Kate Fitzsimmons
📍 Austin, TX | Leadership and communication coach. I also write things sometimes!
Why Kate?
Returning the favor after Kate’s recommendation to profile Peter. We are keeping the Austin, Texas train rolling! I’m really impressed by Kate as she has carved her own unique professional path in leadership and communication coaching. I also have to echo a few of her recommendations (spoiler alert: Go-Giver and Yuka).
Self Description
“Rob describes himself as Type A in the example I'm reading here, which I don't think anyone has ever described me as (Good for you Rob btw) - so instead I'll say that I give myself an A+ in doing what I love and having a wholeeeeee lot of fun.”
Kate’s Recommendations
Written in their own words…
📚 Book: The Go-Giver
I had to read this book for coaching training recently and have been gifting it not only to my clients but to everyone else in my life. It's a little, simple, and extremely powerful book. It's reminded me that a life full of service doesn't have to mean a life full of sacrifice.
🎙 Podcast: On Purpose by Jay Shetty
I'm a sucker for his mission "to make wisdom go viral." And for the accent. If you're unfamiliar and need a diving in point, the interview with John Legend is magnificent.
🛒 Shopping: Lunya: Cozy Cotton Silk Pocket Henley
I had this whole idea when I started my business and started working from home that I would still "dress for the day" and still look like I worked in an office because that would help me work harder or have more structure, or whatever. It turns out I'm really, really effective when I'm really, really comfortable. I've invested in clothes accordingly.
🎁 Digital Gift: Storyworth
When my grandfather passed away last year, I was kicking myself for a long time about not writing down or recording some of his epic stories. I bought Storyworth for my mom last year and we both have been loving it. I'm buying it for both my grandmothers for Christmas this year and am spending a lot of time right now working on what questions I want to ask them.
📲 App: Yuka
I recently heard about this app on The World's First Podcast. You take a picture of a food or skincare label and it will tell you pretty simply if there's contaminants, additives, if it's actually healthy for you, etc. I try my best to be healthy, but my ADHD brain gets pretty overwhelmed trying to track everything that's supposedly good for me or horrible for me. This app has been a gamechanger for that.
💪 Wellness: Peach House Pilates (ATX)
There are just some days that require a Friday Night Lights locker room speech level of motivational self talk to get to the gym or workout class (if this isn't you, I kinda think you're lying, but reach out to me because studying you would make me a better coach). I have been going to Peach House for awhile and have yet to find the need to motivate myself to get there. The studio feels like a beautiful living room, it always smells amazing, and the owner Cait's cute dog Gumbo wanders around the reformers offering encouragement throughout the class.
🏊♀️ Wellness: Barton Springs (ATX)
This public pool in Austin is spring fed and stays around 68 degrees year round. I try to swim here or cold plunge once a week. I don't know all the science behind cold exposure and wellness, all I know is when I go it feels like a turbo shot of serotonin and B12. Come plunge with me if you're in Austin!
📺 TV Show: The Playbook - Coach's Rules for Life (Netflix)
I was not an athlete growing up and don't watch or follow a lot of sports now (Rob, can feel you cringing right now, sorry) In the of hilarity of all hilarities, I've found myself in a profession with a lot of sports metaphors and parallels. I had to watch this series as part of a coaching training recently, and I kind of didn't want to at first, but it ended up blowing me away.
🎼 Music: Spotify playlist - Indigo
The only time this isn't playing in my apartment is when I'm not here or I'm in a client session.
🔌 Plug
A little over a year ago someone suggested I look into getting a coach. It's wild because I went from thinking "ehhhhhhhhhh, noooooo thanks, not for me," to hiring one, to training with her, to being a coach now. My answer to what I do and how I do it is a really fun living/breathing/working document, but here's what it is today: I help you essentially Marie Kondo your thoughts, judgements, and limiting beliefs so you can be more of who you want to be and do more of what you want to do. It's pretty simple. This applies to my 1:1 clients as well as how I work with teams and businesses. If any of you are curious about hearing more, I'm here to help.
If you're curious about what coaching is or whether its for you, I've opened up some phone chat times in Jan just for Rambull friends. I had a lot of judgement and questions about coaching before finding the right fit for me, and I wish I had someone in a community like this to talk candidly with. Don't hesitate to reach out with a calendly link here!
Final Thoughts with Kate:
Recently passionate about: “I'm pretty pumped about bringing back the tradition we had in college of War Movie Monday. We are kicking off this week by watching Rogue Heroes, which is a TV series adaptation of one of my favorite books of all time.”
Ideal Saturday: “I don't see a world where the answer to this doesn't involve fly-fishing”
Brand Loyalty: “City Boots - @citybootsofficial Lizzy is a hero of mine and just an all around badass. The boots are excellent quality and I just love the brand she's building.”