Ep 9: In conversation with Katie Forbes

Foreign.

Welcome to the All Is Wellness Podcast with me, Emma Naylor. Join us in open and honest conversations with wellness professionals and industry experts. Welcome back to the All Is Wellness Podcast. This week's guest is Katie Forbes. Katie is a success coach and mindset mentor. She's worked in the corporate world for over eight years, during which she's been on her own journey with mindset wellness and redefining what success means to her. Over the last 12 months, Katie has built a business and mindset and success coach where she inspires ambitious women to build a mindset for success, level up in all areas of their life and gain the confidence and clarity to start doing the things they love. Katie, I'm so excited to have you on the podcast this week.

Oh, thank you so much for having me. It's a pleasure to speak with you.

I would love to talk about your journey over the kind of last eight years working in corporate, but also the amazing journey that you've embarked on over the last 12 months.

Amazing.

So, you know, I think one of the things that we were speaking about earlier was kind of, how did you get to where. To where you are now?

Yeah. Okay. So I started at a corporate company when I was 18. I followed the rules, I would say, my whole life. I went to school, did my GCSEs, did my A levels and naturally took the step to go to university. I actually started university through the company that I worked for, where I was kind of sponsored on a programme through university, studied accounting and kind of did that half the year in Exeter and then worked the other half of the year at KPMG in London, and very much took those steps because it felt like the right thing to do. I think that expectation there, that after you finish school, you do go to uni, and that was just the way that it was. There was, I'd say 90% of the people in my school went on to further education, whether it was at university or college. And I just assumed that was the done thing. And so I was given this opportunity to go into accounting. I'd always been really interested in business and maths and kind of A levels that I'd done. And it just, it like made sense in my head to join this corporate company. And I was always very eager to be doing work experience and have a job from when I was 15. So, yeah, I very much just kind of threw myself into it and thought that a successful job to me looked like working in an office, commuting into London every day, working at a desk, sitting at a laptop. And that stereotype would probably come from what I was used to with my parents, from people I saw in the films as the people who were successful and had these jobs that I wanted. So, yeah, I very much never even questioned that from being the norm. So obviously I started at KPMG from a young age and it was probably up until about a year ago when I really started thinking about the same time we went into lockdown. Like, is this, is this what I want? And I look at lots of my other friends and they're all entrepreneurs and they work in the wellness space and their PTs and their nutritionists and lots of them own their own businesses and own very successful businesses. And I always looked up to them as something that was very admirable and something that, like, I'd never be able to do. That market's already saturated, that's their thing. And I'm a girl who works in an office and I'd never really challenged that assumption and I just kind of thought that's the way it is. And like I'm definitely, I mean, I'm still in that 9 to 5 corporate job now and I don't hate it by any means. Like, there were lots of perks to the job. I'd been there for a long time. I knew so many people that work there because I've been across so many different teams. I was learning lots while I was there. I had a great work life balance. I was able to work from home a couple of days a week and it was, it was good. Like, I definitely, definitely didn't hate it and I still don't hate it by any means, but I think I always had that niggle that was a voice inside my head saying, like, is this it? Like, there must be more than commuting into London. I was living back at my parents in Hertfordshire at the time. So it's about an hour and 15 minutes each way commuting to London, sitting behind a screen all day doing something that was fine, but it wasn't something that I was passionate about. And I looked up to all of my friends who were like, genuinely living their dream. Obviously it comes with. Running your business is difficult, but they were doing things that they absolutely loved and they were working with amazing brands and they were really like helping to educate people around health and wellness and help people to live a better life. And I, I think it wasn't until we went into lockdown I kind of thought I stopped living on this autopilot of waking up at 5am and going to the gym before work and then being in an office and then having all the corporate stuff after work, like going to events and going for drinks or seeing friends, that I really took a step back and I thought, like, what are my priorities in life? And is the way that I'm living my life at the moment in accordance with those priorities? Like, is it giving me the. The time and the flexibility and the energy to connect with friends, to pursue the things that I really want out of life? And actually reflecting on that, I realized that it wasn't. And I was kind of stuck and trapped in this job because I thought it's what I should be doing. And I think so much of that is from, like, the influences that I have around me, mainly my parents that don't. They still don't understand what a coach is, what a coach does. Why on earth I would be transitioning from what they think looks like a successful job on paper.

Yeah.

