Shit You're An Adult Now

What I Didn't Learn At School But Wish I Had

The no-nonsense book is ideal for young people in their late teens and 20s and explains everything they need to know about life such as:
- proven life hacks for saving and getting what you want
- the golden rules to creating a healthy, balanced lifestyle
- how to gain confidence and attract positive people to you
- tips on what to eat when money is tight
- what you really need to know about social media
- how do you really go about getting out in to the workforce and getting the ideal job

Ashleigh -Smashleigh' McKeown's book -Sh!t You're An Adult Now; Everything I Didn't Learn In School But Wish I Had' is a game changer for young adults. Ashleigh, who comes from a military family and went to no less than nine different schools before she graduated, found that none of those schools taught her what she really wanted to know.

Ashleigh wants to give young adults a leg up into the -real world' by teaching them to develop the positive mindset and skills they need not just to survive, but to thrive and achieve their dreams.

Ashleigh says she wants 'to give as many young adults as possible the tools to skip a lot of the trial and error and create great lives for themselves now.'

Ashleigh herself has experienced an astronomical rise. Her first job was at McDonald's, where she quickly climbed through the rank to become assistant manager. Ashleigh set her sights on bigger things, and has worked for Five Star resorts across Australia, including the prestigious Cable Beach Club Resort and Daydream Island.

It was working at a resort that began her writing career.

'I was working in a resort near Mt. Buller and over a week some guests kept telling me 'you're really funny, you should write a book, so on my night off I sat down and started writing," Ashleigh said.

'A year after it was finished, I was at a writers' festival in the Whitsundays, and I happened to meet Darren Stephens, who encouraged me to keep working on the book and take it to the next level. I became part of his team, and after another rigorous year my book is published and I've started to build a business."

Ashleigh is constantly working to educate herself and give more to the world, and she is currently studying Personal Training, Timelapse Therapy, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming. She is also a certified hypnotherapist.

So how does she plan to use her multitude of qualifications and humour?

'I want to provide people with a no-BS strategy for creating the life they desire. As well as my book, I provide one-on-one mentoring, seminars, and comprehensive studies of a person's mindset and psychology," Ashleigh added.

In -Sh!t You're An Adult Now; Everything I Didn't Learn In School But Wish I Had' Ashleigh breathes new life into the stale genre of self-help. Her fresh and fiercely funny take on success and life skills makes the book ideal for young adults wanting to improve themselves and their lives.

Shit You're An Adult Now: What I Didn't Learn At School But Wish I Had
Dennis Jones & Associates
Author: Ashleigh McKeown

 

Interview with Ashleigh McKeown

Question: What inspired you to write Shit You're An Adult Now?

Ashleigh McKeown: When I first graduated school I struggled with many things from something as basic as looking after myself to more complicated things like how to achieve the lifestyle desired. I started talking to many people about these issues and realised they were all experiencing the same thing, so I wanted to create a no bs approach.


Question: What are your favourite sections, from the book?

Ashleigh McKeown: I couldn't narrow it down; every chapter was fun, interesting and demanding for me to write. I wouldn't change a thing but I will make a part 2.


Question: Can you share advice with us on learning to say no, when necessary?

Ashleigh McKeown: Even though saying yes to everything can open up some wonderful opportunities it is also very important to say no as well.

Saying no will build your own resilience and create respect: you don't have to be a bitch to be a strong person.

It's also important to say no because it will give you space and prevent you from burning out. Burnout is one of the top causes for depression and anxiety.

Question: How important was including food and nutrition in Shit You're An Adult Now?

Ashleigh McKeown: I couldn't not write this chapter, obesity is at an all-time high and the main excuses I hear is "It's too expensive to eat healthily"
"It's time consuming"
And "I've been on a diet before and it didn't work so I've given up."

The alternatives I give is not a "diet, they are slight changes on how you prepare your meals that make the difference without nasty calorie counting and still being able to use your favourite ingredients. As long as you have the plan you can cut the dollars and the time.


Question: What do we really need to know about social media?

Ashleigh McKeown: Social media is literally another world… and you are the center of it. You decide when to go on it, you decide who sees your content and you decide who you interact with.

It is an incredible tool that can create amazing things, but there is also a big downside to it as well. If it is causing issues the easiest and best thing is to unplug. Those issues won't be there anymore for you because those people will have to contact you directly, which surprisingly is more beneficial cause you get a better understanding of context and tone rather than when you read it from a screen


Interview by Brooke Hunter

Shit You're An Adult Now: What I Didn't Learn At School But Wish I Had
Dennis Jones & Associates
Author: Ashleigh McKeown