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Transformational Journeys

Jul 19
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How dare I write?

By Insights to help you #quickshift, Transformational Journeys, Transformational thoughts, Uncategorized

How dare I write?

Simply, because I have to and I want to.

Not because any form of Journalism or English Lit featured as my university majors (good job that is not a requirement for writing or getting published) as they did NOT – try Industrial Psychology and Human Geography as my weird combo.

I write because I LOVE to write. Even when I feel I am dragging stuff out of me, I love to write. It gives me a sense of purpose and place.

Sometimes it feels as though it’s the very air I breathe – necessary to my survival. It has felt that way since I was 14 in my “dear diary” era. Writing then about the boys I saw on the bus who smiled at me, the kitty that purred for a cuddle, the revolting man m@sturbating in the car on my walking route to school, the top 40 playlists and what party is coming up this weekend… Oh to be 14 and in love again?

It’s a way of finally taking the thoughts that swirl relentlessly around my mind, demanding time and attention and that have the desire to seduce or destroy me and finally letting them settle through me. Gently settle. By giving them a small space in the world, space from which I can survey them at last – perhaps to shut them up, ignore or befriend them, sometimes even laugh at them – and then I am able to move on to the next step in life. It all makes sense again.

At other times it’s out of self-created guilt. If I have the gumption to utter the words “I AM A WRITER”, then best I lean into that. I know it’s essentially a verb in feeling. Well theoretically ‘writer’ is a noun of course, but for me daring to be a writer has to be a verb. Which means I am only a writer when I am writing. I cannot call myself a writer and be a thinker. Or a cogitator. Or a procrastinator hoping to write. That’s a lie, it’s deceitful. So I am a writer when I am writing. Simple. A writer because of my writing or even in spite of my writing. In my personal view of the world, I became an author when I was published. That can never be taken away from me. Author is more of a noun for me – but writer, mmm, that demands attention, discipline, love, care, time, BUMTIME as we call it on our writing mentorships. It requires the continuous clumsy clickety-clack of the keyboard or the scratch of my pen scrawling morning pages. A verb that means “get to it Kate” -otherwise I am not a writer.

And then, ah, then, there are “Morning Pages”- my true delight. A nudge from my soul for four decades that was given a name thanks to “The Artist’s Way”. Morning pages are a way to purge my insides on paper, a way to love life in letters and words, sentences and jumbled ideas, a way to process emotions I daren’t even utter out loud to the world or myself. A way to gently wake up in the sleepy space of possibility. A way to capture that fleeting moment between worlds when the thinking brain has not yet given in to caffeine, chores or stress. When the world is quieter and calmer. When my emotions dare to be more vulnerable and tumble onto the page. Most times NEVER to be read again. They simply have to come out…

And then I write because I love what it potentially facilitates – sometimes even a beacon of light to clients and readers around the world. Perhaps a flicker of hope as they read some of my personal stories, tap into my “expertise”, ideas or my writing style that is akin to “kick with compassion”. There is nothing quite so lovely or gratifying as someone out there letting me know my words and writing, books or blogs has truly changed their life.
Is busy changing their life.
Opening their eyes.
Helping their hearts.
Healing their souls.
That somehow they got the courage, gumption, skill, and know-how to DO something differently. Clear the clutter, live their values, leave that job, travel the world, ask for more, live with less, say no, say yes, speak their truth and shine their light. THEIR LIGHT! Be more of who they wish to be. What a real privilege that is!

And sometimes I write because I am mad. Or happy. Or pissed off at the world. Sometimes I even believe I can be a little poetic and romantic, a tad funny and mostly kickass. But I never write because I am a brilliant or even great writer. I would never claim that position. I write simply because I write.

I also write as a form of personal legacy. I leave a little bit of me, the real me, behind in this world. For women like me who chose to never bear children, words I pen in a book can live beyond me and that brings me joy and a sense of (false) longevity.

Recently I found myself writing less. Thinking more. Cogitating and ruminating my life and my choices more. Potentially dangerous. I can get too melancholy that way as it stays inside and doesn’t get processed through me and out the other side. Too passive. Too dark and dingy a hue of blue. Not enough light shining inside. So, a few months ago upon landing in Greece, I recommitted to the VERB of writing DAILY morning pages.
Not the “when I feel like it” kind.
The wake-up, get up, make my bed, brew coffee, start writing before the coffee has intravenously-filled-my-blood kind. the only kind.The ritual kind. The raw kind. The vomit insides out on the pages kind. The kind kind. There is a sense of rhythm in that when there is no other rhythm in this time of not knowing. It gives me an anchor.

 

And THAT is essentially why I write – to have a small anchor in the world.

So tell me, why do YOU write?

DREAM TO DRAFT MENTORSHIP:

If you would like some structure, skill, and discipline to finally write your book, then why not join our DREAM TO DRAFT mentorship. Done ONLINE from anywhere in the world we will take you by the hand and walk that path with you. Facilitated by Sarah Bullen and myself  (with input from many industry professionals)  – Sarah is an international writing coach, author and book agent, and myself,  international speaker, multi-published author and all round ass-kicker. Our simple aim is to get you to the first step – YOUR DRAFT DONE! Then you are on your way to being able to publish or self-publish your book.

Ask for more info here       or …….. click here to read more about the mentorship, reviews, costs etc. we start on the 1st August 2018! We have 5 places left. You will be asked to fill out an application form.

Jun 15
Love0

Confessions of a location free maverick – it’s over!

By Insights to help you #quickshift, Transformational Journeys, Transformational thoughts

Confessions of a location free maverick – it’s over! How the Pretend Cat and the Pet Rock are changing the landscape of my life. I find it deeply ironic and bizarre how I can go from travelling the world with ridiculously minimal belongings (even minimal for miss LIVE LIGHT, LIVE LARGE over here) and living mostly out of a suitcase for the past 2.5 years … to buying Tupperware, water containers, dishcloths, coffee plunger, bins and gasp of all gasps, kitty food – because I suddenly find myself with a “pretend” cat and a huge pet rock! Neither of which will fit in my suitcase, which can mean only one thing – a little home again.

Chances are you might have some insight into my motto, my life work and how I have been gallivanting around the world to speak, run writing retreats, masterminds and work with the YPO? And laze on beaches of course! Yet with this lifestyle comes the highest of global highs and the lowest of lonely lows.

Every decision we make has consequences on all sides. There is really no such thing as a decision that doesn’t have pro’s and con’s. That’s delusional. It’s just about choosing the ones that you most prefer, that bring you more joy and meaning, isn’t it? It’s not that any decision is better than any other one. And decisions are never usually forever are they? We get to choose and re-decide further down the line, whether about how we think or what we own, to what we do in the world and where we live.

I have been living with the consequence of choosing to have no home for the recent past. It’s a feeling of deliriousness combined with displacement. Sometimes it is truly a joyful experience, easy to broadcast on Instagram pics, carefully curated into an authentic feed, or a hopefully motivational post and pics of exotic food whilst lounging by the sea. New spaces, places and delights at every corner. Yet it’s not ALL wild, laugh-inducing adventures and Pollyanna playtime.

It’s also the polar opposite – sometimes a scary, wide open world knowing no one, needing to constantly be wondering where the next pit stop is, can I convert enough ZAR into USD to survive a northern currency, where will my work call me to (from Lagos, to Dubai to San Francisco), other people’s reactions to being “homeless” when I say I am #locationfree. Yes, but where is your home, Kate?

I have personally found that whilst my senses are constantly being awoken and titivated, it’s simultaneously a tad grueling on my body and takes me longer to adjust to new surroundings to feel totally integrated. I have stayed in the best of 5* hotels, to revolting homes I housesat (that really should have been a three week, massively paid declutter job). I do find it easy to feel at home in someone else’s space, but have become way more susceptible to the energy of the house and how it impacts me. So it has been in short, the past 2.5 years have been a profoundly intriguing, enlightening time.