Why on earth I would be giving all of that up to go and set up my own business and do something that is probably more of a modern job than something that they just don't get it. And I think I am so close to my parents as well, and that reflecting on what held me back, it probably was that expectation from them around what success looks like. And I've really had to make a conscious effort to spend time with people who completely redefine what success is. They work completely different hours. They don't have. I know it's obviously different for us all now, but, like, they don't have an office that they work in. They work from cafes, they work from wherever they want in the world, and every day looks completely different. And actually, like, that is success as much as somebody who works a 9 to 5 in a more traditional corporate job.

Absolutely. I mean, you said some great stuff there. I think that the first thing was, you know, congratulations on working so hard over the last 12 months. I know it's been such a hard time for everyone, but actually being able to use that time and kind of turn the last year into something really, really positive is so admirable. And I think that, you know, a lot of people have this pressure to go. You know, people have created these businesses and people have launched podcasts and, you know, they've learned to run a marathon or whatever it is. But actually, I think the amazing thing that lockdown has been able to do, even if we haven't launched these wonderful businesses, is just kind of reflect. It's allowed us time to kind of sit and reflect and think as you Said what's important to us and what isn't serving us anymore. So I think that leaning into that and really being able to listen has been such a powerful, powerful tool that we may have never got in our lifetime if Covid hadn't happened.

So true. And like, thinking about where I was a year ago when we were into the person that I am now, obviously a lot has changed in the world since then, but yeah, not to some extent, but yeah, the. Even like the shift in my mindset over those 12 months absolutely is. So it's huge. And I don't ever think I would have been forced to, like, go back to my. Why go back to like, what do I actually want out of life? What do I want to say yes to more? What do I want to say no to more? If we weren't forced to. To stop and to put a pause on things and to reflect and stop constantly rushing around and living on autopilot because it doesn't give you time to actually ever really think about what you're doing. You're just constantly in the motions without.

Yeah.

Something that, that you enjoy or you don't enjoy.

And I think you kind of hit the nail on the head there with the autopilot because I think that, you know, when you were saying, I get up at 5 o' clock in the morning, I go to the gym, I sit in front of my desk, I go home, I have drinks with my, my friends. It's, you know, thinking about that that seems like such a lifetime ago. Like the thought of getting up and going to the gym and then having drinks or dinner with friends without masks on. I know, actually, how did, how did we juggle it all? And I think that, you know, you sort of spoke about, you know, having things that hold us back. And I definitely think that one of the things that we, that we always prioritize is other things. I can't juggle it all. I've got a business, I've got a partner, I've got a house, parents, whatever it is. And I think that this time has actually allowed us to almost step away from having those influences. You know, look, I'm very, very close with my family. I'm very, very close with a lot of my friends. I've got a great, you know, network of people around me, but often I do let their opinions affect the changes I want to make. And actually kind of being at home, just being me and my, me and my boyfriend, I've actually been able to really sit down and kind of silence everything else and step away from normal life and actually really focus on if money was no object, if, you know, if the fear of judgment was no object, if I didn't have to commute, if whatever, all these, all these things that were kind of taken away, what would I really, really want to do? And I've implemented so many changes during this lockdown. A lot of great things have come out. And I think that there's a lot of people who have started their own journey during lockdown. How do you think people are going to juggle exactly what we kind of just spoke about, which is going back to the office, the commute, the 5am gyms, the drinks, the networking. How do you think people are going to kind of juggle everything? And do you think people are going to carry on, on their business journeys, or do you think we're just going to kind of forget them and go back to normal life?

Yeah, it's such an interesting question and I guess at the moment it's such an unknown for us all. Like none of us know what life is going to look like, what this new normal is to. Going to look like. Are we going to be expected to go back and commute into the office five days a week? Are people like. I feel like most people that I speak to are very much of the same opinion of, oh my gosh, how did I do all of that stuff before?

Yeah.

Live my life at that pace. How did I get up and go to the gym in the morning and then go for drinks after work and even be in an office for a full day like that now?

Yeah.

So alien. And. And I actually, obviously I'm not a mind reader and, and I don't know what it's going to look like, but I would actually be very surprised if life went back to the way that it was before.

Yeah.

