Kat is a writer, blogger and a self-care and confidence coach. Her passion project, or ‘side-hustle’ is her blog, Blue Jay of Happiness. Kat uses her blog to write about anything and everything she’s passionate about including mental health, body positivity and self-care. She started training to become a life coach at the end of 2017 so that she could take the subjects she writes about and make them more tangible and helpful for people.
I met Kat through Instagram (where else do people meet these days but online?) and I was instantly attracted to her photos and the topics she openly talked about. When I found out she lived so close by to me, we arranged to meet and chat in person. Meeting people you admire online in real life is always a bit weird and awkward. However, it felt so natural to sit across from Kat and talk about whatever came up while she drank her mochas and I drank all the tea.
I love how through social media we have the opportunity to meet new people and even make new friends. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Kat on getting her the personal branding photography she needs to embark on her coaching path. Totally can’t wait to get her in front of my camera again for her next session!
Let’s hear from Kat…
I asked Kat to answer some questions for me about her work, why she does what she does, and any advice she has for others.
Why do you do what you do?:
I believe that when we are able to accept and love ourselves, our life changes. I believe that when we lack self-worth and self-belief, we’re left with a gaping hole – and this is where many mental illnesses can take root. I’ve taken myself on a journey of fiercely hating myself to passionately loving myself and have learnt a huge amount about mental health, self-awareness and self-care along the way.
My aim is to take what I’ve learnt in my personal and professional life and share it through writing, speaking and coaching, in the hope of helping others. I do this because I know the pain of hating yourself. And because I know it doesn’t have to be this way.
What do you like best about what you do? :
Connecting with people. When people tell me an article or blog post has resonated with them, or when I see a coaching client making changes and flourishing – it gives me such a glow of fulfillment. Writing is something that comes as naturally as breathing to me and it fills me with such joy, so being able to do this every day is a dream come true.
Working for yourself can be difficult at times. What do you do to stay motivated?:
I always come back to my ‘why’. If I ever feel stuck or lost, I reflect on why I’m doing what I’m doing and I get right back into it. I currently do my coaching and blog work on Fridays, at the weekends and evenings. As I balance this with my day-job I have to be careful about setting aside time to switch off and look after myself. Got to practise what I preach! So for me it’s all about being intentional and purposeful with my work. Ensuring I’m doing things for the right reason, not for the sake of it.
What are your dreams for your business moving forward?:
I’m excited to see where my coaching work will take me! This feels like a natural progression and I’m only just getting started! Myself and my partner would love to move somewhere by the sea one day, so my dream would be to get myself in a position where I can work from anywhere. As well as writing and coaching, I would love to start self-care and confidence workshops, launch a podcast and write some books (fiction and non fiction)… nothing too big then, hey?
Do you have any advice for any other solopreneurs or small businesses?:
Yes – look after yourself! I think when we get passionate about our work it can become all consuming. We start to attribute our worth to the results we get at work. Of course, our work is important, but it doesn’t define you. Step back, get a little perspective and take time to relax and connect with people you love. Remember why you started your business and use this to steer you on your journey.
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