Being a #locationfree maverick naturally takes some toll on my committed relationship with ENP and yet also provides us both with space to really miss each other. Even when I do make Lesvos, the world renowned Lesbian pilgrimage island, (where the 10th muse and lyrical poetess Sappho was born), my destination of choice. He doesnt batt an eyelid- and that tells you everything about him! Friends delight in my pics, tales and gifts, but also beg to know when I’m coming “home” – I remind them I don’t call SA ‘HOME’ anymore. You know how when you speak to people in the UK (yes Mum, that’s you!) and they bleat on about the weather? Well, pretty much every time I speak to a dear friend they cannot help themselves but ask, “so when are you in SA again”? I have done my best to implore them to not say when are you coming “home”. Or even when are you BACK. Those words imply it will suck me back into its clutches, and SA honestly is no longer home. It’s a beautiful and complex place that for many decades was my home, where I still work and see ENP and my friends. I have awesome clients there and … it is simply no longer my home! I am being called north again, and have been for the past 4 years, ever since I first traveled to the USA. So, I typically say I am simply where I am right now and thank God for the likes of Skype, Whatsapp and Zoom.

At the start of this process of packing up my home in JHB, I always knew I would be location free for a year at least; then after a year had flown by I had no desire for it to be any different; my travel trajectory was as delicious and busy for the year ahead, so I just kept at it. Living with 90% of my belongings with me, three boxes in storage and traveling to places MOSTLY in summer or the shoulder spring and autumn to obliterate the need for huge bulky clothes.

But towards the end of last year, even though I am in a beautiful, committed relationship to a man who just adores and trusts me to live my life with no betrayal to us, and vice versa, I found myself feeling somewhat lonely (whilst meeting new people everyday), restless (whilst constantly moving), bored (even though I see and experience more in day that some do in a year) and just a tad unsettled (yet this was my very own choosing wasn’t it?)

The irony of this insight is never lost on me.

Enter a pretend cat and bit pet rock!

It is not about needing to be in ONE PLACE forever; I am not that type. I have gypsy energy in my very DNA, and love traveling just so much. But after not having anywhere other than my heart and body to call “home” for 2.5 years, I was starting to inch towards the idea of a little space I could “claim” as my own. ENP is unraveling his life in SA too, and these global swallows need a new nest/s.

I remember the day I was housesitting the most GLORIOUS home right on the San Francisco bay, in Pointe Richmond and having this feeling of being so blessed by the beautiful home I find myself in whilst I travel, but I suddenly had this overwhelming longing to have a space for me. A space where I might be able to leave a costume and a pen, maybe even my art. A space I could imprint myself on. It was a little bit of a surprise. It also took the natural transition of my 50th Birthday in April this year to shift me into this next phase. I needed to close out some big commitments before I had the space for this phase.

So the logical heartwarming place for my first little space in the northern hemisphere was Greece. I am even toying with the idea of buying a home, but am rather just putting my feelers out this year. Getting to understand the lay of the land. What is it like to have another little base and how does that impact my life and me again? And others around me? And so, in the gorgeous, remote and truly authentic Greek village called Skala Eressos that I have been visiting for the past 3 years (with writers on our retreats), a space where I have built a community and with one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Greece, I found myself negotiating a contract for a light airy apartment for a year. A year!

 

Confession #1: It IS totally glorious to say I have a place I can call home EVEN though I will also “rent” it out to visitors, friends and colleagues. I have the coolest pet rock (see below) – my nan used to paint rocks so this is highly divine for me – but yikes, it’s a biggun, and will never fit into a case, so I guess I am destined to stay a while. See pic of beautiful rock complete with my name! It all came about when I asked my landlady if she had any door stoppers, a huge grin erupted on her face and she said she had a rock half painted, and she would complete it for me. All my favourite colours, the coolest of flamingos and my names emblazoned across it, lest I forget where I am.

 

Confession #2: Having a kitty on my bed again makes me deeply joyful. When my beautiful landlady said yes I could claim her little apartment as mine, she said I was an angel for her, but the truth is she is an angel for me. Letting me love her kitty, bringing me oregano bouquets, painting me my very own pet rock as a doorstop so I don’t wake the whole village when I sneak out to write my morning pages on the verandah, lending me a bike, fixing stuff I ask to be fixed and just being delightful – along with FANTASTIC English.

 

Confession #3: I am startlingly amused by just how insanely fast I wanted to buy “STUFF” Not a lot of stuff, for sure, but it is still amusing. And I want my Nan’s hand-made patchwork quilt here on my bed – NEXT TRIP! Unless you are coming to visit and will bring it with? And how Mum gifted me the most exquisite handmade, olive wood TAVLI – Backgammon set! Oh, the joys of a little place for STUFF!

 

Confession #4: I am plotting my return here – my coming BACK HOME. I have already started inviting friends here, seeing as I never pulled it off for my 50th  earlier this year– 51 seems just as fabulous a time to gather on an island! Perhaps I can also entice my Mum to visit a second time with the pretend promise to eat more meals at home to stretch the budget.

 

Confession #5: I fell off my bike and swore like a trooper – because my sundress was hitched around my thighs and I got stuck as I hurled myself towards the pavement. It was a “boy” bike with a big crossbar and so as my huge, white sun hat flew off my head when going down the hill, I panicked and tried to slam on breaks to run after my hat before it picked up pace across the fields, never to be seen again. I just couldn’t extrapolate my legs and dress in time and got caught up in a heap. Tears welled, words flowed and I cannot tell you the relief after I had embarrassing walked my bike home with a bleeding toe and bruised ego, grease filled legs and finally turned the corner and saw “My home”.

 

Confession #6: Kitty food is now on my shopping list again. And I have a pet brush. Everyone laughed at me when I said I wanted one, but I found it in the Euro shop, and this kitty just LOVES being fussed over! Every now and then it feels like a betrayal to my beloved Stripey, but Nikos is my “pretend cat”. He is not really mine; I know that – just that we get to love each other furiously when I am here. When I told Ms. S that I was letting Nikos, the #gingersnap cat sleep on my bed, she nearly fell off her own feet. You are crazy Kate Emmerson. And yes I am, but when I walked home last night after devouring the most delicious “orange pie” oozing with syrup and a creamy cappuccino to wash it down, my heart did a little skip when I saw Nikos waiting for me at the end of the road – a bit out of his usual comfort zone. My Greek is shocking, so I speak to him in English, (other than a strong reprimand of OCHE when he wants to get agro) and we ambled off down the road side-by–side, ready for a little cuddle.

 

Confession #7: Yes. I miss you, ENP. Every day! But you are in Russia at the world cup with all your Argentinian lads, doing what you love to do, and that makes me happy! Enough said we will entwine again in a few weeks when in the same country again.

 

Confession #8: I deeply love that my office of choice, Gialos on the platea,  has exceptionally kind owners, friendly kitties and the most heavenly view on the planet! Along with great coffee, conversation and a way to observe this little village and all its folk – from Drug dealer, to prostitute to writers, foreigners who return year after year after and the  locals getting ready for thier work day. A great place for writers to simply sit and observe…

With love from me, to you, from Skala Eressos and my new “home” –  for now x

(And yes, I will be IN South Africa for August and September for work 🙂 )

 

May 14
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WHAT IS YOUR INNER YEARNING WHISPERING – or yelling?

By Food for thought, Insights to help you #quickshift, Transformational Journeys

Hello, Hola and Kalimera

If you have somehow found yourself reading this post then I have a challenge for you! Please, could you stop right now, and just breathe a little slower – yes, right now – and tap into your heart space, and quietly, slowly, mindfully do that for three breaths – right now. Before you read further….THREE LONG, SLOW, DEEP, HEARTFELT BREATHS!

Does that feel a little different now? A little more expansive perhaps – more possibility, extra length? So many things when we just STOP and listen huh?

Were you able to notice where there was tension sitting in your body, holding you hostage? Perhaps stopping you from inhaling full life force at this moment? If you are honest for a second, how many times a day do you find yourself riddled with some version of tension, anxiety or guilt? The kind that tickles your solar plexus and knots up your entire throat – maybe constricts your breathing or leaves you feeling huddled over and constricted in yoru creativity?

I personally find that, just like you, I have to constantly manage my energy, my attention, my stress and my emotions. I often feel a bit like a rollercoaster let loose on life, drinking in the wonderful highs and falling headlong into the lows that can bite hard. I just got off the phone with a friend / client who has been summoned to the deathbed of another dear friend- and again it hits me hard in the chest – tomorrow is not promised to any of us, is it? So are YOU listening to the yearnings in your heart?