And I actually think a lot of us have learned in the last 12 months that it's okay not to be doing stuff all the time. And I think especially like from my experience, like I had FOMO without realizing that I had fomo. Like I'd be invited to an event or invited to drinks or something in the evening and I would feel like I had to go even when I was exhausted by 4pm at work. And the last thing I wanted to do was go out and trek to the other side of the London, London and go for drinks with people and be out until the early hours of the morning. But I felt like that was just what you did. And like on a Thursday.

Yeah, I agree.

Night, if you didn't have plans Thursday.

Drinks. Yeah.

People would be like, what, you're just going home? Like you're going to spend Friday night or Thursday night at home? That was just so abnormal. Whereas now I feel like everyone's very much transitioned to that being our norm. And I, I can't see. Well, I know maybe things will go back to normal, but I don't think things for me will ever go back to normal because like, I agree, my life and my priorities and my ability to say no and actually tune into like what, what I need and what I want and what makes me feel good has completely changed from having this.

Yeah.

Of being able to be a bit selfish, not have feeling like I have to cram every weekend in my diary. Like, oh my gosh. I think about what my weekends used to be. Like, I'd get up early, trek into central London, go to this class, see this person, go for this walk.

Yeah.

It was ridiculous. Like I had every 10 minutes of my life basically planned out.

Yeah. I think I completely agree. And I was exactly the same. And it was, I didn't realize it was FOMO until now because actually I never wake up on a Friday morning and think, wow, I really wish I stayed out last night until 4:00am Like, I just don't have that. And I don't think. I really wish my day was absolutely jam packed. I've definitely taken a much slower, as you kind of said approach on life and actually think, what is it that that feels good? Do I want to go for those drinks? Do I want to see those people? Do I want to go to this gym class? And I think it's really important that we carry that on when things go back to normal. But I definitely think there'll be this kind of boom, especially come 12th of April. I mean, even over the last week, kind of in the parks, people were drinking in the parks until late, which is amazing to see people coming together. But I think there's going to be this massive boom again of, you know, the 12th of April. Everyone wants to go out, everyone's going to go for dinner. But I think there's also going to be this realization we're going to be exhausted trying to go back to normal life.

Yeah, absolutely. And like even the other evening I had like a few plans, just like walks and I had a couple of brunches in the diary and I suddenly thought like, oh my God, I don't want to put anything else in because, yeah, like that, that's enough already. And I think, although there is obviously the opportunity to go for a dinner with people and meet people and go to parks. Like, remember that you always have choice. Like, if you want to live the rest of your life. I'm saying that anyone does. If you want to live the rest of your life in lockdown, you can do that. There is nobody forcing you to do these things just because there is the opportunity to do it. So I think it's very much, absolutely having those boundaries in place when things do go back to normal and not being afraid to say no and say, like, completely be honest with people that, like, I've already done loads this week, like, I need this evening for myself, or I feel exhausted or a bit overwhelmed. And I do think, especially with, like, the increase in talking about mental health and people feeling overwhelmed and anxious, it's much easier to have those open conversations with people and say, yeah, like, not this time. And not feeling like you have to explain yourself. Like, if you don't want to do it 100, you don't have to do it. Like, you get to make that decision. Maybe I'm just a bit selfish and stubborn, but.

No, no, I think it's true. I mean, it would be really, really great to hear a little bit more about how you found building your business and how you kind of actually juggled it all. You know, not. Not so much the kind of social life in the gym, but working full time and then being able to kind of switch off and go to this, you know, mindset coach business that you're creating.

Amazing. Of course. So. So I think I very much, as I always do with things, got overexcited as soon as I started. And it was probably actually at, like, the start of the last lockdown, where actually a guy that I work with, he'd done a coaching course, and he said to me, like, you have obviously, like, lived, like, normal, normal life. Was very busy and I didn't really have time to. Well, I really very challenged that I didn't have time. It wasn't a priority.

Yeah, I love, I love, I love. I love that saying now. I actually. So I was actually talking to someone about it now and not now. I spoke to someone a few days ago about it and they sort of said, try and change your mindset from, I don't have time to. It's not a priority and see how that fits and see how that feels. And you will learn to prioritize things if it feels that you need to do it.

Yes, exactly. It's like, it's so interesting when people say they don't have time. It's like, so what do you have time for? You have time to. Yeah, Netflix for three hours every night. You have time to. Well, what. However, whatever else people do in their lives. But actually like you don't have time to do the things like I don't have time to journal. You have time to sit there and scroll through Instagram for half an hour every morning. You don't have time to go for a 10 minute walk and do your free gratitudes. Like it's all about what you make time for.

