbit.love
Instagram: Ashwaters305
Linkedin: Jackrabbit Bodycare Cosmetics

Image Credits
Ash Waters