I am currently here on one of my favourite islands in the Aegean, Lesvos, in my happy place…. and yet STILL I can go to the place of inner stress, what if’s, is IT enough, what about my next book, will I manage to sell off a piece of my business etc etc. I can drop into and go deep into the hole of stress and anxiety  a few times an hour if I am not being vigilant and mindful. 100% awake all the time.  Do you recognize that in your own life perhaps? When a knot engages in your tummy and if you are resting you feel you ‘should’ be working, if you are working you feel you ‘should’ be doing yoga or the kid’s homework.  If doing housework thinking you ‘should’ be making sales calls or buying sexy underwear to please you know who and so on and so on …yes I do that often too! AAAAARGH  it’s never-ending. Then I sometimes also manage to get to the place of beautiful quiet inner calm, energy and deep peace that can erupt into belly laughter at any minute – you know what I mean right? Oh that it lasts just a moment longer please, please, please.

POP! Another thought takes over and it’s so annoying as it’s the opposite of what I teach dammit! Does that happen to you? Mostly I get these up and downs when I feel like I am not listening to an inner yearning ….  you know that one when your lower belly wakes you up at 3 am under the pretence of “I have no idea what this anxiety is” feeling – but honestly knowing all too well what you are really yearning for? What your soul aches for, desires and spiritually “lusts” after?

My question for you today is a simple one – what are YOU yearning for in your life? Right there- yup, that answer that already fizzled up in your throat before the nanosecond you pushed it away in shame, or non-deserving or ‘isn’t the right time” kicked into gear as your analytical response. It might be a quiet inner nudge you can ignore for now or it could be a disruptive loud nag that is getting more and more insistent recently. If you were to STOP and try to listen to it, what does it BEG you to do? What path does it beckon you along? What direction does it point to next?

We know what we yearn for as it flows through our very veins, but we just cannot believe it, or dare to listen to its’ call – well not this month, or this year for heaven’s sake Kate! Perhaps your honest yearning is to shift into a new job, to get married, to gift yourself financial freedom or to visit that far off foreign country you dream about? To start a business, attend a mastermind, have a child or run a special race you have your eye on? What are you honestly yearning for right now? I dare you to answer. I am yearning for a newer, fresher, lighter version of me and what I offer, more time off alongside even deeper work. Retreats that are all about honesty and vulnerability, sharing and showing up. Masterminds that change lives. Our lives! VIP one on ones in exotic locations for conversations that matter and set us on the right path. I yearn for less “clutter”, less busy-ness, less playing small. Bigger stakes, less stress.

Is it perhaps your time to also STOP being so darn busy or to start being more deliberate each day?

Is it something, a somewhere, a someone or a combination of all?

My request to you is that you find the time to give yourself over to what really matters to you. Whether it’s gardening, pottery, knitting or swimming – then you need to find a way to carve out time as soon as possible to IMMERSE in this calling.

Tomorrow is not promised to any of us…what is inside your soul that yearns to be released this year?

Is it painting something colourful and wild to express your feelings or, to flip houses or play bitcoin, decorate a home or like me and the way my life unfolded, do you perhaps yearn to write a book? Ah, a book! What potentially simultaneous bliss and torture. The joy of penning ideas and feelings, stories and conversations into black and white, then the topsy-turvy pursuit of a publisher or the decision to go it alone….the ups and down at every turn. But then, one day, a single reader may tell you how much your book changed their life forever, and you may smile deep within at the acknowledgement.

Writing a book changed my life first and foremost and I know subsequently it has changed thousands upon thousands of reader’s lives – and THAT gives me a real deep sense of fullfilment. To know that something I wrote had life beyond the confines of my body and brain. I breathed life into a simple idea that changed my life irrevocably. So many of the writers that join us on our retreats are wanting to immerse in their love of writing or even to explore if they do love it  – perhaps to record a slice of their life, or tell a tale for the legacy of their family, to make sense of a period of time they experienced, to share some learnings, to expand their brand or to give life to some characters that talk to them in dead of night, desperate to become a novel in the making.

But it all starts with a little yearning, then a gentle nudge, then a harder tug that simply won’t let go.

I wrote my first book because I felt it was something important for me to do for my business, my legacy and my brand.  A way to put down all my passionate ideas about clearing your life of all forms of clutter, and a way to reach more people. It was also a way to validate my work by getting published by Metz Press. I didn’t know it even mattered until the moment I knew it and acknowledged the yearning; but once I acknowledged it,then it became non-negotiable. I had been writing since I was 13 after all, but only finally published my first book when I was 45 years old.

Is your book on your radar as your yearning?

Now having just turned 50, I have published three books, with a 4th almost complete and a 5th that’s been brewing deep inside for the past 2 years. But what about you –  if YOU are being called to simply write your story to make sense of something, or to share a passion, or to see if you have got what it takes to be published – then you have to discern if now is the time? And do you want help to accomplish that feat?

It is said that 87% of people want to write a book, and yet only 1% actually do. Whether those figures are 100% accurate or not, you know in your heart if you have been putting off this calling.

We have international writers coming to join us for a special book retreat on Lesvos – and we have just 3 spaces left. Does one have your name on it? Why not gift yourself 8 glorious nights to IMMERSE in your book?

If you want to follow your dream and fulfill the yearning to write YOUR book, be it memoir, non-fiction or novel, then we have three places left for the retreat on Lesvos, 24th june – 2nd July, which is PLENTY of time to get your life sorted, organise a visa if required and hop on over to paradise – I should have calmed myself down to a super slow mellow pace by then, ready to give you the very best of me, all of me, the highs and the lows, the honest and the vulnerable.  And my partner, Sarah Bullen will be right alongside you to share her insights, tools and techniques to write your very best book. We make quite a unique team-  listen to what others have to say on the link below! This village, this deep blue sea, this fresh healthy food, the quality of life and the souls of this community demand you to show up and be real, and to answer the yearning deep within. We will help you write your book this summer…

Apply for our writing retreat on Lesvos – Skala Eresos 

With a love for all things deep within you wanting to come out to play – follow the tug of your heart wherever it may take you!

Kate

#LIVELIGHTLIVELARGE

 

Aug 08
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Patience OR procrastination huh?

By Coaching Tips 'n Tools, Transformational Journeys, Transformational thoughts

Every now and then, it is true – that sitting patiently, silently, in a centered and non -pressurized way, simply biding your time is absolutely necessary! A bit like the full moon and the special Eclipse last night.  It can only happen at the EXACT moment it is ripe to happen. Not one second before. You can read more about what this eclipse means for you from an awesome colleague, Cassandra- click here.

And at other times, you are merely conning yourself -yes, YOU ARE CONNING YOURSELF and playing small. And what is called for is a little nudge or even a tougher kickup the b*tt  to get back into action as opposed to wallowing around pretending to be patient. All that matters is that you do the right one at the right time, and don’t con yourself you are being “patient” when actually you are faffing around. “procrastinating”.

Make sense?

There is a HUGE difference between these two scenarios. I think that all too often we think we are being patient with regards to an outcome we want, or a goal we are working towards, when all we are really doing is wasting time and space by not doing anything. We can lull ourselves into the sense of false security that the time is not right, when in actual fact we are conning ourselves and letting ourselves easily off the hook.

We can get VERY good at doing that.

There is wisdom in knowing the difference between the two. Let me keep it simple as to how I see the difference…and see if you recognize where you are right now with regards to some aspect of your life.

 

How do you recognize if you are being patient?

You have a sense of order

You trust that things are right for you

It feels good on the inside

There is a sense of calm

You feel empowered that all is as it should be

You are positive about what is coming

You have taken all possible action within your power for this goal / outcome

You are excited and optimistic

You can sense the divine timing around it all

 

How do you recognize if you are just “messing about wasting time” procrastinating?

You are lethargic and tired

Your head is not focussed on your goal

You have no sense of direction….just ambling around

You have not taken all actions within your control

You expect others to be doing things

You are irritable the goal is not happening

You are blaming people or circumstances about why the goal is not being reached

You are doing things that have no real value; TV, shopping, sleeping unnecessarily

You are bored and apathetic

So, when you think about something that you say you really want and are not getting, just assess where you are at HONESTLY and if you need to actually start taking different action and get your b*tt into gear. If things are just as they should be for right now and everything is in perfect harmony then get on and enjoy the time you have on your hands by doing something else you really enjoy?

You cannot speed something up that is not ready…..so don’t even try.

HERE’S WHAT TO DO NOW IF YOU KNOW YOU ARE FAFFING ABOUT…

Mastermind groups have been THE game-changer for me over the past 7 years. If you are in JHB on the 19th  August, or Cape Town on the 27th August, why not join me for my powerful once off mastermind days?