Absolutely.

So yeah, I think I told myself it wasn't a priority before obviously went into lockdown. Then I went into lockdown and I thought, you know what if I'm ever gonna do like now's the time for a course. Like what? I've got nothing to lose really. And actually like that probably was my not breakthrough moment, but that was probably the moment where I really realized that like, why can't I do this? Like I'd invested time, money, energy and I think that really demonstrated to me that like I am worthy of these things. And that was really like that energetic shift that like this happening and like I can make this happen and like why can't I make this happen? Like I look up to all these other people that have built incredible businesses and are doing amazing things and like really challenging. Like why can't that happen for me as well? So I think I, I've always been quite like, I guess had a positive mindset but I, I was very scared in terms of like what people gonna say. My friend's gonna look at me and be like, oh my God, who does she think she is to be trying to get in on our, yeah, entrepreneurial world and trying to do things when she's the girl who works in the corporate job.

Yeah.

So yeah, in terms of like how, how the journey happened is I signed up for a course and then I was like, right, absolutely loved it. Focused on that one thing and that was enough. That was fine. In terms of like balancing it with a full time job. It was a couple of evenings a week for two hours, which was manageable. It's fine. As soon as I finished that, I think that's when I really. That was a three month course. That's when I started to really get juggle, like struggle to juggle.

Yeah.

Having like obviously setting up a business. You've kind of come out of that study phase and you're like, okay, right now I'm ready to actually make this happen. And yeah, that was When I very much thought like, oh my God, I need to do everything, I started following all of these other people who are coaches on Instagram. I started over consuming, over complicating everything. Yeah, I had to listen to every podcast, I had to read every book, I had to listen to every webinar. I was read everyone's posts. I had to do what everyone else was doing and learn everything that I could possibly learn. And yeah, it was extremely overwhelming. And I think that was the first, that was. Well, the next time when I kind of thought like, oh my God, can I do this? Like this, it's impossible. I told myself it was impossible to build a business while I was still in a full time job, that I'd never be able to do that even in lockdown. Like I'd never have enough time. And I probably spent more time telling myself that I didn't have enough time and that it was never going to work. Then I did actually just sitting down and doing something.

The self sabotage is so real when we try it, when we try and embark on these new projects. You're right. Oh my God, I've never baked so.

Much in my life. Like, because.

Yeah, I know. And it's that thing of, you know, we prioritize really weird things. Like I'll literally. I was talking to someone the other day about starting a course that I wanted to. And obviously that's on. That's, that's quite a big investment. But I was saying I've exhausted, I've exhausted all of my options not to start it now. Because I said, well, when I, when I get this, I'll do it and when I get this, I'll do it and when I get this, I'll do it. And I kind of said I've exhausted that. And I think it's the same with starting a business. As you said, it's that procrastination of I need to bake because I don't, I need to do that. And you know, I can put that stuff on Instagram later. It's like, why do we do that? The self sabotage is so, so relevant.

Procrastinate because we're scared. Like we always procrastinate about 100% of our comfort zone about things that we're a bit nervous about what the response is going to be. We don't procrastinate about like brushing our teeth or having that catch up with a friend. It's always the stuff that was like.

No, absolutely, like, yeah, I think it's.

Getting clear on like how does procrastination show up to you? Like, for me, it was like, oh, I should go.

Yeah.

Or, oh, I should bake this thing. Or, oh, I need to do a clean. Or, oh, like, I need the cleaning.

The cleaning. Yeah, totally get that.

They. They procrastinate in completely different ways. Like, they might go and sit and watch TV or whatever it is. So, yeah, obviously there was a lot of procrastination when I suddenly started consuming so much information, feeling very, like, overwhelmed over complicated everything. And I think, like, for me, it was very much like, stripping things back to basics and just focusing on knowing my why. Like, why am I doing this? What is my purpose? Who am I helping? And, like, making it exciting for me. Because, of course, if you are working a job at the same time, like, you have to accept that you are going to have to work a bit in the morning or you're going to have to work a couple times.

Yeah.

Or you might have to put a weekend aside to do it. Like, of course there is going to be an element of juggling both and, like, it can feel like a lot. Obviously, we've been in the fortunate position where we've been in lockdown and I haven't had an awful lot going on in evenings and weekends, so it's easy to fit that in. But it's got to, like, really be something that you care about, that you feel passionate about, that you love and feel motivated to do. Otherwise, you're not going to want to put that time aside on your weekend or your evenings to sit down and do it.

