Kate Hall
“Chill the fuck out. Just chill out - enjoy life more.”
Kate has devoted her life to advocating for our future. She’s a TEDx speaker on conscious consumerism, and has set up a successful blog and Instagram platform devoted to helping others live sustainably. Kate lives passionately; she is driven by her own independence and desire to do good. She looks at things through a positive lens, and makes the most out of every situation. Meet Kate. This is her story.
Kate, riding her bike (her happy place)
P: Describe or define yourself in your own words.
K: I would describe myself as a…it’s hard to describe yourself, isn’t it?! I’m not a cup half full, but a cup always overflowing kind of person. I do everything with all that I have and I see a lot of positivity and joy in the world, no matter the situation. So I’m quite a positive person, very organised and structured - I like knowing what’s happening.
I’m also quite playful - that’s such a weird thing to describe yourself as, but that’s it, I like playing, being cheeky, humorous - I like to see the humour in everything, no matter the situation. I’ve always loved working for myself and being independent. I’m fiercely independent, I don’t like relying on anybody else…even coffee!
Kate with her husband (another happy place)
P: What is your favourite thing about yourself?
K: My self discipline. It’s not something I’ve had to teach myself, it’s just something that’s been built in. Sometimes it overplays and burns me out, but it’s my favourite thing about myself.
P: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that had defined you or made you stronger?
K: Hmm pivotal moment…
I used to own an in-home childcare company. I founded it and then brought on board a friend who was a web designer. In a meeting he flipped a switch; he became very hostile and angry, and wasn’t being rational to other people there. I’ve never really liked to deal with conflict, or anything very big like that. This experience made me stronger as I had to put my foot down and end that business partnership. I got him out of there. In the past I never thought I would have to do that sort of thing.
It’s an experience that made me stronger because we were good friends and now haven’t spoken to each other in years. I had never ever had a person in my life like that, because I get over things and move on - I just want to make everyone happy.
But that was a defining moment of “Nope, I know what is right and what’s wrong.”
P: What’s one piece of advice you’d give your younger self?
K: Chill the fuck out. Just chill out - enjoy life more. Sometimes I take life too seriously because I just want to do things and achieve things. So just chill out - have fun with your friends.
P: What does being a woman mean to you?
K: Being confident and empowered, but always having heart. But that’s just me as a woman I think. I would describe my husband that way too though, so it’s just being a person really. But I do love being a woman, I love learning about how we function and who we are.
Kate with her mum, sister and dog
P: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
K: I’m very inspired by Laura Cope of uyo.co.nz (@uyo.nz). She just gets stuff done. She’s just the biggest connector, and community leader, and activist. She knows what she wants and does it, and pours everything into it. I’m very inspired by her as woman, because I also think that she has that motherly softness that most woman have, but she’s also so powerful.
I actually often talk to her and tell her how much she inspires me, but I would tell her to take some rest. I would tell her that she never knows how much she’s impacted the world, and that her life is one that will go down in history.
Check out Kate’s TEDx talk, ‘How to be a conscious consumer’.