Get the low down here: off the cuff MASTERMIND DAY snippets

LEAP ‘n LEVERAGE YOUR LIFE: ONCE-OFF MASTERMIND DAY
I will also be hosting ONCE off mastermind days – show up full tilt, with no further obligation other than fulfilling your commitments from the day. You will get input, support, be challenged and have access to 14 other brains, hearts and souls for 6 hours, FACE TO FACE. I know you will get HUGE take-home value from the day and hey, you might even be begging to join my next mastermind group. It’s as addictive as apparently, tattoos are (which is a complete assumption seeing as I don’t have any  – in case you were ever wondering)

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW

Jun 21
Love0

Love, life and little lice on Lesvos

By Coaching Tips 'n Tools, Transformational Journeys

Of all the things one expects to see in Greece after the sparkling sea and white washed buildings with royal blue shutters, I think that ranked next highest is the plethora of kitty cats you just know in your heart that you will stumbled upon, fall over, give fright too, gaze upon and most definitely capture on your camera as they go about their lazy days. Maybe some sheep, goats, fish and seagulls too, but ALWAYS cats, always lurking close by food, wine, laughter and sunshine. You cannot get away from it. If you don’t like cats, don’t come to Greece – simple. Or bring your allergy pills with your dose of compassion.

 

From a tender age, all of double-figured ten in fact; I was the proud “slave” to a very special lilac point Siamese. Although a few years prior, Dixie had crept into our family by eating leaves outside the back kitchen door to capture my Nan’s attention – but now, this oriental beauty was truly mine. Or I was his to be honest. A birthday present I had begged for, longed for and dreamt about. The name Azure Dee had been tossed into the summer breeze of possible names by my Nan – a painter and artist at heart. She never said something was blue – it was cornflower blue, periwinkle blue, or Azure – just like the Aegean Sea where I am right now. Azure Dee sounded exotic and stage like and I loved it. You had to say it just right too: Aaaayzouer Dee, with a whimsical lilt to your voice.

 

So cats have been capturing my big kitty heart for a few decades now. Most cats in Greek are street cats – a mixture of wise, a tad shaggy and shabby, and full of love, life and the odd little lice (maybe fleas). On this idyllic island of Lesvos, and more particularly in Skala Eresos (where we host our writing retreats and catch a bronze tan) there are some very special cat and dog carers in the community and vets who donate of their time to spay, neuter and care for them. What I discovered on this, my second visit is that most cats are not as “streetish” as I thought, and they seem to adopt specific restaurants as their home, their hangout, and their spot to be. They might not all have names, but they have fresh fish in their tummy.

 

I even met three German-Greek cats – I kid you not they are bilingual ones at Gabi’s and Iannis restaurant. I will venture into spelling them as Langhaaken, Bloemenfloeken and ….mmm the third name escapes me so I better pay them a visit. Then I discovered second year around, that one of my favourites, a black cat, sparkling green eyes, ONE white whisker and a penchant for sleeping on my backpack, I found was actually loved at the delightful Gorgona. When asking “Omar Sharif” their names, he just smiled his naughty smile and said, “names, ag, ask me if I love them. YES. Ask me if I feed them. YES. Even in winter I come down from the village to feed them”. So green eyes doesn’t need a name perhaps. Then my favourite cat I was really missing, as after full a week here I had still not seen it yet, thinking perhaps the winter has claimed his life– only to get a big squeaky hello when daring to venture into Blue Sardine to get my fix of …well you know, sardines. I feel happy to NOT be a vegetarian anymore. Perhaps one day my body will demand it of me again, as it has twice in my life before, but for now, I happily devour freshly caught fish, sustaining the local fishermen and restaurants and adding some fat to those thin bellies of kitties in Lesvos.

 

Do you stop often and long enough to watch?
Watch the world, absorb your surroundings, reflect and see life through the eyes of others, or chat to mewing kitty cats? Or are you too busy running around, scrambling after your life and chasing your goals, or more aptly chasing your tail? What if you were to stop doing what you have always done, and find a new way? For that you need to be brave, willing and supported as you dare to exponentially shift your life. In 2016 I came to the Greek island for one month, and declared 2 months for 2017. And here I am, living that commitment and bringing a group of writers here with me. We have 14 confirmed to join us. Next year I will be running other retreats for healing and weaving your purposeful life too!

 

HOW CAN I BE OF SERVICE TO YOU RIGHT NOW?

As a professional coach, mastermind facilitator, speaker and author I am hell-bent on following my passion and always upping the ante. Daring to be bigger and bolder by letting go of that which no longer serves and being willing to stretch my self-imposed boundaries.

One of the ways I have personally exponentially shifted my life is through the concept of MASTERMINDS. I see they are becoming the “in” thing this year, and I am happy to say I am ahead of the pack. I started facilitating and participating in Mastermind groups way back in 2010, so have many successful groups under my belt, which means people have shifted their lives!

I am offering two immediate options to tap into my support and energy to exponentially SHIFT YOUR LIFE

#1: MASTERMIND
We are starting a new group (for entrepreneurs /decision makers in your business) for you folk who are already doing really well and feel in charge of your life in most ways and who are ready to RAMP IT UP exponentially and create and reach some big targets and life style changes by the end of the year. This first group has a once off special price of 5 months charged at just 3 months. This will not be on offer again and is my way of enticing you into VIRTUAL mastermind- as we meet from anywhere in the world using video conferencing facilities. 80% of my work is now online!

Drop me an email for the application – kate@kate-emmerson.com

 

#2: LEAP ‘n LEVERAGE YOUR LIFE: ONCE-OFF MASTERMIND DAY
I will also be hosting ONCE off mastermind days – show up full tilt, with no further obligation other than fulfilling your commitments from the day. You will get input, support, be challenged and have access to 15 other brains, hearts and souls for 6 hours, FACE TO FACE in JHB on the 5th August. (Cape Town will be by demand). I know you will get HUGE take-home value from the day and hey, you might even be begging to join my next mastermind group. It’s as addictive as apparently, tattoos are (which is a complete assumption seeing as I don’t have any  – in case you were ever wondering)

Book NOW for JHB -5th August
10 am – 4 pm
Lunch Included
Venue: The “parks” area near Hyde Park
Max 16 people – with smaller breakaway groups!

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW

 

 

Jan 19
Love0

THE SASSY SYNCHRONISTIC STUFF OF SIMPLY SHOWING UP

By Insights to help you #quickshift, Transformational Journeys, Transformational thoughts

THE SASSY SYNCHRONISTIC STUFF OF SIMPLY SHOWING UP
#Minimalist meanderings

Recently in the quaint country of Romania for some work, I experienced some (well SEVERAL) sassy synchronistic stuff unfold as I allowed the special energy of this beautiful city take over for a while. I was staying in a flash 5 star hotel as a guest of my host in the country (Sassy #1 – having been delightfully upgraded from an already wonderful 4 star hotel as upon checking in they were renovating that back part of the hotel and a band had extended their stay, so they had no room at that Inn and so they “moved me” to the ooh la la Radisson on the front) Ooh I love that I believe in unexpected delights!

Sassy #2 – there were strelitzias basking on the new concierge’s desk at check in. Hello South Africa. The Radisson was also directly opposite the main concert hall near the old walled city, and 2 days later I discovered there was a special concert on THAT evening. How?

I had been gifted a three-hour private walking and driving tour of the city earlier by my hosts, and we happened to go inside the concert hall to view it’s historical magnificence when we stumbled across some deeply inspirational choral practice whilst looking up at the domed ceilings with awe. Sassy #3 – My amazing tour guide mentioned there was a very special concert on that evening – nudge nudge wink wink.

Sassy #4 – we then landed up in front of the “palace” that was built under Communist rule, now the seat of government. My host proclaimed, that although being Romanian she had never yet been inside or had the tour, and that sadly you need to submit your passport at least 24 hours before in order to get inside. We were marveling at it from the parking lot. Then she gets a twinkle in her eye and says- shall we try and get in? She made a phone call to a friend who works inside, and even though he WASN’T working that particular day he said – go to the entrance and they will allow you to visit today! My host and guide both decided I was their lucky charm, making everything so easy and effortless.

I started feeling a bit lousy in the afternoon after returning from the tour, and had taken myself off to bed for an afternoon nap, contemplating the concert that night. 35 minutes before the start of the concert, I knew I would regret not trying to get a ticket, so I dragged myself out of bed again, splashed my face and added a dash of lipstick, walked across to the “late sales” booth at the side, and stood in a long queue.