Yeah.

Like, the first piece of advice, it would really be like, getting clear on why are you even doing this in the first place and really, like, making that relevant to you. And I do think that really helps with the comparison as well, because, of course, it's like the yellow car as soon as you move into a new field. So whether it's coaching or beauty or whatever it is, you naturally see people everywhere who are consumers, coaches.

Oh, yes.

100% really clear on, like, your why, what's your purpose? Who are you helping? What makes you unique? It's very easy to get sucked into what everyone else is doing and thinking, oh, my God, they're doing that, so I need to do that. They're better than me. The market's so saturated, I'm never going to get my foot in the door. If they want to work with a coach, they're going to go to that person. So I spent a long time, I would say month, actually, really getting clear on what I was doing who I wanted to help and how I was going to go about it. And I think from there it made everything so much more straightforward. And like we were saying earlier, like, it's so easy to over complicate it and think, I need to be reinventing the wheel and doing all of these things.

100. Yeah, I totally agree.

Really strict things.

Yeah, I totally agree.

And like, firstly, get clear on what's your vision, what do you want to do, who do you want to help? And then how can you be showing up in a way that you enjoy? For everyone, that's different. For some people, it's writing. Like, for me, writing really doesn't come naturally. For some people, it's doing videos, doing podcasts. Like, everyone has a different style that naturally suits them. So actually show up in a way that feels authentic to you and be patient and be consistent. And I think so much of the time we over complicate it for ourselves because we do one thing. People don't jump on it straight away. Like, you might announce that you're, you're done, a launch for a program or you're selling a product or whatever it is, and you don't have that influx of people straight away. And we think, right, that doesn't work. So I need to try something else and I need to reinvent Will. Yeah, actually, it's just being patient and being consistent and, and keeping to show up in that ways rather than constantly thinking, well, I must be doing it wrong. Let me look at what everyone else is doing. I need to learn more, I need to listen, I need to read more things. I'm obviously not good enough. Like, you just need to give things time for them to work.

Yeah. And I think that, I think that it was quite interesting what you said there, that we feel, you know, being in this space, you know, a lot of people I know are now wellness coaches, they're fitness coaches, nutritionists, whatever it is. And I think that we see the industry as so saturated, but it just kind of. Going back to your point, speaking to your dad, he was sort of like, well, what is a coach? So actually, the market can't be that saturated if there's still people out there that don't know what coaches do. It's just because we're surrounded day in and day out with people doing it from the social media of people that we choose to follow. You know, we surround ourselves with people who are in this space. So I think it's such a new. It's such a new industry and it's very easy to fall into the trap of, let me compare what other people are doing and what they're doing is great. And why would anyone want to work with me when they can work with this person who's been doing it for three years? And I think the thing is, well, that person at one point had been doing it for one day, zero days. They were at the start of their journey at one point. And we have a lot of different things to offer. You know, I always say that you don't. You don't just not open a restaurant because there's another pizza restaurant. If not, we would stop opening any.

And I always, you know, like, TV program, like, say, how many TV programs are on tv?

But people don't just stop making them because there's other ones available.

They make more and more and everyone's talking about it and it's the most popular thing. And like, even supermarkets, think about, like, how many different supermarkets there are. There are. Like there isn't just one person that.

Does one and still coming up. Yeah. Yeah, I think that's really interesting. And I think that social media, especially during the last year, you know, you know, has had a massive, massive impact on how, how we view ourselves and also how we view what other people are doing. I think you were mentioning that earlier when we were talking that it was, you know, we see on social media people are doing all of these great things. But actually, you know, for example, with you, when I first met you, I thought you worked in the wellness space already. I didn't know you had a corporate job because, you know, from the social media, from the events I'd see you out, from the things you were posting, from the classes I would see you at, in my mind, it was very much cool. Katie works in wellness. And when I found out you had a corporate job for however many years, I was like, wow, that's crazy because I thought I knew so much about what I saw, but actually there's so much behind the scenes, and I think we often do that. We compare what we see rather than what the reality actually is.

