Katie transformed her passion for art and a gut knowing that a fulfilled life is our right into a business when deep dissatisfaction pushed her onto a personal and spiritual journey which completely changed the landscape of her life. She is on a mission to help women create a life that rocks – from a place of deep self knowing and self love.

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Katie bounced about the globe for 15 years experiencing all sorts of adventurous travel and a successful career in International Events Management. She settled in the UK and following the birth of her son, decided that it was time to get real about how she really felt about her life and to make it count! Her natural creativity stepped up, beginning a career focused on artistic and self expression.

Tell us a bit about yourself, background and what you do currently

I am an Aussie gal and the UK has been my home for 12 years. I love my Sussex barn and the tranquility of living in the country-side with the sheep and pigs! I do miss the beaches of Sydney where I grew up so visiting Australia every year is a non-negotiable. In fact, at this very moment, I am enjoying a visit to Sydney with my 6yr old son! My business allows me to pretty much work from anywhere and as it grows, I plan to run retreats in gorgeous parts of the world to keep my travel bug satiated! My work doesn’t feel like work at all. It is my passion and my purpose. How cool is that! I get to guide other women on their own unique path to living a Daring & Mighty life. I believe it is every woman’s right to know and deeply love herself. I know that feeling fulfilled and free is possible and in your control. We just need to be guided, as I have been by some incredible teachers. Now I get to do that for others and I love it.

‘Far better it is to Dare Mighty Things’. The quote became an affirmation for me and a code of living.

How did you come up with Daring & Mighty?

My dad had a Theodore Roosevelt quote stuck on his home-office wall. The first line said,  ‘Far better it is to Dare Mighty Things’. The quote became an affirmation for me and a code of living. When it came to launching my business in 2010, calling it ‘Daring & Mighty’ was a no brainer! It felt so right – like it was always meant to be.

What is the main thing you have learned since starting Daring and Mighty?

Everyone kept telling me to write a business plan but I never could. For me, this business was always run on intuition. It started out as typographic designs of Affirmations I wrote. I know affirmations work and I wanted to express my creativity, making the words funky and something you would be proud to have hanging in your home as artwork. The coaching and workshops evolved naturally from there. The book, ‘How To Be Daring & Mighty’ evolved from that and the programmes and retreats based on the book are another natural progression. It has all just flowed. So, my biggest learning has been to trust my gut and my intuition. That there is no right formula to running a business! And, every single day is a continual learning curve, being guided by what feels right for ‘me’.

What has been your biggest challenge?

Cash flow!! Leaving the security of a job and a pay cheque! I made the transition slowly. My background is Events Management so I continued doing that on a contract / part-time basis. That income funded my life and the set-up of the business. Some contracts paid better than others so when I had cash injections, I was able to take Daring & Mighty up another level. I have learned a lot as a result of little cash flow because I couldn’t afford to pay others to do things like design my website or organise my accounts. Like most small business owners, I did it all myself! My last events contract was the London Olympics. Since then, I have been 100% focussed on D&M and am loving it! I am very excited to have recently hired a web designer too and can’t wait for a new sparkly site which will launch on 1st July!

I am genuinely excited when I wake up in the morning. I am excited for my future.

What’s been your greatest achievement personally?

Discovering who I am. Knowing the truth of my heart and falling in love with me. Sounds corny perhaps, but that is what set me free to live a life I love. I am genuinely excited when I wake up in the morning. I am excited for my future. I am excited for the women that will work with me because I know that I am sharing the best of me with them and I know it will help to guide their lives onto a path that will give them a deeply fulfilled and joyful life.

If you weren’t doing what you do, what would you be doing?

I would paint large scale abstract canvases. Canvases so big that I would have to either stand on them or be suspended above them to paint. I will do it one day!

Who has been your biggest inspiration?

My Grandad who just turned 100. He chose to live a life he loved and he inspired so many others in the process. His ‘secret’ was to eat well, exercise and surround yourself with wonderful people. His motto was, ‘Look to the future’ – don’t dwell on the past; accept where you are at now and make plans that excite you. The ripple effect of his inspiration will go on and on. I know I am part of that ripple.

What does the future hold for you?

Surprises, joy, excitement and love. Bring it on!

Find out more about Katie and Daring & Mighty

Katie’s website and company information is here  – www.selflovementor.co.uk

The next ‘ Be Daring & Mighty’ workshop will begin on Fri 20 September 2012 see Katie’s website for more details. http://selflovementor.co.uk/work-with-me/

 

http://www.wearethecity.com/inspirational-woman-katie-phillips-founder-of-daring-mighty/