Mmmm bed seemed very appealing again. Waiting, slowly.

I saw a very well dressed elderly gentleman standing near the queue for the 15 minutes I was there and kept wondering what he was doing? He wasn’t talking to anyone, but kept trying to motion to them. I kinda felt sorry for him. As I got to the front of the kiosk, they told me they only accepted CASH> >>>aaaargh I only had my card.
Cash machine here? No!
Tickets were 75 leu and I had only 40 leu cash on me. Damn. Maybe the other Hotel across the road could convert my foreign money, as I knew my own hotel didn’t do that. In Romania what is weird is that all the hotels only work in Euro’s, as it’s now part of the EU, yet all the local shops and establishment still use Romanian Leu, the original, local currency. It’s a tad confusing.

That Hotel also had no local money for me and the banks had closed ten minutes ago.

Eventually after 10 minutes – with the show now starting in ten minutes, I found a cash machine, realizing it would dispense in local currency. DUH! Now, a little weird travel lesson from South Africa. We are considered a slightly “dodgy” country, you know because we look and sound just like Nigeria where most of the money laundering in the world happens. Every time I leave SA I spend about an hour on the phone calling my two banks and getting all my business and credit cards cleared for the countries of my travel, otherwise any foreign transactions might be deemed fraudulent transactions. And even after doing that time-consuming clearance, they can still decline transactions when I’m overseas. So I have multiple cards with multiple options so as not to get caught out.

It took me three cards to be able to draw cash from THIS Romanian machine!

Right – dash back, sweating and huffing to the queue, now with less than 5 minutes till show time. Old man still there. Sassy #5 – He shows me a ticket and says “you for one?” He seems to “imply” he has a ticket (in very broken English and of course I am 200% fluent in Romanian) so I go to the kiosk lady and get her to verify the ticket is indeed valid as there was no date on it (that’s how their special season tickets work apparently) and he says he wants only 60 leu for it. B for bargain, as the tickets were  originally 75 leu.

“COME” he urges, “we late”.

As we are walking and running up the stairs he manages to convey to me that his wife is home and ill and this is her season ticket – pretty good communication hey? We walk into this uppermost concert room and I gasp. OMG – vast, bold, exquisite and ornate. Everyone dressed to the nines and I am transported to ancient Eastern European grandeur.

Sassy #6 – He proceeds to walk to the FRONT ROW. I am front and centre and can hear the musicians breathe as they are warming up. In and out, deep and crisp and even. And the faint squeak the violin string makes before the haunting sound is emitted across the air. I can reach out and touch the conductor as he sashays to the front and lifts his baton!

I can see him twitch and sweat beads form on his brow.

Front row tickets for simply BEING in a city on a night and being willing to show up. I am in awe of the magic of life.

Too often we try and PRE control and PRE book. I believe there is a place for that, but I do love the magic of being in the moment and letting life unfold! FRONT ROW SEATS UNFOLDS! Sassy #7 -The next morning as I head outside to my taxi back to the airport to leave for Greece to run a writing retreat, I see the music conductor sitting in the hotel lobby. Already half way through the revolving door, I make a split second decision to do the full 360 degree circle and get out where I started. I walked up to him, apologized for interrupting his Sunday morning with his female companion, shook his hand and said how marvelous it was that I had enjoyed the privilege of being in the front row the night before. “I remember you, madam, thank you” he said, smiling and eyes twinkling.

And that is how I love to travel.

Do you need to start letting sassy magic unfold in YOUR life? Perhaps I can share some of my methods with you over the next few months?

Last week, I had 90 minutes to “kill” before meeting a dear friend for a mutually soulful chat and had gone early to make sure I was in the right place. So literally killing time, wondering where to go to I was just meandering along in my Russian hat. This “random” guy, bit older than me, Kevin to be precise, stop and says, “I know this is weird but I have (Sassy #8) “time to kill” before making my way to my theatre show tonight with friends and may I buy you a cup of coffee. You look really interesting”. I shrieked with laughter, looked a little shocked and amused at the same time and promptly tuned into my spirit and said yes. I KNOW some of you are reading this with many many “WTF is wrong with you Kate!!!” going round in your head.

As we sat and chatted and told each other a bit about ourselves, (and please let me re-iterate with zero weirdness or innuendos or sexual undertones whatsoever) I was telling him about my new book being released this year helping clients to get really clear on the complex emotional issues of detaching emotionally from a home before putting in on the market to sell, and to support people to sell, pack and move with ease. He just looks at me and smiles – he is about to sell his house and it’s a potentially complicated story with the house and…..Sassy #9 he ALSO works for a well-known estate agent in his town. Now – here’s the rub – I am I the process of looking for potential “brand partners” in the whole property industry, alongside “guinea pigs” to keep working with the material to give me feedback on how it all works for them. Social proof if you like. So this sassy just tickled me pink.

And then there was today catching a bus on a sad, dreary day from Rugby – saying goodbye to my mum on the side of the road just as the light was just coming u, I start chatting the the guy waiting for the bus with me, also headed to Heathrow Airport. Sitting across the aisle, we simply chat about where we are headed and why, and spend the next two hours chatting about work, life, beauty therapy, making brave bold choices in life and business and following our dreams. He landed up Sassy #10 – lugging my suitcase between the buses whilst we waited for an hour and he bought me a mug of tea and became my companion for a while on the road. We even landed up looking at his new brand logos for his business.

Yep, I speak to strangers and I let my trust in people, the world and what we are all doing here seep into my soul at every turn. It’s all to easy to shut off, shut down and shut up. How is that working for YOU?

 

Call me crazy, call me naïve, call me mad. Or worse. I call it “THE SASSY SYNCHRONISTIC STUFF OF SIMPLY SHOWING UP”. And I mean showing up with trust, openness, love, compassion and your wits about you at every turn. Let life and people surprise the hell out of you, shock you and win you over. Yes, it’s a bit of a dare!

 

WANT TO FIND YOUR OWN VERSION OF SASSY?

I am so passionate about this concept of LIVING IN THE MOMENT and being in love with your real self (as in deeply proud of who you are and how you live your life) and for me it all starts with HONESTY.

The starting point is simply to TAKE STOCK in all 8 areas of life, so that you get clear on WHERE YOU are and what is and isn’t working for you.

I have created an entire video series – FREE of charge to support you to get started. Click here to  QUICK SHIFT 1 THING using the 4  G-SPOTS of TRANSFORMATION
If I can help you do that as smartly as possible, then you will have some starting points to let yourself meander and BE. And that is good for ALL of us. My mission is to help you find your own SASSY and SHIFT!

When you sign up, you will need to confirm your e-mail address, and get stuck into the first video with pen and paper. Then I will send you 2 more videos.

These 3 live videos will cover the 4 G spots of Transformation – Grips, Gap, Grow and Guts.

TAKING STOCK in all 8 areas will help you figure in which 1 area YOU need to shift immediately.

Then further down the line you will be invited to “The Cappuccino Challenge” -another surefire way to stay HONEST with YOURSELF. Courageous acts of self-love every day for 30 days. Loved by THOUSANDS of CLIENTS that have transformed their lives permanently in just 20 minutes a day  –  Just so you know what’s in store for you as you join my “tribe” ok?

LET’S GET YOU STARTED RIGHT AWAY

With lightness,

Jan 01
Love1

Just because you can’t see it #Lessons from London

By Transformational Journeys

Just because you can’t see it over there…does it honestly mean it doesn’t really exist?

Or perhaps it could signify that simply, you cannot see it?

What if someone else annoyingly can?

What if someone perhaps a little closer to it can?

Or with a different, slightly skewed perspective on life?

A slightly different angle?

Or with different viewing equipment?

 

We often make something absolute, simply because we cannot see it for ourselves. How arrogant of us darn it!

And what if it’s simply a little mystical mist in the air begging you to walk closer to see what might be revealed as you inch closer? I beg you to stop expecting everything to be so bloomin’ obvious. Learn to follow your heart, your nose, your instinct, a smidgen of trust and a total delight in being. Simply insatiably and incurably curious.

Yes, insatiably, incurably curious.

I have a favourite, delicious past time that has been with me my whole life. Well since I was 8 little years old and flew on a plane on my own, unaccompanied. Yep, I’m an intrepid, gypsey-like traveller. Whilst I often travel with a partner, friends or am meeting clients in foreign countries for work, I also travel a lot on my own and REVEL in days I can spend meandering and musing on my own. Put me in a city, town or the middle of nowhere and I am simply happy to explore.

