Mox-ie noun: force of character, determination, nerve, or pep
Welcome to the 1st Edition of The Moxie!
Putting this together has been an absolute delight, and I've loved flexing my creative muscles again with my new business.
My word for 2024 is CREATE. It came to me at the end of 2023, and I had no idea just how spot-on it would be. When I was made redundant at the end of February, that word motivated me more than I could have ever imagined. I’ve been creating my new business, building a brand, attracting new clients, and shaping something that truly aligns with who I am!
It’s both exciting and a little scary. I'll be honest about the fears and doubts that have popped up along the way, but I’m choosing to lean into the excitement. I can’t thank you all enough for your support and belief in me!
In this edition, you’ll find journaling prompts to get you ready for The Collectiv. session, the latest What's Hot & What's Not, a spotlight interview with Collectiv. member and photographer Alix McIntosh, some current earworms I’m listening to. Enjoy! x
The 1st Coffee Coaching session will be on June 11th at 10am, and the 1st Workshop will be on June 27th at 6:30pm.
We’re going to dive deep into VISION during the workshop session. Expect powerful teachings, a beautiful visualisation, vulnerable shares, popcorn coaching, and I promise to hold you accountable to take action!
Here are some journaling prompts to get you started:
Think of a time in your life when you felt the most fulfilled and in alignment, what were you doing? Close your eyes and take 5 minutes to tune in to how you were feeling, what were you doing, what were your main emotions and what was the main energy?
What easy changes/tweaks can you make to your life now that could recreate that feeling?
You can join The Collectiv. here - and the first month is FREE
What's Hot & What's Not, is the section where we keep you in the loop with the latest trends and what is falling in and out of favour. It is sprinkled with some of my own options, so take those with a pinch of salt!
What's Hot
**Pivoting - you are a sexy jet ski, not a canal barge
**Personal branding - authenticity wins! Raw content is IN!
**Creative collaboration - exciting collabs can lead to fun projects AND new audiences
**Embracing failure - it's an essential part of learning, go on I dare you to fail!
**Mental health breaks - taking care of YOU is finally cool!
What's Not
**But not the Yeezy way - that's not sexy!
**Hiding behind corporate jargon - polished content is OUT!
**Doing it all on your own - it's a bore-fest!
**Fear of failure - it's so last year!
**The constant hustle - it's time to give it a rest!
Meet Alix McIntosh, an amazing freelance photographer from Edinburgh and also a client of mine.
She’s got an incredible eye for detail and colour, and having worked with her during my events career, she’s a total pro.
When I needed shots for my website, I knew she’d nail the brief perfectly and make the whole process fun!
1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background? What inspired you to pursue photography?
I've always been drawn to the arts, but after three seasons of snowboarding and travelling, I spent nearly a decade working as a chef. However, the call to photography never left me. I went on to study and completed a BA in Photography at Edinburgh College. I grew up in a very creative household; my dad’s an illustrator and my mum had a keen eye for interior design, cooking and art. At home there were analog cameras to play with and I used video cameras to make stop motion videos from a young age. It felt natural to use them and to document the world around me.
2. What challenges or obstacles have you faced on your journey, and how did you overcome them?
Seeing my dad's successful freelance career showed me that freelancing was achievable. It’s been a tough ride, but I love it and have a loyal client base. Growing the business has been a steady climb. I remember a college speaker saying it would take a decade to get larger global projects, and for me they were right! Last year, I celebrated 10 years in the business and landed two global campaigns with Airbnb. It was amazing working with creatives across the UK, Ireland and the America. Balancing work can be tough, but I’ve had help from friend and colleague Beth McDougall who assists with larger projects. It’s about patience, perseverance, and knowing your limits. Accepting that sometimes I’m not the right fit for a job or I don’t have time to fit it in has made me more confident in my strengths. I’m not going to be pigeonholed though, my style evolves with me, and that’s how it should be.
3. Describe a moment or experience that was a turning point in your life or career. How did it impact you?
I don’t think there was one big moment, but gradually, as I’ve grown, so has my work. Imposter syndrome creeps in sometimes, but handling bigger projects has expanded my capacity for new challenges. It's a rollercoaster—work levels change, and adaptability and flexibility is key. The hustle keeps me on my toes, and I love it.
4. What motivated you to seek coaching?
In freelancing, there are no appraisals or titles to gauge your progress. I can shoot and deliver, but confidence and growth can be tricky. Coaching helps me celebrate my work more and develop my written voice, which is essential but challenging due to my dyslexia. I want to focus more on personal projects that I’m passionate about and find tools to promote myself better. Plus, learning and self-development are always exciting.
5. How has coaching or working with me helped you in achieving your goals or vision?
Knowing Kat for 18 years made her the perfect coach. Her knowledge of the creative sector's business side is something I admire. Our long-term connection made the coaching process open and honest. Kat’s infectious energy and character are inspiring, and it’s been an amazing journey.
6. What are your future aspirations or goals, and how do you plan to continue growing and evolving? Is there anything you would like to promote? Or an offer you would like to share?
Turning 40 this year, I’m excited for the next decade and how my work will evolve. I want to collaborate more, produce personal work, maybe even host an exhibition or publish a book. I’d love to work abroad on a documentary or film project. Ultimately, I want a stronger voice in my work. After spending a decade refining my craft, I’m ready to create some work which reflects me. I’m also considering a master’s or residency to dive deeper into my personal projects.
Visit Alix's website here - www.alixmcintosh.com
Earworms I'm currently listening to:
Charlie Puth - Hero
Billie Eilish - LUNCH
Tay-Tay is on her way to Edinburgh! Taylor Swift not only gave a shoutout to my two all-time favourite artists/poets, Patti Smith and Dylan Thomas, in her new album, but she also mentioned Charlie Puth, which prompted him to release this track.
It’s a reminder that we should all shout each other out—everyone loves a bit of validation.
I’m also obsessed with this new track from Billie Eilish - I’m a sucker for a hand clap and a swampy guitar!
Rosypenguin is my local independent boutique in Morningside, Edinburgh.
When I popped in looking for outfits for my photoshoot, Judith was super generous and lent me some fantastic clothes for the day!
This month in The Moxie we had an exclusive offer for everyone who signed up.
There will be more offers in the next issue in July! You can sign up here for the next issue
I hope you enjoyed the 1st edition of The Moxie! If you have any questions or if you're curious about working with me one-on-one, don't hesitate to get in touch. let's explore the possibilities together!
Have a fabulous June!
See you soon
Kat x
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