You don't always see what people are doing. You don't see what they're not doing. So you see the one thing that people are singing and dancing about, but you don't see the other things that you've done that maybe they haven't done and, or like where they are at their journey. Yeah, like it's. You can't compare someone who's just starting out a business, someone who's been a coach or whatever field they're in for the last five, ten years, like it's. So I feel like Instagram and social media are so beneficial in some ways. Like they definitely help keep me motivated, keep me inspired, help me connect with people. But actually it can be complete opposite sometimes because you see people doing stuff all the time. And just because they're doing a podcast, an Instagram live, a webinar, it doesn't mean that you have to be doing those things as well.

So I. Yeah, how, yeah, how did you find it? How did you find it when you started your business? Not to compare, because I know there's a lot of people right now who are at this crossroads going back to work, wanting to start a business and going actually, shall I just kind of carry on with what I'm doing? Because there's so many other people out there doing what I want to do. How did you step away from the comparing and try and kind of step into your. To your own truth and actually believe that you could do this?

I mean, it's a really good question and I think it like it wasn't easy. I started on a course as well, which was obviously, well, I did two courses and they were all with coaches. So naturally I very much got myself in a community of other coaches and everything I was seeing was the people who were posting similar content to me and doing blog posts and talking about the same things. And it's very, very easy to think, like it's very saturated but actually for me I think it's keeping some sort of normality and not that people who are in coaching aren't normal, but yeah, other things going on in your life like self development for me has always been a passion, I'd say for the last like five, six years. So the book side read of self development books, the podcasts I'd read were the conversations I've had with people because that was always a hobby for me and like it never had anything to do with business. The same with fitness. Like fitness was always a hobby and I always said like I don't want to go into like being a PT or working in the fitness because like I love. Yeah as a hobby. And I very quickly realized that when I was transitioning into like all of the mindset coaching stuff that all of my hobbies and all of my friends suddenly became linked to business. And it was so difficult, like having conversations and having catch ups with friends and we were all talking about like where we were in our business and what we'd achieved and what our next Steps were and I realized that like those were the people that I was speaking to every day. The books that I was reading were self development books. The podcasts I was listening to when I went for a run or went for a walk were personal development ones and actually really conscious.

Yeah.

Having to say like, I, I need things that like are shitty TV programs.

Or like yeah, we need those too.

You have no idea what like coaching even is. Or like I'm so lucky. My partner, like there's nothing about, I mean he obviously cares about like his having a positive mindset, being successful. But like he has, he doesn't have used social media really. He isn't massively into, well, not really at all into health and fitness. And he doesn't like have the same like goals as I do. And it's so refreshing.

Yeah.

Have that, have conversations with people and have like normal life going on outside of the things that you want to achieve. And actually one of the biggest changes that I. Yeah. Is like when I set my goals. So goal setting is just obviously one of my favorite things to do. Like even when I set my goals. So I'll set like five kind of intentions or goals for the year and then like do my quarterly goals and things. I actually always make sure whenever I do any form of goal setting that I've got two out of five in there which are completely unrelated to this and to all of this stuff that I'm doing.

Like yeah.

And it's actually about like being kind to myself, like looking after my health and it's not just smashing six workouts a week and being able to run a 10 day. It's like actually like listening to my body or prioritizing two rest days a week or doing a yoga instead of a strength session one day. Like I actually really try and set the intention to be kind to myself and the intention to rest and the intention to switch off. Otherwise it's so easy to get sucked into that trap of like go, go, go all the time, which is then reinforced even more by going on social media. And naturally everyone that you're following that is active are the people who are talking about all the things that they are doing. And, and I always think, like I've said to friends before, like friends who don't have like an Instagram, well, they have an Instagram account but they don't use it for, for business. Oh God, I've barely been on Instagram recently. Like I feel like I haven't posted in ages. And they're like, oh my God, what Like, you're on there all the time. Like you're always the first person. And for me, because lots of the people that I think of as my peers are people who post every day and they're constantly on their stories. Yeah, but like, remember, that isn't the norm. Like most people do not post every day on Instagram.

Like, yeah, it's, it's, it's so, it's so true to get like really, really wrapped up, really, really wrapped up in all of that and kind of, as I said, compare and contrast what we're doing and what we should be doing. And I think you're right. You have to find, you know, if you can't post on Instagram every day, find what works for you. If it's every two days, it's every two days. If it's aligned with what feels right. Once. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. It just has to be aligned with what you want to do. So I think that, I think that's so important.

Social media as well, to not even just social media, but even like WhatsApp, like replying to things instantly and constantly being the instant.