Meander slowly even if it looks like I’m walking fast.

I usually wake up, do some yoga at home (well let’s not pretend THAT happens every day, but mostly I do, to stretch the ol’ bones) then I make it a priority to find freshly brewed coffee…and then I’m off.

Where to?

If I have just two days in a city, most likely I will do the hop-on-hop-off tour bus, IF that exists there, to get a big picture perspective. BUT, I also find it a little stressful in terms of then trying to fit in EVERYTHING on that darn bus route and animated map glaring at me. Ugh. What I wholeheartedly love more is just to BE in a place. No agenda, definitely with no prescriptive-whilst-attempting-to-be-useful guidebook, and just a backpack filled with some weather appropriate protective gear (either sunscreen in summer or a brollie in winter) and GO.

Yep just go.

I let my heart dictate left or right, stop or go. I find true MAGIC that way. Being in the moment, letting the city talk and whisper it’s longings into my heart. Being present and free, awake and alert. Incurably curious about where a road may lead. Or not.

I had a two-week kitty and houseit in the heart of London recently, and had a lot of time to myself, but this day was special –  just meandering and mooching around on a cold day with gentle fog lurking everywhere. Mystical and magical, hiding things from view. I walked across a bridge for the very first time and in my heart I knew the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben were meant to be there, right in front of me. I took a picture. Really? Just some grey, swirly mist today!

What if I believe and keep going?

Sometimes we have to know the end picture, and just take ONE step in the direction of our destination. I really wanted a picture of Big Ben from the opposite side of Westminster Bridge, to send to my partner. Why? When we decorated his home in South Africa together after he had revamped it, I sourced him three special photographs to buy that were of three amazing bridges across the world, all in warm Sepia tones. Golden Gate, Brooklyn, and Westminster. At the time we were already booked to visit San Francisco, and naturally Golden Gate was one of the bridges we drove across twice – admiring the “international orange” colour of this renowned landmark. We then landed up bicycling across the Brooklyn New York one together – creating for me one of my all-time favourite NY memories. And so the London one is left for us. Whilst we have both seen it on our own, we have never seen or walked across it TOGETHER. I wanted to send him a pic to say …thinking of you darling and I cannot wait to come to this city together. But the bloody bridge was NOT there. Arrrrrgh

Walk

Walk

Walk

Huff

Puff

OOh look, a little cafe and some … mmm….yes they are birds I think

Trust

Walk

Huff

Puff and try to stay warm

Mmmm, what’s that?

It was getting cold, colder, coldest on this foggy and windy day, I had to stop and put a fourth layer on to stay warm – but as I took each step, I got one step closer and it all got a LITTLE clearer. Never crystal clear, but I eventually got to the spot to take my pic. BIG GRIN!

 

So you have stuck my story out to this point. So what??

Sometimes, you know something is there even when you can’t see it.

Trust your heart, your spirit and your 6th sense.

You don’t need maps, or guides.

Just walk, one foot in front of the other and let the path unfold in front of you.

So often we want to know it all before we set out. How boring.

Business is like that too.

You cannot know all the bits, all the answers, all the steps.

You know where you are and you know the next step.

That’s all you need, really.

 

Have fun walking the misty, foggy streets of your life as you take steps to make magic this year.

 

NEED SOME MORE HELP TO GET STARTED WITH THIS STUFF?

YOU CAN INSTANTLY IMPROVE YOUR LEVEL OF SELF-LOVE

Yup, RIGHT NOW!

I am so passionate about this concept of LIVING IN THE MOMENT and being in love with your real self (as in deeply proud of who you are and how you live your life) and for me it all starts with being HONEST.

The starting points is simply to TAKE STOCK in all 8 areas of life, so that you get clear on WHERE YOU are and what is and isn’t working for you.

I have created an entire video series – FREE of charge to support you to get started. Click here to  QUICK SHIFT 1 THING using the 4  G-SPOTS of TRANSFORMATION
If I can help you do that as smartly as possible, then you will have some starting points to let yourself meander and BE. And that is good for ALL of us. My mission is to help you SHIFT!

When you sign up, you will need to confirm your e-mail address, and get stuck into the first video with pen and paper. Then I will send you 2 more videos.

These 3 live videos will cover the 4 G spots of Transformation – Grips, Gap, Grow and Guts.

TAKING STOCK in all 8 areas will help you figure in which 1 area YOU need to shift immediately.

Then further down the line you will be invited to my other fabulous programme called The Cappuccino Challenge. Another surefire way to stay HONEST with YOURSELF. Courageous acts of self-love every day for 30 days. Loved by THOUSANDS of CLIENTS that have transformed their lives permanently in just 20 minutes a day  –  Just so you know what’s in store for you as you join my “tribe” ok?

LET’S GET YOU STARTED RIGHT AWAY

With lightness,

 

 

Dec 12
Love0

CLOSE OUT STRONG! Quit your flapping and ride your thermals…

By Coaching Tips 'n Tools, Insights to help you #quickshift, Transformational Journeys


“Quit your flapping and ride your thermals.”
D. Jones

Are you are falling prey to this time of year, the ever present negative energy and perhaps even “counting sleeps and sheeps” – not in an excited, overjoyed, childlike waiting for Santa and presents kind of way – but the kind counting diminishing sleeps till you FINALLY take your last commute to the office, or simply say aaaargh THANK GOODNESS this awful year is finally over. I can kick it to touch, desperately hoping never to have a repeat performance?Perhaps your attention is wrapped up in all the disgusts and none of the delights?  Too many people are getting pulled down by others around them, or, (maybe you are the one doing it) buying into the group energy  ….moan moan moan…. I’m tired, too busy, overwhelmed bla bla bladi bla.

What a true pity that is! Really!

But what if you actually want to run at 100 Km, and know it’s possible but you are being stopped by everyone else saying you can only run at 40 km an hour. Because, you know, it’s that time of year and everyone is winding down. Seriously? This is your life. EACH DAY MATTERS! Each thermal you can ride maters. Each kilometre you can run, matters. YOU MATTER!

cheeta-40

 

Sure, I get that every year has it’s ups and down, I’m IN that pot with you every year. Some years kick you about more than others, some years are filled with delight and I have learned it’s about being OK with that, in fact embracing it! I honestly believe each year has an element of all facets, from drab to fab scattered through the year. Life is about growth, challenge, expanding and learning. It’s not about comfort zones and staying small is it?
Whilst that feels wooly, warm and cozy, it’s not who we are intrinsically. Yet we resist so vehemently when our life wants us to expand. Duh!

And to go one step further – 2016 is a 9 year. Meaning it’s the end of a massive cycle of completion. GOT IT? If you add the numbers together 2016 =9. Therefore 2017 will be a 1 – fresh start, new beginnings. Think about it at it’s most simple level to just greet the concept with a hello.
A 9 ends the current numerical cycle we are in. Whilst there are also 7 -year cycles that operate at another level, there is a very predominant “decade” cycle, which is why we are so obsessed with celebrating the 20/30/40/50/60 etc birthdays.  So whilst the year is completing at one level as we do every year, even deeper than that we are completing a 9 YEAR CYCLE this year.

WOWSER! Just think about YOUR last 9 years. I bet you there is some magic there to remember and maybe some monsters too 🙂

But when we are dead tired, dead bored, and just stuck in the “ENOUGH ALREADY” zone, it’s almost darn near impossible to stop and harness the past 12 months with creativity and insight. Don’t let this pivotal and precious time of year get away from you untapped! And certainly don’t let the decade beat you down!

Many people reaching out to me are exhibiting one of the following modes: overwhelm, panic, where the heck has the year gone, adrenal burnout, or more often the “I just can’t be as$ed anymore” mode – either jarringly gritting your teeth till you go away and know you can FINALLY switch off and chill to a calmer routine or sign off that big final project for the year as you toss some thank you gifts at clients and dash out the door?

There is a different way.

At some point before 31st December, I set time aside (you will benefit most from about an hour to do it consciously), pour a glass of wine and do a very precious CLOSE OUT STRONG PROCESS to help me wander back over the past 12 months to create a deep awareness of the year gone by. I also do a much, much deeper process at least a month before the end of the year to ensure I‘m keeping my eye on the ball to end on a high.  Think of it as a simultaneous pat on the back and a wee kick up the proverbial to “land” everything.

WANT TO JUMP IN RIGHT NOW?
Here is a condensed version for you to use the following 3 questions to do a powerful 30- minute CLOSE OUT to 2016. Sit with some pen and paper and allow yourself to wander back through the entire year, looking for the high, the low and the let go…

  1. What are you most PROUD OF AND WHY?
  2. What was your #1 CHALLENGE you faced – how can you leverage what you learn from it?
  3. What ONE THING can you leave behind and let go of?

ARE YOU READY TO REALLY UP THE ANTE AND CLOSE OUT STRONG?
Yup, RIGHT NOW!  CLICK HERE 

I am so passionate about this concept of completing the year with mindfulness and elegantly putting it to bed, that I have listened to my clients and created a 5-day process – which in reality takes you only 5 hours, just an HOUR A DAY. Don’t drag 2016 into the new year with you!

 5- DAYS TO CLOSE OUT STRONG.

STEP IN and Reflect on your year
STEP UP by Committing  to Complete
HARNESS the year’s challenges with wisdom with hindsight
Acknowledge USHERS
Put the year elegantly to bed and LET GO
STEP OUT into 2017 with clarity and a “theme” 

YES, KATE I WANT TO CLOSE OUT STRONG!

CLICK HERE

 

CLOSE OUT STRONG and end your year PROUD AND TALL – not wiped out and small!

READ MORE HERE and read what others say about CLOSE OUT STRONG so you feel excited to join the process and make THIS year end different and powerful.

Where you start is not as important as where you finish!

Zig Ziglar

Jun 02
Love2

Mastering the ART OF SLOW – it’s a little harder than it looks

By Transformational Journeys

LEARNING TO MASTER THE ART OF SLOW… and how it has profound ramifications on my productivity.

What on earth do you mean I’m going to hang out at the beach and in taverna’s all day? Are you mad? Order one coffee and chill for 3 hours on wifi?

IS THIS honestly what people do on Greek islands?

2016-06-08 08.56.18

I instinctively know I am going to have to seriously LET GO and de-clutter my schedule, brain, and expectations of my usually fast- paced life. It is never that easy for me to voluntarily slow down. Usually, it’s because I’m a little stressed about running my own business, taking the best possible care of clients, a little too close to burn out for my liking. You see, probably like you, I don’t always know how to say NO, or have overdone it at some level, maybe feeling mentally or physically tired and only then do I KNOW I need to rest and recuperate. Can you relate? Or I go extremely intense and do a mammoth yet very healthy 7-day juice detox to reset my button. I find a way – one that usually works 80-90 % of the time. I take my own advice as often as possible (otherwise what’s the point of offering it to you?).  I definitely DO take plenty of play time and fun time and relationship time, but I still tend to veer towards the working very hard syndrome, and can work 8 straight hours a day at my computer – working online, writing, creating talks or running groups. I try and pretend to myself I am cracking “it” and just working 4-hour days (doing my best to emulate Tim Ferris) but I don’t think it’s honestly true all the time. The joys of self-delusion you know?

I totally fantasize about the concept of leveraging and smartening up my productivity, and have definitely improved at least 250% in the past 5 years compared to the last 43 years of my life and so in certain aspects I even feel like I am getting it right. I just know my predominant trap is to keep going back to my default of PUSHY PUSHIER PUSHIEST zone. This is one of the 5 GLITCHES I speak about in my second book – DITCH YOUR GLITCH.

So, just like you, I am most definitely a work in progress, evolving and making better choices as often as feels possible. Can you relate to that – a STEP by STEP journey?

The art of SLOW feels particularly onerous for me to just “drop” into. I know full well the benefits, both short and long term and even meditate regularly and write morning pages, but before long I’ll usually be dashing off to do something with someone, somewhere, for work or play. Now if I want to DASH here in Greece it is going to have to be by foot or bicycle! I am being forced into the art of SLOW and I am stuck with my island choice and me for a month. Sounds like bliss, and it surely IS, and yet it also has its challenges for Ms. Quick Shift here. So my quest is to see if slowing down will actually add to my productivity?

Do you ever battle with slowing down, surrendering and BE-ing?

A few years back when I went through a re-branding exercise of my business and started looking at how my energy most loves showing up in this world and the best way I find myself helping other people. Why do people seek me out and for what kind of support and help? Whilst I have many clients that have been through a long, deep, slow process with me, more often than not I do shorter zaps of intervention on specific aspects of life, a whole life makeover or a home de-clutter. But it’s usually more of the #quickshift “in and out”. Hence the QUICK SHIFT DEVA (this latter word means shining light). It’s about how do I best support YOU to shine YOUR light, let go of clutter and STEP UP in your world? And let’s not waste too much time getting to the point. Let’s focus on RESULTS.

Yes, yes! I know –  I speak fast, eat fast, enneagram fast, dance fast, laugh fast, learn fast, love fast and move fast. It’s also precisely why I do Yoga where I have to stand STILL and on ONE leg to encourage me to engage and be mindfully present.

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I also like to change fast, move homes fast and don’t muck about too much.

And yes, it comes to bite me on the butt and then time DOES demand that I somehow come to a total standstill and halt. I believe it is not healthy to attempt to CHANGE one’s inherent nature, our natural born talents, strengths and essence and in fact, it goes against every cell in my body. I also know, as per everything in DITCH YOUR GLITCH, that your very point of power can also be your very same point of undoing. So I believe we have to muster up a massive sense of irony, humour, honesty and learn when to temper aspects of ourselves at certain times to prevent burnout, to save face, to restore vitality or to up the ante. I know that we are NOT called on to remain EXACTLY THE SAME day in and day out. Life is an ebb and flow. Just like the sea I’m listening to as it laps gently at my feet while I sip my Greek coffee.

So here I am – on the 3rd largest island in Greece, called Lesvos. On the west coast in a wee fishing village called Skala Eressos. It is famous as the birthplace of the famous poet and teacher Sappho, and as such is very popular with women travelers seeking inspiration and connection from around the world. I am here because of my business partner, Sarah –  I invited her to come and add her very special expertise and magic to my “book writing” mastermind groups in 2015, and we are now on our 3rd group together – and this is where she just happens to live.

It’s often so simple as to why we land up where we do. Why are YOU where you are today?

I was coming to the island to co-run our WRITE YOUR BOOK retreat at the end of June, and then got a call to do some work in Romania a month before. Now why on earth would I travel “back” to the southern hemisphere instead of coming to chill on this island for 3 weeks before the retreat starts? So I find myself here for a total of 4 weeks, adjusting to island life. I am also adjusting QUICKER than I thought possible! 

Ha ha, you get the irony right – Adjusting QUICK to becoming SLOW 🙂

I thought I would really battle for the whole month and here I am on day 4, surprisingly IN the rhythm with just a little coaxing. Most locals wake up for a coffee MAYBE at 8, MAYBE, with breakfast at about 11 ish – which could be a small cookie type thing, then eat some brunch at about 2 pm, a mandatory rest late afternoon, then stay out every night till at least midnight. The taverna’s come to life at night – well so I am told as I’ve been back on my little farm cottage before it gets dark – still getting the hang of cycling on dirt roads – have already fallen on my ass once, laughed at by the four-legged ass who saw me, eeehaaawing at my side. See him below. I am definitely not in ‘party’ mode and I’m in bed by 9 pm as soon as it gets dark. Whoaaaa living the high life hey. So I’m not quite on the local rhythm zone, but I’m already immersed in my own very, very slow and mindful version.

I wake at 5 am, letting the light stream into my room, chatting to the cute black kitty that visits me every morning, mewing for some milk. Then cycle from my farmland cottage along dirt roads to the village in a swimming costume and summer dress hiked up around my thighs as I’m on a “boy” bike with the straight bar across the top (VERY elegant). I meander along to the wee fishing harbor – turquoise and azure blue and there is usually NO-ONE else around so it’s my favorite time of solitude and contemplation. That has always been how I have found a little dose of SLOW my entire life – pockets of time in the early hours of the morning, before all hell breaks loose in my day and other people come alive.

Do YOU have pockets of slow? No matter how short?

Then, I usually have a little wander around, take pictures, watch the fishermen, and reflect on the day past and to come and always start to ponder the bigger picture of “stuff” I’m working on for my business. With an upcoming trip to the USA to launch my speaking and books in the big wide world, I feel my energy leaving the village to the skyscrapers of New York, Boston and Stockbridge. Then I come to my little “favorite spot” – the first coffee shop that opens, where I work for about 3 hours. I can plug my laptop in and access awesome Wi-Fi. This is where I type from right now….