Replying. Yeah, Available. Available. Just being available.

And like, I much try to like, sometimes intentionally not reply to stuff straight away, especially with like the clients that I'm working with because I don't want them to feel, think it's the norm.

Boundaries are so important as well. Yeah.

And I don't want them to think, oh, it's normal for if you're running a business that you have to reply to that email within five minutes of them sending it.

Yeah.

Like sometimes I'll see it and I'll be like, I could reply to that now, but actually, no, like, I don't need to reply to it now. I can reply to it. I always say, absolutely say that up front. Like I reply within 24 hours and I'll never take 24 hours to reply.

But, but it's so important to set those boundaries early on with ourselves, with our clients. We kind of everything that we're doing. I think boundaries are something that I've really, really had to work on, especially over the last 12 months. With the amount of zooms, the amount of walks, the amount of virtual coffees with whatever it is. It's really, really been important. And I really hope that we continue to set boundaries when things go back to normal and when, you know, we can see people. It doesn't mean that you have to.

I think boundaries are so critical. Like you need to have your cut off times and you need to be Scheduling breaks or however you want to set boundaries, saying, no, whatever it is, you need to have them from day one.

Yeah.

Because as soon as you get into sloppy habits, oh, I'll just work until 10 o' clock tonight because. Because of X, Y and Z. Or I'll just work all weekend and not leave my flat because of X, Y and Z. Of course, there are going to be some times where you need to put in longer hours, but yeah, on the whole, you need to be disciplined from day one. Otherwise.

Yeah, absolutely.

From already doing those things.

Yeah, no, I completely agree. So, Katie, just to kind of wrap up this podcast, what would be your one piece of advice that you've learned for our listeners?

I could have so many. I would say it sounds really basic, but it was probably the biggest mistake that I made was being realistic and just focusing on one or two, two things maximum at once. Be patient, be consistent with it, but don't overwhelm yourself with thinking like, you have to do everything at once. I need to sell this mailing list. I need to sort my website. I need to work with practice clients. I need to set up a podcast. I need to be hosting this many times a week. And it's all about, like, I always ask myself, how will I enjoy this more? And for me, I definitely enjoy things more when I'm focusing on one thing at a time and really, like, nurturing that and nailing it and making that, like, either part of a normal routine or getting it ticked off my to do list. If it's like setting up a website, for example, and actually becoming really confident and really enjoying that one or two things. And just I always set myself a roadmap so I'll look at, like the six months ahead and I will draw it like a road and I will put blobs of things when I'm going to focus. And I'm like, right now I'm just focusing on this one thing. Like, yes, I want to do a podcast, but that's three months down the line. Or, yes, I want to do a free webinar, but that is five months down the line. And I think actually visually drawing it out and writing it down is a very easy way to like, park things and be like, I don't need to worry about those now. I actually just need to focus on, like, what am I doing this month? And everything else can wait. Like, oh, yeah, I'll do it, but just focus on one thing at a time because otherwise you don't end up enjoying it, you end up burning yourself out you get overwhelmed and just remember your why, like, why are you. Sorry, this is kind of two points. Like, why are you doing that thing? Why do you make that change? Why do you want to start that business? Why do you want to say no more? And really putting, putting those things first and making it exciting for you. Like me setting up a business was because I wanted to help people. It was something I was passionate about. It was something I felt really motivated to do. And when I'm overwhelming myself with trying to cram my to do list, it doesn't make me enjoy it anymore. So, yeah, always coming back to like, what do you, what, what is this going to bring into your life? And for me, it was bringing freedom, managing my own time, and having a better work life balance. So those are the principles I need to growing a business. And it's not just, oh, once I built the business, then I will say, start having a better work life balance and I will start enjoying it more and I will start doing all these things and being this person. It's like, yeah, that person now whilst you are in the process of getting there.

Yeah, yeah, no, I completely agree with all of that. I think that's such amazing advice. And thank you so much for being our guest on this week's podcast. It's been so great to talk to you. I feel like I could just talk to you forever. So we'll probably have to take this offline. So we don't speak for hours on the podcast. But if you want to find out how you can work with Katie, you can head over to her Instagram, which is Aty Sarah Forbes. You can find out how you can work with her, you can book a free Clarity call session and she can sort of talk about how she can help you. Again, thank you so much for being so honest and open and such an amazing guest on this week's podcast.

Thank you for having me.

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