At 10.30 every day there is group of intrepid women “ROCKERS” – we swim out to the big, beautiful rock 400 metres away for a sense of adventure, community and strength building. You can see how far it is in pics below, plus swimmers get a ‘medal” on their first swim. Good way to compensate for all the baklava and spanakopita! My shoulders can tell you how far it is! I have never swum in the sea in this way before – I have been more of a wave-surfing swimmer in the breakers, rather than crossing open water. 800 meters there and back of blissful blue!

 

WANT TO GET STARTED MAKING SOME CHANGES IN YOUR LIFE?

2020 UPDATE! If you feel inspired to start making some small shifts in the direction of a slower life, then the very best way is to get you started with my latest email series – THE STRATEGIC POWER OF DISCONNECTING. Take time out to prevent wipe out!  GRAB IT HERE

I send you deep waves of blue bliss from Skala Eressos,

Kate  #QUICKSLOWSHIFTDEVA

 

 

Apr 14
Love1

The amusement of irony – is it time for a self-weighing suitcase?

By Get organised NOW, Transformational Journeys

Have you even been so vehemently FOR or AGAINST something that it smacks you in the face? Even just a little bit?

 

Well I sure get that often. I also know that thank goodness I can see the irony and have a massive laugh about it and instantly think … ooooh there’s an interesting blog topic.

 

So – you may know from my last newsletter about my EPIC year ahead- embarking on my MINIMALIST MANIFESTO and being location free. That means simply being wherever I am and working mostly from my trusty Mac. A Mac AIR – see the irony that it’s so LIGHT it wants to travel too. If you missed that post and want to read more and watch my video, click here.

 

In a nutshell I am travelling the world for work, all belongings with me, (3 boxes and a Batisse piece in storage as my only other belongings to be shipped one day – pics in previous post!) in an aim to really take my notion and love of living clutter free, light and joyously to the N’th degree.

 

I’m working on the concept of 10X  living lighter for 10x  living larger

 

So I gallivant off to the UK to surprise my mom – whilst chilling out with her is always divine, this trip is actually to unleash my work on HER this time. I surprise her at King’s Cross station, having snuck into Heathrow unbeknownst to her, am booked on the same train up North as her with the sleuth-like help of my brother and watcher face as she walks out the lift – I announce “I’m here for a month and we are doing your house!”

 

We need to de-clutter her ready for downsizing when she moves later in 2016. I know the irony again right – she would sell and move in my busiest work period and I wouldn’t be able to come and assist her and then I’d feel super “kak” (for my overseas subscribers it’s a delightful South African word for feeling horrible/ guilty/SH%% all at once) at not being able to slip in a trip to support her big move. Well small move seeing as she’s downsizing!

For a laugh, we found pics of course – this is me at about 4 – already bossy with hand on hip, and then me at about 20, probably squirelling biscuits in my cheeks  at the height of my bulimic GLITCH I speak about in my second book DITCH YOUR GLITCH.

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So, I had a clear month in my diary because possible trips to Goa and the USA both got postponed as things weren’t lining up and I also did not need to be IN any specific place for 30 days. Which to be clear, this doesn’t mean “holiday”, it means I’m totally location free and devoid of face to face engagements for talks, workshops etc. It means time for working on my online business, looking after my writing mastermind group and doing my own writing etc. and then of course MUM’s HOUSE! You know, I just thought I’d be clear before you get green with envy, spitting into your morning coffee thinking that I’m swanning around the planet doing nothing. Pretending to LIVE LIGHT LIVE LARGE.

I’ll definitely let you know when I’m doing THAT.

Let’s go back a month…upon departing at OR TAMBO I was SO chuffed to have my baggage weigh-in at EXACTLY 21.3 kg’s. Happy dance at check in. Ok, to be honest they thankfully never weigh my hand luggage as that is always filled with some books to both read and my own for marketing purposes.

A month later, mum’s house has experienced a tornado called Kate whilst there is STORM KATIE in the UK – irony yet again which made me shriek with laughter when we saw the name of the storm – but not laugh at the terrible updates of devastation it caused. I have also sold some DVDs, offloaded books, given small gifts and only gathered some small things as gifts to me from family. And then there is a pot of special BETTY’S JAM for my man. That could be another entire post.

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To be fair to my brain trying to understand this, on travel day I do land up wearing different clothing to that which I flew to the UK in, so heck, maybe my shoes in the case are heavier after all, but to be honest I was WAY more concerned about my own excess baggage after drinking copious wine and scrummy food all month as we reveled in each day’s work we accomplished. But after packing my case ready to depart, I also thought, darn this feels heavier. Yes, yes – I don’t have one of those fancy schmancy self-weighing suitcases yet.

YET!

So thank heavens for dear friends – Not sure if you remember a few years ago an old dear school friend “B” had tracked me down on Fb and then flew me to the UK to de-clutter his entire house and look for a “court required” check worth a gazillion pounds – well the same fella is meeting me at Heathrow for a coffee and a cuddle. We walk me over the check in to get rid of one bag….

I’ll prefer not to say which airline – as dear “N” who checked me in will get into trouble! On goes my wild-coloured suitcase (pics in blog post here) and ……25.5 KG!

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Oops she says it’s overweight. We’ll have to weigh your hand luggage. Now to be fair I have a laptop bag as well which has about 4 KGs of stuff. But my HAND luggage felt as light as a feather compared to what it HAD been on earlier trips this year.

Eeeck 10 kg’s

Not doing too well here am I? Miss clutter free Katie?

So N says, it’s fine, just take a bit of stuff like books or shoes out hand luggage and pop into big suitcase and then you can pay for excess heavy luggage.

I’m mortified. The ONLY time I have ever paid for excess luggage since my first trip to Kuruman on my own at age 8, is when travelling with kitty kats, or boxes of books for functions. But NEVER for my own personal belongings.

I’m fast realizing at check-in that perhaps every time I do fly I’ve got at least 12 kg’s in hand luggage. I’m seriously mortified, embarrassed and start grumbling over my words

I can’t believe this

I’ve never been over weight before – In luggage that is!

THIS IS WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING – looking up at her then I start laughing!!!! I am moving 2 books and one shoe into suitcase and at that moment my dear friend B says- “show her your book” as I’m about to zip shut my life to go off down the conveyor belt

Me: Shut up what are you talking about

N: Yes she says, show me your book, show me your book, what do you do?

B: SHOW HER YOUR BOOK!

Back and forth we go…

Me: I organize and live light

B: Show her your book

N: Yes PLEASE show me your book

Me: This is a cool blog post to share how poor I am at living light

 

Sheepishly I haul out CLEAR YOUR CLUTTER and hand it to her

B: SIGN IT FOR HER!

Me: Yes I’ll give it to her- keep my weight down!

N: squeals and says you are my hero, I LOVE being organized.

ME: Yes it’s all other stuff too like body and emotional.

B: LAUGHING

N: Yes she squeals when I’m stressed I clear out.

Me thinking: Girl after my own heart and I ask her name and sign her the book.

Coming from SA you know this is sounding a lot like bribery right – I just wanted to pay my excess, see my suitcase go off to never land for the night, pay my fine make B buy me coffee so could go to duty free to buy more stuff for gifts!

She pops my suitcase back on the belt, quickly adds a heavy tag and whisks it off to happy Heathrow behind-the-scenes-land.

 

ME NO PAY!

 

N: Hands me a piece of paper and says – send me the link to your blog post when it’s done.

TICK

I walked away laughing and feeling totally ironic and sheepish as I’m clearly carrying way to much stuff on my MINIMALIST MANIFESTO.

So another clear out due before my next trip.

How much EXCESS BAGGAGE DO YOU HAVE?

After that long ramble – where can YOU see the delight of irony in your life? I know all too often we get ‘peed off’ when things go against what we say. I always prefer to ATTEMPT to see the hilarious side. I guess that’s what my favourite comedian Billy Connelly does – every day life through his wacky lense!

Wishing you an awesome LIGHT day

 

PS: I’m seriously going global. My books are currently being internationally published under the KEYS PRESS in the USA – so for those of you outside of South Africa, you can grab CLEAR YOUR CLUTTER here. In SA you can grab it here